Sermon 110898

Acts 8:33                              The Humiliation of the Lamb of God                                  11/8/98

                                                                                                                             ABCC

I.   Introduction                                                                                                                       645

q      What does the word humiliation mean to you?  How does the word affect you?

q      In the times of the NT (Greek world), to be humble was weakness, despicable, repulsive…

q      Today in USA, weakness & humiliation are unacceptable:  human rights, women, children, religious, gay, criminals, victims, employee…animal  - all because no one or nothing should ever experience humiliation, yet Jesus the King of glory & the Lamb was willing to be humiliated (2Co. 8:9).

II.    The Humiliation of the Lamb of God

Definition:  “tapeinosis” – lowliness, low estate or degree; absence of pride & reputation (Matt. 11:29b)

A.     His Birth

1.      His willingness to become flesh & blood as His creation (Jn. 1:14) – God can be seen, touched, handled…

2.      His willingness to be born of a woman (Lk. 1:35; Gal. 4:4; Ph. 2:6-7)

B.      His Life

1.      His obedience to the Law (Matt. 3:13-15; 5:17; Gal. 4:4) – according to Luke 2:21ff He was circumcised on 8th day & raised in Jewish culture, obeyed the ceremonial law, baptized, participated in Jewish feasts…

2.      Submitting to the weaknesses & limitations of flesh (Heb. 2:14a) – hunger, thirst, weariness, pain, agony

3.      The persecution & rejection by people (Jn. 1:11) – family, friends, Judaism, wealthy, poor…

C.      His Suffering & Death

1.      As an innocent man (Jn. 8:46a; Mt. 27:4-Judas;18:38-Pilate; Lk. 23:47-centurion)

2.      As a common criminal (Lk. 23:26-38)

3.      As a substitute for sinners – propitiatory (2Co. 5:21; Isa. 53:4-12)

The Humiliation of the Lamb of God, pg. 2

What then can we say about Jesus Christ?  HOW LOW WAS CHRIST WILLING TO GO?  Nothing would prevent Him from redeeming sinners from hell & destruction.  Nothing was too much for Him to give – no sacrifice was too great, no service was too low – He humbled Himself & was humiliated to save sinners such as we are!  Would laying aside worship, praise & adoration stop Him?  …fellowship with the Father?  …being born of woman & clothe in the weaknesses of flesh?  …persecution, slander, rejection & hatred from people?  …would physical pain, agony, torment or even death stop Him?  …NO, NO a thousand times NO!  Jesus humbled Himself & paid it all, all to Him we owe!  Hallelujah, Hallelujah, What a Savior!  How do you respond to so great a salvation, so great a Savior?  Would you rather have Jesus that silver & gold; fame & fortune; worldly pleasure & power; reputation & this world’s honor?  Will you humble yourself before the King of glory Who was made low & humiliated for you?