Theology Thursday
Q. 27. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?
A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to lose everything? No. Just take a moment to think about it. Imagine you lost your family. Your home. Your job. Your bank account. As a good brother said to me recently, the pillars of my life have been taken away. What would that be like?
It’s a hard thought. To be exposed and vulnerable like that. To be cast adrift from so much that anchors us in life.
This is what the Catechism means by the humiliation of Christ. He came from the place of no suffering to a place of great suffering. A realm of life to a realm of death and decay. A home of perfect and pure love, to a land of selfishness and apathy. In heaven He was seated on a throne. On earth He was born, as powerless as any baby, into an animal feeding trough.
But it means even more than that. What Jesus experienced is something like Lance Armstrong. Remember the cyclist? He was the best ever. Top of the world. And then, in the blink of an eye, he was nothing. His glory gone. I doubt he gets invited to speak at events or schools.
But Jesus didn’t cheat. He didn’t do something that deserved a loss of glory. No, He humbly chose to take that role. To even die a criminal's death. He who made the world was spat on, laughed at and abused.
Leading up to and onto the cross. Jesus would suffer the ultimate humiliation of the most cursed of deaths. Taking on the sin of His people, He became the scapegoat that was exiled even from His Father’s presence. All this He did, to save you.
Now that puts things in perspective. Particularly when Jesus calls on us to endure suffering for His sake. Because nothing we will experience compares.
For Today:
Pray:
Passages: Luke 2:7, Isaiah 53, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 27:46, 1 Peter 3:18
A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to lose everything? No. Just take a moment to think about it. Imagine you lost your family. Your home. Your job. Your bank account. As a good brother said to me recently, the pillars of my life have been taken away. What would that be like?
It’s a hard thought. To be exposed and vulnerable like that. To be cast adrift from so much that anchors us in life.
This is what the Catechism means by the humiliation of Christ. He came from the place of no suffering to a place of great suffering. A realm of life to a realm of death and decay. A home of perfect and pure love, to a land of selfishness and apathy. In heaven He was seated on a throne. On earth He was born, as powerless as any baby, into an animal feeding trough.
But it means even more than that. What Jesus experienced is something like Lance Armstrong. Remember the cyclist? He was the best ever. Top of the world. And then, in the blink of an eye, he was nothing. His glory gone. I doubt he gets invited to speak at events or schools.
But Jesus didn’t cheat. He didn’t do something that deserved a loss of glory. No, He humbly chose to take that role. To even die a criminal's death. He who made the world was spat on, laughed at and abused.
Leading up to and onto the cross. Jesus would suffer the ultimate humiliation of the most cursed of deaths. Taking on the sin of His people, He became the scapegoat that was exiled even from His Father’s presence. All this He did, to save you.
Now that puts things in perspective. Particularly when Jesus calls on us to endure suffering for His sake. Because nothing we will experience compares.
For Today:
- What aspect of Jesus’ humiliation stands out to you?
- What’s the hardest thing you have had to endure for Jesus' sake?
- Are you suffering for Christ right now? How? Reflect on His humiliation for your sake.
Pray:
- Praise the Father for His grace in allowing His Son to suffer.
- Give thanks for Christ who endured all the humiliations of the incarnation and the crucifixion for our sins.
- Ask God to send His Holy Spirit to help us be humbled by Christ and strengthened to endure for His name.
Passages: Luke 2:7, Isaiah 53, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 27:46, 1 Peter 3:18
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