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More about Jesus #9
HUMBLE JESUS
- ‘More about Jesus would I know’. Do you want to grow in your faith and mature as a Christian then learn about Jesus and copy Him, follow Jesus our example. He is our Humble Jesus. So, be humble like Jesus.
(Illus)
In the late 1950s, as a boy growing up, wrestling on the TV was a ‘big thing’ to watch. My Grandfather who lived with us for several years, loved to watch wrestling and he would really ‘get into it’. All the fake punches and death chokes were quite believable to him. There was a certain wrestler named ‘Sweet Daddy Seekie’, who played the part of a dirty villain wrestler who would strut up to the ring, full of arrogance and so proudful that the crowd would start to boo as soon as they saw him. He walked and talked so boastfully that conceit and haughtiness and egotism oozed out of him, He was opposite of humble.
Then, in the 1960s, there was the greatest boxer ever, a man named Mohamed Ali, who was the greatest, but his problem was that he kept telling everyone “I am the greatest”. Every interview he would say it -I am the greatest -I am the greatest. He was the greatest but his lack of humility bugged everyone.
Then in stark contrast in Philippians 2:8 we read about Jesus
And being found in appearance as a man (Jesus as a man, here with us), he humbled himself, by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Emmanuel, God, creator, King of Heaven -humbly He came, humble He was.
Then Jesus showed us His humility and taught us His humility.
John 13: 12 we read about Humble Jesus
When Jesus had finished washing the disciple’s feet, He returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example (of humbleness) that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
In Matthew 11:28-30 we read that Jesus calls Himself -HUMBLE
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
-do you have burdens, problems, heaviness of any kind? Jesus invites you to go Him. He won’t beat you up for your problem and burden -no, no, Jesus is humble and wants to help you, Jesus wants to ease your burden, your heavy load. So go to Him right now ….
In Jesus’s humility, you will find your dearest friend.In Jesus’s humility, you will find your warmest invitation
KNOW THIS, Humility is not the way of the world. In our culture, greatness is measured by status, success, and self-promotion. But in the Kingdom of God, greatness is found in humility, service, and self-sacrifice.
At the center of this upside-down kingdom stands Jesus Christ, the King of kings—who stooped low to serve, to suffer, and to save. Yes, humble Jesus.
-‘More about Jesus would I know’. Do you want to grow in your faith and mature as a Christian then learn about Jesus and copy Him, follow Jesus our example. He is our Humble Jesus. So, be humble like Jesus.
Today, we discover the humility of Jesus, Humble Jesus! Jesus was humble. That’s inverted or opposite to what the world thinks of greatness. But contrary to the world-view of greatness to the spiritually minded this is such an admirable trait, humbleness. Our God was humble when He came and showed us how to live. The God who knows everything and is all powerful is HUMBLE -boy do I have a lot to learn!! This is such a divine mystery that it redefines our understanding of power, glory, and what it means to follow Him.
That sounds like one is partially proud of oneself and that in reality is still pride. You are born again in Christ, you are not a partially resurrected sinner, ….
Humility is not self-worth, humility is God-worth
One never touches God’s glory, one never claims - I did it myself. Rather, you recognize what God has done, you speak to God’s praise and live dependent upon God’s continuance of grace towards you.
As Jesus followers we don’t brag, boast are prideful or conceited. Nay, nay -we are to be humble.
So, I repeat, One never touches God’s glory, one never claims I did it myself. You recognize what God has done, you speak to God’s praise and live dependent upon God’s continuance of grace towards you.
(illus)
My grandson Liam is quite athletic, he can skate fast, shoot the puck accurately and lead his team in scoring. I said to him once –‘you’re pretty good, aren’t you?’ He nodded his head with a smile. I then asked him ‘who gave you those legs to skate so fast and those strong hands to score so often’. He acknowledged that Jesus gave that to him, to which I replied, ‘never forget that and always be humble’.
Biblical humility is a virtue characterized by a modest view of oneself, recognizing one's dependence on God, and a willingness to submit to His will and serve others. It's not about self-deprecation or an inferiority complex, but rather a realistic assessment of one's worth and abilities, acknowledging God's sovereignty and grace.
Think of this, you’ve got nothing to brag about:
You’ve got a good voice, God gave that to you -praise the Lord
-be humble
Your kids turned out good -what a blessing from God -be humble
You have money, talents, smarts -all good things are from God
Nothing to brag about but lots to be thankful for and lots to praise God for🡪be humble, walk humbly, the glory is God’s alone.
Humble Jesus was the servant King, Humility and love caused Jesus to stoop and serve us.
What kind of King would kneel & wash my feet? Jesus would.
Be like Jesus.
What kind of King would bleed for me? Jesus did.
Humility says;
What a privilege it is that God is at work in me. You’re God’s miracle.
What an honor it is that God would use me in showing His grace to others. God’s power in you is the source of God’s power through you.
If you see any good and grace in me it is because of God, and all the praise and glory goes to Him (not me). Praise the Lord.
