Humility of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ’s willingness to become a human being

Php 2:6–7 “human likeness” is not mere similarity to but identity with humanity.

See also Ro 8:3; 2 Co 8:9

Jesus Christ’s humility predicted in the OT

Mt 12:19–20; Is 42:2–3; Is 50:4–6

The suffering servant:

Mt 8:17; Ac 8:32–33; Is 53:2–7; 1 Pe 2:22; Is 53:9; 1 Pe 2:24

The coming king:

Mt 21:5; Zec 9:9

Zechariah 12:10 ESV

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.

The shepherd struck:

Mt 26:31; Zec 13:7

Jesus Christ’s servant attitude

Mark 10:45 ESV

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

See also Mt 12:19–20; Jn 13:4–5; Jn 13:12; 2 Co 10:1

Jesus Christ’s teaching about humility

Mark 9:33–37 ESV

And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

See also Mt 23:8–12; Mk 10:42–45; Lk 14:7–11; Lk 18:9–14

Jesus Christ’s humility as a model for others

John 13:12–17 ESV

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

See also Mt 11:29–30; Eph 5:25; Php 2:5; 1 Pe 2:21

The poverty of Jesus Christ’s birth and upbringing

Lk 2:7; Lk 2:12; Lk 2:16; Lk 2:22–24 Only the poorest families offered doves or pigeons.

Jesus Christ’s obedience to his human parents

Luke 2:51 ESV

And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

Jesus Christ’s obedience to his heavenly Father

John 5:30 ESV

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

See also Jn 8:29; Jn 15:10; Ro 5:19; Ro 15:3; Php 2:8; Heb 5:8

Jesus Christ’s dependence on his heavenly Father

John 5:19 ESV

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

See also Jn 5:30; Jn 17:7

Jesus Christ’s submission to baptism

Matthew 3:13–15 ESV

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

Jesus Christ’s humble acceptance of ill treatment

1 Peter 2:23 ESV

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

See also Mt 26:63; Mt 26:66–67; Mt 27:14; Mt 27:28–30

Jesus Christ’s acceptance of the cross

Philippians 2:8 ESV

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

See also Mt 26:39; Mt 26:53; Lk 23:34; Heb 5:7

Jesus Christ’s humility with other people

Children:

Matthew 19:13–15 ESV

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Beggars:

Matthew 20:29–34 ESV

And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

Mk 1:40–42 Leprosy sufferers; Jn 4:5–9 a Samaritan woman