From Lofty Throne to Lowly Manger

The “incarnation” means God became human flesh in the Person of Jesus. I repeat: GOD BECAME HUMAN. This is such a startling truth that I have difficulty comprehending it. This is the same Christ at the center of the worship scene in Revelation 5. I love Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase in The Message: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” (John 1:14) God “moved into our neighborhood” because God loves us and wants us to have light, not darkness; and eternal life, not death. Jesus came to show who we can be and how we can live. Everything about Jesus’ life illustrates His confident humility. His birth narrative (Nazareth, Bethlehem, shepherds, farm animals, a manger, etc), His life (this King did not even have a home), His ministry (often to the outcasts of society) and His death (utter abuse and abandonment) all speak to confident humility. Followers of Jesus should exhibit this trait, too. Humility can bring out the best in others—and the worst. Humility repulses some people. Jesus won the hearts of some soldiers and one thief on the cross; but others crucified and reviled Him. Some wise men worshipped; but not King Herod. Eleven disciples were committed to His team; but not Judas. In his book, “Humilitas,” John Dickson defines humility as, “The noble choice to forgo your status, deploy your resources or use your influence for the good of others before yourself. More simply, you could say the humble person is marked by a willingness to hold power in service to others.” He notes that humility: 1. Assumes your dignity and strength 2. Is a choice you make (otherwise it is humiliation) 3. Is social. It is redirecting your power for the sake of others, not yourself. Confident humility is one of Asbury’s core staff behaviors.

- Pastor Tom Harrison