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.
• The decree was that people should go to their birthplace to be registered.
• Part of the reason was for taxation.
• For Mary, this would be a fun trip because of the distance and her state of pregnancy at the time of the decree.
• As the crow flies, the distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem is roughly 70 miles.
• In reality, the trip is closer to 90 miles.
• If Joseph and Mary traveled eight hours a day and 2.5 miles per hour, you are looking at them traveling about 20 miles per day.
• The trip would take 5-7 days for them to complete.
• Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem.
• They could not book a room on their cell phone app; they were taking the trip hoping they would have a place to stay once they arrived.
• Where would you expect the son of God to be born?
• Once Joseph and Mary got to town, there were no vacancies but a humble stable.
• Jesus would enter the earth in a stable, not on Gucci sheets.
• It only makes sense, then, that the very first bed Jesus ever slept in was just as humble as He is.
• Nowadays, parents go to great lengths to determine what sort of crib their baby gets; the color, size, and brand are all taken into account.
• But Mary and Joseph did not have that luxury; they only had a manger to put Jesus in.
• An article at Compelling Truthnotes, “Jesus’ first bed, was an indicator of His nature and purpose.
• Rather than coming to earth amidst fanfare and in plush surroundings, the King of Creation and God’s own Son was born among animals, with his very first visitors being lowly shepherds from the fields.”
• (“What Is the Significance of Jesus Being Born in a Manger?,” Compelling Truth, accessed July 31, 2021, https://www.compellingtruth.org/Jesus-manger.html).
• The setting for the birth of Jesus could not be more humble; the creator of heaven and earth, born in a stable, His first bed was a feeding trough.
• Why is this significant for us today?
• We should never make people feel like we are too good to associate with them, and we should never make them feel that they are too bad for God to redeem through Jesus!
• Jesus died for anyone, regardless of race, economic class, or any other line of division we have set up.
• Anyone can repent, be baptized into Christ, and become part of His family.
• Once that happens, we are called to follow and live for Him.
• NO ONE should be off our list to try to reach with the gospel!
• Let’s go to verses 8-16.
Luke 2:8–16 (NET 2nd ed.)
8 Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people:
11 Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us.”
16 So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger.
II. The humble audience.
• Whenever someone of significance is born, the announcements go out, the coverage begins, and the people of the appropriate social class visit and offer well wishes.
• If a King and Queen had a child, not just anyone could visit the hospital.
• Most likely, none of us here today would get an invite to see the child.
• The lowest people in society would not get an invite, either.
• Who does God send the birth announcement to?
• The shepherds!
• God did not send the angels to the rich and influential; He did not send word to the world's leaders or religious leaders.
• One would think God would have sent the angels to the religious leaders.
• The Jews waited for this moment for generations, yet who did God use to make the announcement?
• Jesus would come, not to the proud and powerful, but to the outcasts, the humble, those considered "last" on the social lists.
• God brought the first news of his Son's arrival to these men.
• Shepherds were not viewed favorably in Jesus' day.
• The religious authorities despised them.
• In this humility, Jesus is showing his purpose for coming to earth.
• In Luke 2:12, the angel tells the shepherds that the manager will be a sign to them to show them where the Messiah is: among them!
• The God of the universe has humbled himself to dwell among the people.
• In an article on Christianity.com, Dave Jenkins explains: “Jesus, being born in a manger, highlights that there is no place that bars the way for the Lord.
• All of this reveals how accessible and available Jesus is to sinners.
• The King of Kings and the Lord of lords came humbly, and His first bed was a manger.”
• Jenkins continues, “The Good Shepherd would first make His bed among the sheep.
• The saving God who made His tent with Israel in the wilderness now made His tent in the flesh, and His name is Immanuel, God with us.”
• (Dave Jenkins, “What Is the Meaning and Significance of the Manger?,” Christianity.com, November 13, 2020, https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/meaning-and-significance-of-the-manger.html).
• You do not have to be in the elite to have an audience with Jesus!
• Let’s go to Philippians.
Philippians 2:5–11 (NET 2nd ed.)
5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,
6 who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.
8 He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death —even death on a cross!
9 As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name, that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow —in heaven and on earth and under the earth—
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
III. The humble King.
• Jesus is the ultimate example of humility, the spirit of submission, and willingness to be ranked among the lowest in society, forgoing the luxuries of the wealthy.
• Jesus’ humility was expressed most when He became a man and died on the cross.
• He never insisted on His rights and privileges to be honored, understood, or viewed rightly, but he emptied Himself of His reputation.
• As a side note, good leaders always look for ways to help those around them grow.
• Poor leaders throw around the weight of their authority to remind people who is in charge.
• If anyone had the right to throw around their authority, it would be Jesus!
• Jesus did not go around telling people to bow down to Him because He was the Son of God; instead, Jesus came to seek and serve.
• Contrast that with the religious leaders who were constantly throwing around their authority, always seeking the limelight.
• Verses 5-8 tell us about the attitude Jesus had.
• He was equal with God, but for the good of mankind, He emptied Himself of all His glory to come and die for us.
• His humility led to obedience!
• Humility comes through serving others. As long as we look for number one, we will struggle with humility.
• Verse 8 reminds us that Jesus humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even the humiliation of death on a cross!
• What did God do for Jesus?
• GOD HIGHLY EXALTED HIM!
• God gave Him the name that is above all names!
• At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord!
• Let’s stop trying to exalt ourselves and let God do that when it is time!
CONCLUSION
• Because Jesus humbled Himself, we cannot proclaim the gospel without being humble!
• Everything about Jesus was humble!
Application Point: In what ways can you emulate Jesus’s humility this Christmas season?
