Humility in the disciples of Jesus Christ
Let him who is chief among you be as one who serves. Luke 22:26.
We have looked at humility in the life and teaching of Jesus.
Now let us look for it in his closest followers, the twelve apostles.
If we see how much they lacked it, the contrast between Jesus Christ and other men becomes even clearer.
This will also help us understand the great change that came over them at Pentecost and show how real our own share can be in Christ's victory over the pride Satan introduced into humanity.
From the verses already quoted, we've seen the times when the disciples clearly lacked the grace of humility.
Once they argued on the road about which of them was the greatest.
Another time James and John through their mother asked to sit at Jesus's right and left in His kingdom.
Even during the last supper, they were still arguing about who should be considered the greatest.
That's not to say they never showed humility.
Apostle Peter once cried out "Depart from me, Lord, for l am a sinful man."
The disciples also bowed down and worshiped Jesus Christ after he calmed the storm.
But these moments were rare.
They only make it clearer that their usual way of thinking was still focused on self, on their own place and importance.
Looking closely at this contrast will teach us vital lessons.
First, consider how much sincere and active religion there can be even while humility is still deeply lacking.
Look at the disciples. They had a strong love for Jesus. They had left everything to follow him.
God had shown them that He was the Christ. They believed in Him.
They loved him and they kept his commands.
When others turned away, they stayed with him.
They were even willing to die with him.
Yet beneath all this, there was a hidden power at work in them. A dark force they hardly recognized.
It had to be broken and cast out before they could truly become witnesses to the saving power of Jesus Christ.
The same is true today.
There are pastors, missionaries, teachers, evangelists, and Christian workers who are clearly gifted and used by God to bless many.
But when trials come, or when we get to know them more closely, it becomes sadly clear that true humility is not a constant trait in their lives.
This only confirms the truth.
Humility is one of the highest and most essential graces. It is also one of the hardest to attain.
Humility should be the first goal we pursue and it only comes with power when the fullness of the spirit brings the living presence of Christ within us when he truly lives in us.
Second, see how powerless all outward teaching and personal effort are to defeat pride or produce a truly meek and lowly heart.
For 3 years, the disciples had been in Jesus's school.
He had clearly told them what he most wanted to teach. Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart
Again and again, he spoke to them, spoke to the Pharisees and spoke to the crowds about humility as the only path to God's glory.
Jesus Christ did not just teach it. He lived it before them.
As the Lamb of God, he walked in divine humility.
Jesus Christ revealed the deep secret of his life.
"The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and I am among you as one who serves."
Jesus Christ washed their feet and told them to do the same. Yet all this had little effect.
Even at the last supper, they were still arguing about who was the greatest.
No doubt they had tried to take his lessons to heart.
They had made firm decisions not to disappoint him again, but it was no use.
This shows us the vital truth.
No outward teaching, not even from Christ himself, no matter how clear or powerful, no strong desire for humility, no deep admiration for its beauty, no honest and determined effort can drive out the pride within us.
When pride tries to fight itself, it may seem to lessen, but it only returns in a stronger, more hidden form.
The only answer is this.
The new nature, Christ's nature, must come in power.
His divine humility must replace the old nature and become as real and natural to us as pride once was.
Third, it is only through the indwelling of Christ in His divine humility that we can truly become humble.
Just as we inherited pride from Adam, we must receive humility from another, Jesus Christ.
Pride is so powerful in us because it is part of who we are, our very nature.
In the same way, humility must become our nature, too.
It must be as natural and effortless to be humble as it once was to be proud.
The promise is this. Where sin increased, grace increased even more, even in the heart.
All of Christ's teaching and all the disciples failed efforts were necessary steps to prepare them for what was to come.
Christ himself entering into them with divine power to give them what he had taught and stirred them to long for.
By his death, Jesus Christ destroyed the devil's power, removed sin, and secured eternal redemption.
In his resurrection, he received from the Father a new kind of life.
Human life filled with divine power, able to be shared with others, able to enter and transform their lives.
In his ascension, he received the Spirit from the Father so he could do what he could not do while on earth.
He join himself to those he loved and actually live his life in them.
This meant they could walk before the Father in true humility because it was Christ himself living and breathing in them.
At Pentecost, He came and took possession.
The teaching that had awakened desire and hope was now fulfilled by the power of His Spirit.
The change was real. The lives and letters of James, Peter, and John clearly show that everything was made new.
The spirit of the humble and suffering Jesus Christ had truly taken hold of them.
What shall we say to these things?
Among those reading this, there are likely several different kinds of people.
Some may never have thought much about this subject and may not yet see how deeply important it is as a central issue for every Christian and for the church as a whole.
Others may have felt convicted over their lack of humility and tried hard to grow in it only to fail and feel discouraged.
Still others may be able to speak of real spiritual blessing and power but have never fully realized that others around them still see this grace as missing in their lives.
And there may be those people who can testify that the Lord has given them victory in this area as well, while also showing them how much more they still need and can receive from the fullness of Christ.
No matter which group we belong to, let us recognize how urgent it is that we all seek a deeper understanding of the special place humility holds in the Christian life.
Without it, neither the church nor the believer can be what Christ intends.
Jesus Christ's humility is his greatest glory, his first command to us, and our highest joy.
Let us seriously reflect on how far the disciples had come, even while this grace was still so lacking in them.
And let us ask God to keep us from being so satisfied with other gifts that we fail to see that the lack of humility is the very thing holding back the power of God among us.
Only when we like Jesus Christ truly know and confess that we can do nothing by ourselves will God be free to do all.
It is when the truth of Christ living in us takes its rightful place in our lives that the church will wear her garments of beauty.
And humility will be seen in her leaders and members as the true beauty of holiness.
Chapter 6 - Humility in Daily Life (continue here)
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