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DIVINE HUMILITY
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords was not born in a King’s Palace. Born in a stable (a cave to be exact) in “humble surroundings,” the Savior of the world began His earthly Crusade.
The King of Kings had left His home in Heaven on an earthly pilgrimage which would take Him from humble beginnings in a dirty, dark, damp cave surrounded by farm animals to a lonely hill called Mount Calvary. There the King of Kings would suffer a horrific death as He hung on a “cruel cross” bleeding and dying for the sins of all mankind.
The angel Gabriel first announced the news of the new born “King of Kings” to “shepherds” tending their sheep on the hillsides near the Town of Bethlehem Judea. He did not go to the religious leaders in the area or to local authorities, but shepherds. The shepherds were told by Gabriel that the Messiah had been born in the nearby Town of Bethlehem.
The shepherds went to the cave where baby Jesus was lying in a manager to worship Him. After finding and worshipping the new born King of Kings, the shepherds went into the surrounding areas sharing the “good news” of the birth of Christ with everyone they came in contact with.
It is interesting to note that Gabriel shared the news of the birth of Christ first with lowly shepherds rather than religious leaders or people in authority in Bethlehem or anywhere else in the land of Canaan at that time. We see that the shepherds which announced the birth of Christ were types and shadows of the shepherds or church leaders today who share the gospel with the “sheep” within their congregations.
Modern day shepherds also share the “gospel” (good news) of the Messiah--King of Kings and Lord of Lords—Jesus Christ. When the gospel is preached and people receive the news of the Messiah, a new birth takes place in the caves (inner most being) of their heart.
Jesus came to Earth as a King who would never sit on an earthly throne. He came as a King who would never wear a crown except one made of prickly thorns placed upon His Holy Head. He came to Earth as a King who would serve His subjects instead of rule over His subjects while here on Earth. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45). Although He had created this world, His Kingdom was not of this world.
JESUS WAS LAID IN A “MANGER” IN BETHLEHEM. A few years back my wife and I lived on a farm in East Tennessee. I was raised in Detroit, Michigan, and did not know much about farm life until we moved to the farm. My wife, on the other hand, was raised in the country in East Tennessee and her family had a small farm. Therefore, she knew much more about country living than I did.
After obtaining the farm my wife and I were in the barn looking around. She pointed out to me what looked like a feeding trough and said “There is a manger.” I never knew that a manger was a feeding trough. Needless to say, I was surprised. I guess I never thought much about a manger or what it was used for in times past. Many farmers still feed their animals in this same way.
I looked at my wife and said, “That is really interesting.” The scripture came to me where Jesus said in John 6:53, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood you have no life in you.” I said to my wife, “How appropriate. Jesus was placed in a feeding trough as a prophetic sign that people were to spiritually eat of His flesh and drink His blood.”
The flesh and blood of Christ represents the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. We become partakers (spiritually) of His flesh and blood when we receive Him as our Lord and Savior. We continue to partake of His flesh and blood as we grow in Christ. His flesh represents “His broken body” or the WORD which is the “Bread of Life.” His Blood represents the “Life which is in the blood (new wine) of Christ.”
We are symbolically “eating His flesh” and “drinking His blood” as we continue walking in Christ and partaking of “His divine nature.” When we are partaking of the “sacraments,” we are prophetically “eating His flesh” and “drinking His blood.”
Eating the “Bread of Life” is more important than eating “natural bread.” It is the BREAD which preserves and sustains “eternal life” in believers. Jesus told us to pray “give us this day our daily bread.” Eating the “Bread of Life daily” will strengthen our faith and give us the spiritual nutrients we need to defeat our spiritual enemies and bless those around us.
For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Psalm 149, vs. 4.
Biblical humility is described as “unselfish, meek, and lowly in heart.” The word translated from the Greek as “humility” means: “lowliness of mind.” One of the characteristics of the “divine nature of Christ” is being humble minded.
Humility is an attitude of the heart. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit (humble) for theirs is the Kingdom of God!” (Matthew 5:3). The Kingdom of God is set aside and reserved for the humble. Humility is a prerequisite for people who desire to enter into the Kingdom of God. “Whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11). When we come before God we must come to Him as children with “child-like faith” or we will be rejected.
When we exalt ourselves we are opposing the “divine nature of Christ” and portraying the works of the flesh. When we exalt ourselves, we neutralize the grace and mercy of God in our life. Pride always glories in self-righteousness and opposes the righteousness of Christ. If we are going to pursue the “divine nature,” we must do so with humbleness of heart.
Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew, ch. 11, vs. 29-30.
Jesus said He was “lowly in heart (humble).” We can only find rest in Christ when we are “humble” in heart. True humility is found only in the “divine nature of Christ.” When we put on Christ, we are putting on the virtue of His “divine humility.” Being humble merely means “we are not arrogant, prideful, or boastful.” When we are truly humble, we will not think more highly of ourselves than we should. (Romans 12:3).
The Bible tells us to be “clothed with humility.” (1 Peter 5:5). When we get out of bed in the morning we should already be wearing our “cloak of humility.” If we are not clothed with humility others will see our “nakedness and shame.” If we fail to clothe ourselves with humility, Satan will find an opportunity to use us for his plan and purpose for our lives.
Humility is one of the virtues found in the “divine nature” of Christ. Jesus always humbled Himself before the Father. He was always found to be an obedient Son who would rather please the Father than the wishes and desires of himself or men. Jesus wore humility as a cloak. Christ is our example of humility as well as our place of rest. Jesus said in Matthew to “Learn of Me. I am to be your example of humility. When you humble yourselves before the Almighty God, you will find rest in me.” (Matthew 11:28-30).
If the “divine nature” is to be found within us, it must be “birthed in and surrounded with humility.” With humility we can confidently go before the Throne of Grace in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16). I call this BOLD HUMILITY. If we think too highly of ourselves in the presence of the King of Kings, our petitions will not be respected or granted.
God rejects the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (Proverbs 3:34). I have eaten a lot of “humble pie” in my life by approaching God with prideful motives and attitudes. Humble pie is very humiliating. It tastes like chicken without the meat. It makes the stomach feel empty and the knees kind of weak. God has a way of putting us in our place when we think more highly of ourselves than we should.
Humility will ensure us a “place of rest” in the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ IS our rest. However, we will never find rest in Him until we learn how to humbly live before Him and in Him. If we are going to be changed into the image of Christ, we must humbly put on the “divine nature of Christ.”