If anyone had a reason to be proud (not humble) it’s God. God is the richest, the biggest, the strongest, knows the most 🡪 He is the best in everything 🡪 but He isn’t proud, He is humble, Humble Jesus. God knows what He is and the truth of what He is. Jesus, proved it, proved humility, by what He did.
Philippians 2:5–7 (ESV)"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born (not in a palace but in a barn) in the likeness of men."
From the beginning, Jesus shows humility not just in action but in His very being. The eternal Son of God, co-equal with the Father, chose to step into time, space, and flesh. The Creator became a creature. The High King of heaven was born in a lowly barn. The infinite became an infant. What a story!!
This is not merely poetic—it is revolutionary. The humility of Christ begins not on a wooden cross, but in a wooden manger. Jesus emptied Himself—not of His deity—but of His divine privileges. He chose poverty over wealth, obscurity over fame, and humanity over heavenly majesty.
-This is what theologians call the "kenosis"—the self-emptying of Christ. It describes the idea that when Jesus became incarnate, he voluntarily relinquished or limited certain divine attributes, such as the full exercise of his divine power and knowledge, in order to experience human life fully. And it's at the heart of the gospel. God didn’t save us from a distance. He came near. He came low. He stooped down humbly for us 🡪 He came to me; He came for you.
Qif you were Jesus, would you be humble, if you were Jesus, would you wash feet?
Jesus was humble we are called to be like Him.
John 13:3–5 (ESV)"Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands... rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet..."
Perhaps no act in the Gospels illustrates the humility of Jesus more vividly than when He washed His disciples' feet. This was the job of the lowest servant in a household. And yet, the hands that formed the universe now hold the dirty feet of fishermen.
Jesus knew “that the Father had given all things into his hands”—in other words, He was fully aware of His authority and divinity. And precisely because of that, He stooped to serve.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it's thinking of yourself less. And thinking of God more. Christians are not to be narcistic, we’re not to be ‘all about me’. Jesus’ humility didn’t come from weakness, it wasn’t false humility but it came from strength under control. He was secure in His identity, and so He was free to serve others.
And let’s not miss the timing—Jesus washed their feet the night before He would be betrayed, abandoned, and crucified. He even washed Judas’ feet. This is the humility of divine love.
Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV)"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest... for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Jesus is the only religious leader in history to describe His heart in this way: “gentle and lowly.” The heart of Christ is approachable. He does not drive away the weary or condemn the broken. He welcomes the sinner, the struggler, the skeptic.
In a world obsessed with image and pride, Jesus offers rest—not more burdens, not more performance. He comes to us gently and meekly, not to condemn us or critique us but rather to help us we our weakness and storms —now that’s rest for your weary soul!!
This humility in His teaching upends the legalism of the Pharisees. They loaded people with rules. Jesus lifts our burdens and eases our loads – what a Saviour. So, go to Jesus with burdens. He humbly awaits you 🡪 pray to Him, talk with Him, walk with Him all the day long.
Do you have a burden, a heavy load, are you in a storm? Jesus, humble Jesus awaits you.
To follow Jesus is to walk the humble path. To learn from Him is to unlearn pride, self-sufficiency, and the need to protect and prove ourselves.
Philippians 2:9–11 (ESV)"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name..."
God honors humility. The path to exaltation is always through the valley of humility.
Jesus didn’t cling to power—He let it go. He didn’t assert His rights—He surrendered them. He didn’t defend Himself—He entrusted Himself to the Father. And in doing so, He was exalted above all.
This is the paradox of the kingdom: the way up is down. Whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
The Lamb who was slain is now the Lion who reigns. And every knee will bow—not to a tyrant, but to the Servant King.
John 13:14–15 (ESV)"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet..."
Jesus doesn’t just demonstrate humility—He commands it. We are not just recipients of grace; we are reflectors of His character.
This means:
Serving those we don’t think deserve it.
Putting others ahead of ourselves.
Choosing the lowest seat at the table.
Forgiving those who hurt us.
Being honest about our need for grace.
Humility is not self-hatred—it’s self-forgetfulness. It’s seeing ourselves clearly in the light of who God is and choosing to live for Him and for others.
Micah 6:8 "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
To walk humbly with Jesus is to walk the road of the cross, to wash dirty feet. Be humble and experience God like never before.
James 4:6 God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Pride isolates; humility invites grace. Pride blinds us; humility opens our eyes. Pride drives God away; humility draws Him near.
Jesus promises that the meek will inherit the earth. The world may not reward humility—but God does.
When we live humbly:
We grow in Christlikeness.
We become safe people for others.
We experience the nearness of God.
Humility isn’t easy. It costs us. It means letting go of our need to be right, first, or admired. But in losing ourselves, we find life.
Behold the Humble King
We worship a King who rides on a donkey, not a warhorse. A Savior who bends to wash feet. A God who chooses a crown of thorns.
This is the Jesus we follow.
So let us behold Him—not just with admiration, but with imitation. Let us embrace the lowly path of humility, the quiet strength of service, and the beauty of a life poured out for others.
And may we, like Christ, live not to be served but to serve, and to give our lives for the glory of God and the good of others. It is the Jesus way.
