Historical Contrasts 

Both the Talmud and Josephus describe the arrival of a V.I.P. to Jerusalem. His name was Alexander, but we know him as Alexander the Great. Under his leadership, his armies had conquered the entire world known to Europeans at that time. In fact, he led his armies beyond the world Europeans had mapped. He conquered and ruled over a vast empire as king. He accomplished all of this before his death at the age of twenty-nine.

Alexander was an imposing figure, taller than most of his contemporaries. He was also an accomplished horseman. His favorite war horse, Bucephalus, was equally imposing. Alexander entered Jerusalem on his way to Egypt and further conquests, seated on Bucephalus. He made an unforgettable first impression on the Jewish dignitaries. The distance from the ground to the top of his plumed helmet while seated on Bucephalus is estimated to have been thirteen feet. No one had to ask, “Who is that?” Everyone bowed before his majesty, King Alexander, who towered above everyone else.

Appropriately 350 years later, Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Hundreds of thousands of Jewish pilgrims were crowded into the city for the Passover celebration. Most of them were familiar with the story of Alexander the Great’s entry into Jerusalem (because they knew the Talmud). They were also familiar with the Psalms and the Prophets. Psalm 24:7 (NIV) spoke of a King of glory entering the city, referring to a King greater than Alexander the Great.

⁷ Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.

The prophet Zechariah had also prophesied the arrival of a righteous king in Jerusalem (9:9):

⁹ Rejoice, O people of Zion! 
Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious,
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—
riding on a donkey’s colt.

Jesus was that King of glory, but he entered the holy city in a less conspicuous way. Everyone had instantly identified Alexander the Great because he was head and shoulders above them. Jesus was less conspicuous as he moved through the crowd at eye level, riding on a donkey’s colt. Yet many recognized that his humble arrival fulfilled the O.T. prophecies about the King of glory. They threw their cloaks and palm branches before him, an ancient equivalent to rolling out the red-carpet. But others, oblivious to the significance of this event, muttered, “Who is this?” (Matthew 21:10). Jesus’ humility both concealed and revealed his identity. The promised King of glory was not exalted by riding a prancing war horse, but by entering the city seated on a lowly donkey and then five days later being nailed to a cross. What a contrast!

Radical Humility

The cross is unique to Christianity. No other world religion is even remotely similar. Consequently, cross-training (Challenge 5) is also a uniquely Christian process of intentionally cultivating Christ-like character. Humility is an essential and non-negotiable component of Christ-like character. C. S. Lewis said humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. Humility is having a modest opinion of your own importance. A humble person is self-effacing, ordinary, or lowly, and never proud, pretentious, or arrogant. The late Vernon Grounds articulated this view of humility in an article on “Humility” (The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible Vol. 3, 1976, p. 222):

Unique to Biblical faith, humility is a virtue to which other religions accord no honor and even fail to recognize. Philosophers, except those positively influenced by the Judeo-Christian tradition, likewise ignore or belittle it. Thus Aristotle in his masterful systemization of pre-Christian wisdom … praises a high-minded self-sufficiency which is the obverse [opposite] of tapeinofrosune [Greek for “humility”]. Centuries later Fredrich Nietzsche castigates humility as part and parcel of a perverted morality, that Christian transvaluation [altering] of values in which inferior individuals like Paul resentfully metamorphose their baseness and weakness, exalting servility to the apex of excellence. Humility, therefore, is attacked by Nietzsche as a denial of that genuine humanity which will be embodied in the anti-Christian, aristocratic Superman.

Christianity lifts up humility as a core virtue. However, both secular philosophers and other world religions reject humility as a virtue. Nietzsche detested humility, believing it to be the polar opposite, a perversion, of what people should aspire to become. Nietzsche believed we should aspire to become like Alexander the Great. For him as well as many of those who reject the gospel, humility is a weakness to be eradicated rather than a virtue to emulate.

The radical nature of the Christian faith becomes obvious when we reject the quest for status, strength, and power. Instead, we exalt the cross and its implicit prerequisite, humility. The word radical comes from the Latin word radix, which means “root” – like the roots of a tree. Therefore, our critics seek to sever our connections to our roots. But disciples flourish only when we stay true to our humble roots. Humility makes us more like Jesus and less like the world around us. 

Gospel Roots: The Incarnation and Cross

Once again, we turn to Philippians 2:5-8, which tracks the humility of Jesus through both his incarnation and his crucifixion. Humility is a thread that links these two pillars (incarnation and crucifixion) of Christian truth. 

