Post by Josh Parsley on Jan 11, 2007 22:18:53 GMT -5
Humiliation Brings Union with Christ
By Josh Parsley
Humiliation brings death. What do I mean by that? Well, just ask yourself the last time you were humiliated how you felt. Was it like a dagger that went down into the depths of your being? Humiliation is defined as “the state or feeling of being humiliated; mortification.” When a person is utterly humiliated it is as if they have been killed. Humiliation is very closely linked with being humble. It seems that many today would do good to be humiliated that they may be humbled or suffer humiliation in silence to show their humility.
Who knows more about being humiliated than Christ? Let's ponder this for a moment. Christ was the one that “all things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Christ, the uncreated one, became as a created one and suffered and died under the wickedness of created beings. Can anything be compared to that? This is much worse than what we could place ourselves into. Even if your own child were to take you, strip you down naked, tie you to a rack in the back of a truck, run through a car wash, then drive around the city with you in the back all the while someone was pouring feces on you, as graphic is that would be, that really doesn't compare. He could have called multitudes of angels down, yet he suffered in silence. He was the Lamb of God. He was slaughtered. And what did he say? “I'm coming back to judge you!” No. “Father! Forgive them for they know not what they do!” Is that your character? Do you suffer in silence or squawk that all may hear your roar of complaint?
When one is brought to a place of humility and death it brings that person into union with Christ. The Bible says that God “humbleth [himself] to behold [the things that are] in heaven, and in the earth!” He surely is the “High and Lofty One that inhabits eternity” yet would have pity upon a sinner that humbles himself. We are to be united with Christ in His death. In that union is bliss and joy that is unutterable. Only a Christian can fathom what I mean by that last statement. The Christian life many times seems to be a paradox. The apostles rejoiced in that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ. What? They rejoiced when they were suffering? Why? Because they were brought into identification with Christ.
I've found when God reveals himself to someone it is nearly always humiliating. It brings a person to a point where they feel as though they are utterly nothing. Most people don't want a deeper walk with God because they don't want to be humiliated before Him. It's that plain and simple. Most are afraid to have their inward parts brought before their attention. They would rather do something outward than have an inward change. Many people that don't want to be embarrassed will always look nice on the outside, but will never show their real self. Really it is a form of pride expressing itself. One that is humble doesn't boast about themselves inward or outward because they haven't deceived themselves or try to deceive others. The one who is humble doesn't focus on what man thinks, but only God. The truly humble servant is submitted to his master and will boldly stand for him. Anything else that may hide under a mask called “humility” is a deception.
It is in this place of this humiliation that we see our complete need of a Savior. Jesus said in Matthew 23:12 “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” These words emanated so clearly from Christ because this is a great summation of what He did. He came to this earth, humbling himself, and now his name is above every name. Now all that humble themselves can be seated with him in heavenly places. Let Him receive glory! Amen.
It's so simple, yet profound how in the school of God certain events can seemly crush you. They crush you but at the same time it seems that it only compacts you together that you may be even more solid in Him than ever before. Christians should never be afraid to stand up in the midst of a wicked world and proclaim His truth. It may seem to be humiliating to be the “odd man out” but let us remember Christ suffered outside the gate. He was put outside the city and humiliated before all.
Hebrews 13:13-16 says this, “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
By Josh Parsley
Humiliation brings death. What do I mean by that? Well, just ask yourself the last time you were humiliated how you felt. Was it like a dagger that went down into the depths of your being? Humiliation is defined as “the state or feeling of being humiliated; mortification.” When a person is utterly humiliated it is as if they have been killed. Humiliation is very closely linked with being humble. It seems that many today would do good to be humiliated that they may be humbled or suffer humiliation in silence to show their humility.
Who knows more about being humiliated than Christ? Let's ponder this for a moment. Christ was the one that “all things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Christ, the uncreated one, became as a created one and suffered and died under the wickedness of created beings. Can anything be compared to that? This is much worse than what we could place ourselves into. Even if your own child were to take you, strip you down naked, tie you to a rack in the back of a truck, run through a car wash, then drive around the city with you in the back all the while someone was pouring feces on you, as graphic is that would be, that really doesn't compare. He could have called multitudes of angels down, yet he suffered in silence. He was the Lamb of God. He was slaughtered. And what did he say? “I'm coming back to judge you!” No. “Father! Forgive them for they know not what they do!” Is that your character? Do you suffer in silence or squawk that all may hear your roar of complaint?
When one is brought to a place of humility and death it brings that person into union with Christ. The Bible says that God “humbleth [himself] to behold [the things that are] in heaven, and in the earth!” He surely is the “High and Lofty One that inhabits eternity” yet would have pity upon a sinner that humbles himself. We are to be united with Christ in His death. In that union is bliss and joy that is unutterable. Only a Christian can fathom what I mean by that last statement. The Christian life many times seems to be a paradox. The apostles rejoiced in that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ. What? They rejoiced when they were suffering? Why? Because they were brought into identification with Christ.
I've found when God reveals himself to someone it is nearly always humiliating. It brings a person to a point where they feel as though they are utterly nothing. Most people don't want a deeper walk with God because they don't want to be humiliated before Him. It's that plain and simple. Most are afraid to have their inward parts brought before their attention. They would rather do something outward than have an inward change. Many people that don't want to be embarrassed will always look nice on the outside, but will never show their real self. Really it is a form of pride expressing itself. One that is humble doesn't boast about themselves inward or outward because they haven't deceived themselves or try to deceive others. The one who is humble doesn't focus on what man thinks, but only God. The truly humble servant is submitted to his master and will boldly stand for him. Anything else that may hide under a mask called “humility” is a deception.
It is in this place of this humiliation that we see our complete need of a Savior. Jesus said in Matthew 23:12 “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” These words emanated so clearly from Christ because this is a great summation of what He did. He came to this earth, humbling himself, and now his name is above every name. Now all that humble themselves can be seated with him in heavenly places. Let Him receive glory! Amen.
It's so simple, yet profound how in the school of God certain events can seemly crush you. They crush you but at the same time it seems that it only compacts you together that you may be even more solid in Him than ever before. Christians should never be afraid to stand up in the midst of a wicked world and proclaim His truth. It may seem to be humiliating to be the “odd man out” but let us remember Christ suffered outside the gate. He was put outside the city and humiliated before all.
Hebrews 13:13-16 says this, “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”