Humble Submission Series

Movement 3: Humble Submission

This is where today’s portrait of Jesus becomes so very compelling. Even at the tender age of 12 he knew who he was and what he was about. He knew his purpose. After being scolded by his mother he replies…”Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” He knew that his purpose was to bring redemption to Israel. He knew his life was about more than merely being a carpenter and following in Joseph’s steps. He knew…

Yet in his knowledge there was no conceit, no vanity or pride. He humbled himself and submitted to the authority that was placed over him…in this case the authority of his parents. Luke tells us that…

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Over the next few months we are going to be looking at some amazing portraits of Jesus found in the scripture so that we might begin to see the overall picture of who he is. We need to see a compelling portrait of Jesus if we are going to engage our lives in the pursuit of being like him.

In this story from Luke the compelling aspect of Christ’s character is his humble submission. Humble submission is something we don’t do well, but when we look at this portrait of Christ we learn more of how to be humble as he was humble and submit to the authority God has placed in our lives.

• Jesus submitted to the authority of his parents - he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.

• Jesus submitted to the Religious/Civil authority – He had a submissive, learners posture in the temple - they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

• He submitted to the authority of his Heavenly Father - Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house? He was busy learning and growing and becoming who he was called to be.

In every way, though he already knew who he was and what his purpose was, he was submissive to the authority God had placed in his life. I find it very compelling to think that Christ…the very son of God…was willing to submit himself to all of the authorities that had been placed in his life and to he did so without complaining or rebelling or chaffing…he submitted in humility…Something that I think most of us struggle greatly with.

So What?

Our “So What” moment today may be a little more involved than it typically is. The so what is that we need to learn to be people who model this compelling portrait of Jesus. We need to be people who come to terms with and begin to practice humble submission. If we are going to truly be followers of Christ…if we are going to reclaim the name Christian (little Christs) then we must be people of humble submission.

Let me illustrate for you. I have heard people say of our current president. “I didn’t vote for him, he’s not my president.” I also hear people…people who were very active in their churches…some who led their churches say the same things about our former president. Now that may seem trivial or petty to discuss, but such a statement reveals an attitude of rebellion and rebellion does not look like Christ.