The Character of Humility 3.22.26
Expressing Humility: Creature | Confidence | Character
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
John 13:1-5
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Philippians 2:1-11
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
“And part of the point of Philippians 2 is to say…this is the model for how to be Church, for how to be Christian…We have to go the same way. We cannot give ourselves airs and say that because we're Christians, we are the top people, we're okay, we're doing fine, we ought to run everything. No. Because we are followers of Jesus, we should share his humility. We do not regard our status as something to exploit. We regard it as constituting a vocation like that of Jesus to go to the place where the world is in pain, to weep there, to pray there, to bring God's healing, the healing of the cross where it is most needed.”
- NT Wright
“I am a fan, and student, of right doctrine, rich theology, and insightful Church history, but we cannot speak about right theology, sound doctrine, and biblical practices while negating and abandoning Christ-like character and the fruits of the Spirit…
We cannot dissect Scripture or unpack systematic theology while negating love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
- Zach Meerkreebs
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Fruit, is for others. Fruit is meant to be eaten, not left on the vine (or tree) to glory in itself or slowly rot. The nature of fruit is to bless.
- John Tyson
John 18:3-6
So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
“Jesus of the Scars” Edward Shillito (1872-1948)
If we have never sought, we seek Thee now;
Thine eyes burn through the dark, our only stars;
We must have sight of thorn-pricks on Thy brow,
We must have Thee, O Jesus of the Scars.
The heavens frighten us; they are too calm;
In all the universe we have no place.
Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm?
Lord Jesus, by Thy Scars, we claim Thy grace.
If, when the doors are shut, Thou drawest near,
Only reveal those hands, that side of Thine;
We know to-day what wounds are, have no fear,
Show us Thy Scars, we know the countersign.
The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.