Divine Humility

The Last supper by John Lautermilch

Luke 22:14-27, Philippians 2:1-11

Introduction

It is hard to believe what we read in Luke’s Gospel in his description of the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples. For Jesus it was a deeply significant meal. He told his disciples that one of them would betray him, that he was going to be arrested and killed. This was going to be the last Passover meal they would have with him. It was a solemn moment – a profoundly moving moment one would think. It was a moment we commemorate whenever we, his followers, share in Holy Communion.

But Luke indicates that the disciples seemed to miss the whole point of it. Later they realized its significance, but at the time their minds were on other things:

“A dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.” (Luke 22:24).

Jesus must have been profoundly disappointed at their attitude. Their response to the divine humility was human arrogance!

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Not acceptable

Arrogance can never be acceptable. We don’t like it when we see it in a politician or a public figure. We don’t like it when it takes the form of officious bureaucracy or high-handedness and we are at the receiving end of it. It is an unattractive quality to see in an individual – it does not endear them to us. It can make a teacher or a preacher ineffective in their work because no one will listen to what they say. It is a quality found in all who wish to control others, to limit them, or even ban them from expressing their viewpoint. It is central to every kind of intolerance and tyranny.

But we should not be surprised that arrogance and pride are so prevalent. The Genesis story makes it plain to us that this was ever so. Even at the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, the Serpent appeals directly to this weakness. “You shall be as gods,” he says to Eve. And she and Adam are tempted to grasp at the forbidden fruit. As a result of this disobedience the human race has suffered damage to all our relationships – towards God, towards others, towards the natural world and towards ourselves.

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God’s humility

But God himself took action to put it right. He brought about the cure for human arrogance and sin. In the fulness of time he sent his Only-begotten Son into the world to die on the cross and to restore a right relationship with him and with others. So the answer to human arrogance is found in the divine humility which Christ demonstrated.

“He made himself of no reputation and took upon himself the form of a servant. He  was found in fashion as a man. He humbled himself … (Philippians 2:7-8)

This is the humility of God himself. So we see that the Incarnation and the whole life of Jesus was a demonstration of that humility. Perhaps we see it in its most beautiful expression when Jesus knelt down to wash his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper – the supper at which they were disputing about who was the greatest. He did it to set an example to them.

Humility should be the mark both of the individual Christian and of the church as an institution. George Bernard Shaw, who was no Christian but a sceptic, nonetheless hit the nail on the head when he said: “The church must learn humility as well as teach it.”

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We need to be humble

As Christians we have been called to exercise a ministry of reconciliation. We are called to bear witness to Jesus and to point people to him so they can be reconciled to God . And we are called to be peace-makers in the world. But for this we need humility. How can we proclaim the Gospel of God’s love in an arrogant spirit?

So we see that all our Christian giving and service should be done in a spirit of quiet humility – not self-advertizing, blowing our own trumpet as the Pharisees did, but following the example of our Master. That’s why I am very sceptical of some forms of Christian publicity. I once saw a church minibus which publicized the church in this way:

“X the caring, growing church”.

That’s a tremendous claim to live up to, isn’t it? But woe betide the Pastor and members of that church if they fail to be caring and growing! But even if they do live up to it, do they have any right to be trumpeting it in this way? Where does Christian humility come in here? Wouldn’t it be better if instead of boasting of themselves they were glorying in Jesus Christ and his cross?

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The ways of the world

Of course, the ways of the world are ways of boastfulness. We are used to adverts telling us of this or that product we need to make our lives fulfilled. But the Church must not act in this way. The Christian should not go about like the boxer Muhamed Ali (or Cassius Clay as he was in those days) saying “I am the greatest!” Instead he should be saying “Jesus, he is the One, he is the greatest!”

How strange it seems that those who actually sat with Jesus in the Upper Room should so soon turn to selfish and arrogant concerns with personal greatness. But is it really so strange – are we not often tempted to do the same? How easy it is to want to boast of our good deeds, of how much money we give to the Church or to charities, or how much we put ourselves out for others. Or to attempt to display our talents or our knowledge so that others will admire us.

The world, of course, is full of people who lord it over others. It is full of arrogant self-advertising and display. Indeed, the young people are told they will not get a job unless they push themselves forward and boast of their abilities in their interviews or on their CVs. Yes, the world is full of such arrogance, such boasting, such manipulation of others by the exercise of power, but the followers of Jesus should be different. Have we learned from the Master the lesson of humility?

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Prayer

O Master let me walk with thee; In lowly paths of service free.

Thy secret tell, help me to bear The strain of toil, the fret of care.

May we follow the example of your humility. Use us, O Lord, to lead others to yourself. Help us in our daily work and witness to be mirrors of your goodness and love.

Amen.

(This Lenten Meditation is based on a reflection by the Rev. Denis Duncan which was published in the Daily Telegraph some years ago.)

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