Jesus, the Humble King

Jesus is a humble King.  The powerful in this world invest in bullet proof glass, secret elevators and entrances, security systems, bodyguards, and automated iron gates.  Closed circuit televisions and paid guards ensure that no threat ranges too close.  Though a King, Jesus did not live in a stone castle surrounded with a moat filled with crocodiles:  He did not even have a place to lay His head.  He picked up and blessed little children, healed the sick, delivered those who were demon possessed, and raised the dead.  Kings historically have armies to fight for them.  Courageous men faced and embraced death for king and country.  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the only King I know who died in place of all people:  His own, and for even those who would reject Him.  He could have called legions of angels to His aid, but He refused.  Jesus humbled Himself, made Himself of no reputation as a servant, and laid down His life upon the cross (Phil. 2:5-8).

But the humility of Christ is not only revealed upon the cross.  Last night I was enraptured to consider the simple fact that Jesus became flesh.  Mary was betrothed to Joseph, yet he found out she was pregnant.  He had not slept with her, so this was a most unfortunate event.  The only natural explanation is someone else had, despite her claiming otherwise.  As Joseph mulled over how to put Mary away secretly, without making a huge spectacle, an angel appeared to him in a dream.  Matthew 1:20-23 relates, "...Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. ²¹ And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." ²² So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ²³ "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."  The virgin Mary had conception through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus was at that moment growing within her!

How amazing is the thought, that Jesus was Immanuel while developing within His mother's womb!  Jesus allowed Himself to be confined to a human body and even to be confined within a womb for 9 months!  He did not forgo any part of the human existence.  I wondered if He was active in the womb.  When Jesus was born, He no doubt cried like any other baby.  He needed someone to clean Him and cut the umbilical cord.  He needed to be dressed, changed, and fed.  His body functioned just like every other baby.  God didn't have to humble Himself, but He did.  Jesus Christ is greater than any earthly king, being KING of KINGS.  No king would voluntarily give up His kingdom and live for the rest of His days as a peasant, but Christ stepped down from a heavenly throne to put on human flesh and embrace the cross.  What love, what a King!

Kings, celebrities, and the powerful are isolated from the public with barriers and security.  It is a huge deal when they walk down a red carpet and pause to allow people to take their picture. Yet Jesus walked on dirt paths, met with people without appointments, and loved it because He loved people.  Instead of royal robes He girded Himself with a towel and washed the disciple's feet.  As Christians, we ought to have such a humble heart and mind.  Philippians 2:5-8 reads, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."  It is only after being regenerated by the Holy Spirit that we will even desire or embrace such a life.  But such is the glorious path to eternal glory our Saviour Jesus has blazed.  He says to all who follow Him in faith in Revelation 3:21:  "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."