Humility Of Jesus Series

Humility of Jesus

Jeffery Anselmi / General

The Signs of Christmas / Humility; Jesus' Birth

Jesus came to be among all peoples, from the lowest to the highest.

INTRODUCTION

• What comes to mind when you think about a King or someone who is part of a royal line?

• I think of luxury, power, and arrogance.

• If you look around, even at the kings still in existence, I suspect you can tie those terms to them.

• These traits are in direct opposition to Jesus.

• Jesus is the picture of what we call humility.

• According to Merriam-Webster, the word humble means three things: “not proud or haughty,” “reflecting, expressing, or offering in a spirit of deference or submission,” and “ranking low in a hierarchy or scale; not costly or luxurious” (Merriam-Webster, s.v. “humble,” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humbleness

• Kings are typically surrounded by servants and others who ensure they are taken care of.

• In those who live in the wake of a king, their life is all about the King by keeping him happy, comfortable, and taken care of.

• Whenever there is a “royal” birth, the birth is promoted and covered by the media.

• The child is born into a life of luxury, and they quickly learn that the world is supposed to revolve around them.

• I would like you to contrast that with the birth of Jesus, the King of kings, the Lord of lords!

• One would think that if God were to send His son, that said son would be born into a luxury unsurpassed by anyone.

• One would think this child would have the best of everything, that there would never be a day that saw hunger, fear, or struggle.

• Why do you think there is such a contrast between the birth of the Savior of the World versus a typical birth of an earthly king?

• I believe it comes down to the mission.

• If you remember, God was the King of Israel in the Old Testament.

• God led the people into battle; He took care of them.

• Once we get into the book of 1 Samuel, the people start to grumble.

• When they entered the battle field, the people of Israel saw their opponent enter the battle with a great-looking King on a Big horse with all the trappings.

• The opposing King was a sight to behold.

• Even though God would give the people victory, the nation craved an impressive king to lead them into battle.

• Samuel was angered when the people demanded such a king.

• God told Samuel in 1 Samuel 8 to listen to the people's voice, but I want you to warn them of the cost of a king.

• Samuel went to the people and told them what God had said about the cost of a king.

• More or less, everyone would be the servant of the King.

• Earthly kings come to be served; Jesus came to serve!

• Today we will examine the humility of Jesus.

• We will be in the gospel of Luke 2:1-16 as well a Philippians 2:5-11.

• The Big Idea of the Message: Jesus came to be among all peoples, from the lowest to the highest. Jesus came to serve, not to be served.

Luke 2:1–7 (NET 2nd ed.)

1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes.

2 This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 Everyone went to his own town to be registered.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David.

5 He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child.

6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

SERMON

I. The humble settings.

• When I read the story of the birth of Jesus, it never ceases to amaze me.

• Honesty, the birth of Jesus is one of the stories that led me to conclude that the Bible is God's inspired word.

• If I were going to make up a story about a god sending his son to earth, my setting would not have been as humble.

• Caesar Augustus called for a census for taxes for the empire.

• Joseph and Mary were living in Nazareth when the census was called.