⁶ Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
⁷ Instead, he emptied himself;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
⁸ he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Philippians 2:6-8

Humility is a theme or thread that runs through every line of this passage. Its importance cannot be over-stated. Pay attention to the flow of this text:

Jesus is God.
↓
Jesus did not cling to his status as God.
↓
Jesus emptied himself of his Divine rights and privileges.
↓
Jesus became a human being.
↓
As a human, Jesus assumed the status and role of a slave.
↓
The authorities tortured and executed Jesus as a despised criminal.

The passage begins by affirming Jesus’ elevated divine status, power, and authority – Jesus was God and knew no limitations. He always existed and could not die. He owned all things and had no needs. He experienced no pain, no suffering, and knew all things. He lived in perfect harmony and love as a member of the Trinity.

Jesus voluntarily surrendered all the benefits and privileges he enjoyed as God to become a human being, like us in every way but without sin. Jesus accepted human limitations. He entered the world he had created as a helpless infant, born in a barn, not in a palace. His family had no wealth and little social standing. He owned nothing, had no authority, no strength, and no position. This is a picture of radical humility.

Then Jesus humbled himself further by assuming the status of a slave. A slave was an object or possession and had no rights, privileges, income, or intrinsic value. His life was not his own. No one was lower than a slave in the social hierarchy. To voluntarily become a slave took humility to an almost incomprehensible extreme.

Yet Jesus took humility even further when he submitted to crucifixion, a way of dying designed to both torture and humiliate the victim. He hung naked before all, quivering in pain. The only thing worse than crucifixion is to be completely abandoned by God. Jesus reached rock bottom when he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:35). It was the cry of absolute desolation. But shockingly, through his resurrection, Jesus transformed the cross (absolute humility) into the ultimate revelation of God’s love and glory. It answers three important questions: “Why is humility a virtue, how much does God love me, and where do we see God’s glory?”

But this transformation could not have happened without the truth revealed in Philippians verses 9-11. They reversed the direction and reveal the heights to which humility catapulted Jesus.

⁹ Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

The Father elevated Jesus to “the highest place of honor” because of his humility. Consequently, “every knee should [will] bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” What a reversal! Imagine Alexander the Great on his knees declaring Jesus is Lord of all. Sinful humanity seeks to seize God’s glory through self-exaltation and power, but God only shares his glory with the humble. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” (James 4:10). 

Humility and Saving Faith

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14) illumines another facet of humility. The two characters in this story went to meet God in the Temple. The Pharisee prayed “I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!’” (v. 11). The tax collector, on the other hand, “stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me for I am a sinner’” (v. 13). Jesus concluded the parable by saying, “I tell you this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be exalted” (v. 14). The Philippians 2:5-11 passage linked humility to love and glory. In this story, Jesus linked humility with saving faith. Thus, love, glory, and saving faith all require and express humility. 

Humility and Relationships

⁸ No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

This and other passages reveal humility is essential for healthy relationships. We cannot have a genuine relationship with God without humility. Likewise, we cannot have healthy relationships with each other without humility. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” (Phil 2:3) 

Humility and Self-Denial

The world tells us to magnify and exalt ourselves in order to taste life at its best. We are  encouraged to live as if we are the center of the universe, essentially making ourselves into idols by demanding our rights and privileges. Jesus, however, repeatedly called his disciples to deny themselves, by voluntarily giving up their rights and privileges, just as he voluntarily denied and emptied himself of his rights and privileges as the Son of God.

²³ “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
Luke 19:23-24

Jesus did not say we “could” deny ourselves, but that we “must” deny ourselves by taking up our crosses and following him. This is the way to life, not magnifying ourselves and seeking to fulfill our every desire. Self-denial is voluntarily choosing to surrender our rights, privileges, and desires in order to faithfully follow Jesus. It is the way of the cross. Jesus said, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it” (Matt 7:13-14). The narrow road embraces cross-training, which includes intentional, voluntary, self-denial which expresses true humility.

Summary and Conclusion

The second tier of challenges, Cross Training, beginning with Challenge #5 (Broken), calls all disciples to become more like Jesus. Part “C” lifts up humility as an indispensable component in our cross training. But humility turns the ways of the world upside down. Life in the kingdom has radically different values. The radical nature of God’s Kingdom is rooted (radix) in humility before God and one another. Humility is not weakness, but an expression of strength exercised with self-restraint. Love, self-denial, healthy relationships, saving faith, and ultimately, sharing in the Lord’s glory, are eternally linked to humility. It permeates every part of Kingdom living. God prizes humility.

