Vol.15 No.1

Humility in the Teaching of Jesus
From His very words, we learn about the chief of all the graces, the only ladder to honor in God’s Kingdom.
By Andrew Murray

We have seen the humility in the life of Christ; let us review His teaching. There we shall learn how much He expects people, and especially His disciples, to be humble as He was.

Look at the commencement of His ministry. In the Beatitudes, with which the Sermon on the Mount opens, He speaks: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:3, 5. The very first words of His proclamation of the kingdom of heaven reveal the open gate through which alone we enter. The blessings of heaven and earth are for the lowly. Humility is the secret of blessing.

“…learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29. Jesus tells us what the spirit is, which we shall find in Him as Teacher, and which we can learn and receive from Him. Meekness and lowliness are what He offers us; in them we shall find perfect rest of soul. Humility is to be our salvation.

The disciples had been disputing who would be the greatest in the kingdom, and had agreed to ask the Master. Luke 9:46. He set a child in their midst and said, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:4. Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? The chief glory of heaven, the true heavenly-mindedness, the chief of the graces, is humility. “…for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.” Luke 9:48.

The mother of the sons of Zebedee had asked Jesus for them to sit on His right and left, the highest places in the kingdom. Jesus said it was not His to give, but the Father’s, who would give it to those for whom it was prepared. They must not look or ask for it. Their thought must be of the baptism of humiliation. And then He added, “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister…” Matthew 20:27, 28. The lowliest is the nearest to God. Primacy in the church is promised to the humblest.

Speaking to the multitude and the disciples of the Pharisees and their love of the chief seats, Christ said once again, “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” Matthew 23:11. Humility is the only ladder to honor in God’s kingdom.

On another occasion, in the house of a Pharisee, He spoke the parable of the guest who would be invited to come up higher and added, “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 14:11. There is no other way. Self-abasement alone will be exalted.

After the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, Christ spoke again: “…every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:14. In the presence and worship of God, everything is worthless that is not pervaded by deep, true humility towards God and men.

After washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” John 13:14. Christ’s own authority and personal  example, confirm the need to make humility the first and most essential element of discipleship.

At the Holy Supper table, the disciples still disputed who should be the greatest. Jesus said, “…but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.… I am among you as he that serveth.” Luke 22:26, 27. The path in which Jesus walked and which He opened up for us is ever the humility that makes me the servant of all.

How little this is preached. How little it is practiced. How little the lack of it is felt or confessed. And, how few ever think of making it a distinct object of continual desire or prayer. “Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” We know what the character of a faithful servant implies— total devotion to the master’s interest.

To how many of us has it not been a new joy in the Christian life to know that we may yield ourselves as servants to God, and to find that His service is our highest liberty—the liberty from sin and self?

We need to learn another lesson, that Jesus calls us to be servants of one another, and as we accept it heartily, this service too will be most blessed. At first, it may appear hard, but this is only because of pride.

If we learn that to be nothing before God is the spirit of Jesus and the joy of heaven, we shall welcome with our whole heart the discipline that we may have in serving even those who try to vex us.

When our heart is set upon this—the true sanctification—we shall study each word of Jesus on self-abasement with new zest. And no place will be too low, no stooping too deep, and no service too inferior or too long continued, if we may but share the fellowship with Him who spoke, “I am among you as he that serveth.” Luke 22:27.

Do not seek exaltation

Friends, seek not, ask not for exaltation—that is God’s work. Humble yourselves, and take no place before God or man but that of a servant. That is your work; let that be your one purpose and prayer. Just as water always seeks and fills the lowest place, so the moment God finds the creature empty, His glory and power flow in to exalt and to bless. “He that humbleth himself”—that must be our one care; “shall be exalted”—that is God’s care.

By His mighty power and in His great love, He will do it!

Jesus, the meek and lowly One, calls us to learn of Him. Let us study His words, until our heart is filled with the thought—my one need is humility. And let us believe that what He shows, He gives; what

He is, He imparts. As the meek and lowly One, He will come in and dwell in the longing heart.

* Adapted from Andrew Murray, Humility: The Beauty of Holiness, “Humility in the Life of Jesus.” For a free copy of the entire booklet, contact chapel@mountzion.org  or visit www.mountzion.org.