It’s hard to be a Christian. The world we live in has adopted values and ideals that completely conflict with the way we are called to live our lives. Fortunately we are not meant to go through life alone. In the Bible we have the opportunity to see countless examples of a life lived to the fullest through the Gospels that show us the only perfect life that has been lived, that of Jesus Christ. His examples through the numerous accounts given by people who witnessed and walked with him show us the way to live.
One thing about Jesus that is crucial for us to follow is His humility. Humility is defined as: a modest or low view of ones own importance. This isn’t saying to belittle yourself as much as possible but rather to consider other people’s comfort and happiness above your own. Since the Bible is our source of information and instruction on how we can live a Christ-like life we will look into it for some beautiful examples of Jesus living out humility.
The first of these examples I want to touch on is found in Matthew 9:9-13. “As Jesus went from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at a tax collectors booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners.” A look into the context of these times shows us that everyone hated tax collectors. They were considered as criminals, and sinners. This is a perfect example of the humility of Christ because he didn’t care what others thought of him. He wasn’t worried that people would judge him for sharing meals with tax collectors and sinners, he cared more about them because by sharing a meal with these people they got to see a glimpse of who God is, not what the Pharisees portrayed God as. This passage echoes with me a lot not because my name is Matthew, but because I was and am a sinner. Before I met Christ the life I lived completely went against that of Christ’s, but He still sought me out and called me to something greater. So this aspect of humility shows us that we are not to put ourselves above “sinners” because we know we are sinners too, we have fallen short time and time again and Jesus loved us the same. Be willing to hang out with people who are looked down upon, show someone Jesus by sharing life with them just like He did.
In John 13 we see one of the most beautiful things that has ever been done. It was before Passover Festival and Jesus knew that his time on earth was dwindling down. Jesus and his disciples were eating dinner together for the last time. Jesus got up from the meal, and took off his outer clothing and wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began washing his disciples feet. The Son of God who is about to die for everyone’s sins gets on his knees and washes his disciples feet, I think that should be the definition of humble. Jesus gets to Peter who knows better than most just how Holy Jesus is. At first he denies Jesus, saying Jesus shall never wash his feet. Jesus replies in verse 8 “Unless I wash your feet you, you have no part with me.” I believe that was convincing enough for Peter. In verse 12 Jesus explains what he has done.
“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” It might just be me but I think feet are gross, like nasty. I’m sure that the disciples feet were a lot nastier than I can imagine, and Jesus humbly, brought himself down to teach his disciples to do the same, if Jesus can do it than do it than we can do it.
Next we are taken to Luke 23:39-43. Jesus has been crucified and is hanging on the cross along with two other criminals. “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Among all of the beatings, pain, and suffering, Jesus still looks to others instead of himself. He sees this criminal hanging next to him who has showed his heart in his last hours, defending Jesus and condemning himself. In humility Jesus redeemed this man, and gave him peace and hope in knowing that when he breathes his last breath, he will not get what he deserves, he will be with Jesus in heaven.
Lastly we look to again to John. In John 21 Jesus is showing himself to his disciples just before he goes up into heaven. Jesus went to the Sea of Galilee to appear to Peter and some of his other disciples. Jesus stood by the shore and called out to the disciples who at this point do not know that it was Jesus. Jesus told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat to catch some fish because they had caught none. Upon doing this, the disciples could not even haul the net into the boat because of all of the fish they had caught.
We pick up in verse 7-14 “Then the disciple whom loved Jesus said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Peter heard this he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from the shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed they saw a fire burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.”
This next part is the last example of the humility that we will look at. I think it is one of the most profound. First we must remember Peter denying Jesus three times before his crucifixion, something that Jesus told Peter would happen. Peter was one of Jesus’ three closest friends along with James and John. Verse 15-19 reads: “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes Lord”, he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He said “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Three times Peter denied Jesus and with three questions Jesus reinstated Peter, and called him one final time to live for him completely, even reassuring Peter that he will die glorifying God. As we know it Peter was the rock on which Jesus built his church. This beautiful account of redemption is yet another way that Jesus, in humility, chased after the hearts of sinners and called them to a better life. The ultimate expression of humility is Jesus dying on the cross for all of us. To live for Jesus means to follow his example in humility, to make ourselves less and others more. We aren’t Jesus, we are not perfect. We cannot die for everyone’s sins or reinstate a Peter, but we can live humble lives. Choose Jesus today and tomorrow, choose humility.