The Bible links humility to other aspects of kingdom living, including:

1. Humility is the flip-side of love—true love requires self-giving humility.

2. Humility expresses faith in and dependence upon God. Saving faith always demonstrates humility because we cannot save ourselves.

3. Humility is a prerequisite for developing an intimate relationship with Jesus (abiding in Christ). 

4. Humility often manifests itself in acts of self-denial, voluntarily giving up our rights, privileges, and/or desires for the sake of Jesus.

5. Finally, humility, not self-exaltation, leads to glory. God exalts the humble.

Conclusion: The world mocks and rejects humility, but disciples consider it as essential to their well-being as breathing. Humility is a crucial component in cross-training and mandatory for living under the rule of Jesus in the Kingdom of God. Without humility, it is impossible to please or follow Jesus. Jesus’ humility enriched his life (pleasing the Father) and the lives of those around him. Billions of people have been enriched through Jesus’ humility that was fully revealed on the cross. Consequently, apprentices of Jesus intentionally cultivate a Christ-like attitude of radical humility that shapes our actions in every area of life. 

THINKING IT THROUGH

He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.  Psalm 25:9

THE TRUTH: Jesus was different: holiness characterized his life and enriched the lives of others. 

YOUR CHALLENGE: Disciples continually cultivate character and holiness. 

The Scriptures, questions, and notes are for group discussion and personal reflection. Our goal in Tier II is character transformation which requires sustained effort and growing faith. The questions can help you understand this challenge at a deeper level. We encourage you to focus on those questions that you find most interesting or helpful. This is not a test, but a tool to help you work the challenges.

Related Scriptures

Matthew 5:5 ⁵ God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. 

Galatians 6:14 ¹⁴ As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Colossians 3:12 ¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

1 Peter 3:8 ⁸ Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted and keep a humble attitude.

Matthew 11:29 ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalm 149:4 ⁴ For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

Isaiah 29:19 ¹⁹ The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord. The poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Ephesians 4:2 ² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Luke 1:52 ⁵² He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.

Psalm 18:27 ²⁷ You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud. 

Matthew 18:4 ⁴ So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

1 Peter 5:5 6 ⁵ And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ⁶ So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

James 3:13 ¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

James 4:6-8, 10
⁶ And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.” [quote from Proverbs 4:6]
⁷ So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Questions

You are encouraged to use these questions for group discussion or personal reflection. Respond to the questions that are most relevant or interesting to you (I urge you to write your responses in a journal or notebook). 

1. Jesus connected humility to saving faith (Luke 18:14). How does humility relate to Challenge 1, going “All-In” for Jesus? Can one go all-in for Jesus without humility? Why or why not?

2. Challenge 3 is “Thankful Hearts.” Is humility a prerequisite for a thankful heart or is a thankful heart a prerequisite for humility? Describe the relationship between thankfulness and humility.

3. Think about a person you know whom you consider to be humble. What do you most appreciate about the way he or she expresses their humility?

4. Why or how does humility enrich the lives of others?

5. True or False:
   _____ Humility requires that we belittle or diminish our value.
   _____ Humble people don’t ask questions.
   _____ Humble people are life-long learners.
   _____ Humble people have less stress in their lives.
   _____ Humility is essential for living under the Lordship of Christ.

6. How can humility improve your relationships with other individuals?

7. A friend of mine, Uli Chi, says, “Humility is the expression of our hope in God, rather than ourselves.” Explain your understanding of what he means. Do you agree or disagree with him?

8. How does God’s grace fit into a discussion of humility? Does humility encourage people to extend grace to other people?

9. What makes humility difficult for you? Or what aspects of humility do you struggle with?

10. Kneeling is making ourselves appear smaller before another. Does kneeling express humility? Is it an appropriate position for prayer or worship? 

11. What is the relationship between a humble attitude and worship? Do you approach public worship with an attitude of humility? Why does it matter?

12. Can humility influence one’s attitude toward suffering, pain, or loss?

13. Does humility influence one’s attitude toward truth? If so, how and why?

14. Finally, prayerfully read the story of Jesus washing his disciples feet in John 13:1-17 and then write what Jesus wanted to teach his disciples through his actions and his words.

Copyright © 2024 Don Waite

All rights reserved.

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