Category: Humanity Of Christ

Humility on Display

4/27/2021

Philippians 2:1-8. Therefore if there is any encourage-ment in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.

Big Idea:  Jesus was gaining popularity quickly. The news was spreading about a miracle-working Rabbi who might be the Messiah. For most people, becoming famous or popular presents a crisis of pride. Pride is a part of the hubris that is exposed as people start believing their own press. In spite of His fame, Jesus continued to demonstrate humility.
We certainly do not live in a culture that places much, if any value on humility. Culturally, we celebrate the famous, the rich, the powerful, and all the want-to-be's of our social media world. It is so unlike the Christian value of walking in humility.
Therefore, our call to walk in the humility of Christ is a call that is at odds with the values of our culture. We are called to esteem others as better than ourselves. We are called to put the needs of others before we consider our own. This is all a part of following the call of Christ as opposed to following the dictates of the world.

Questions to Consider:

How is it possible to consider others as better than yourself without putting yourself down or making yourself the focus of your efforts?
How can we practically practice putting the needs of others before our own?
How would the world benefit by people who walk in humility?

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Crowds of People

4/26/2021

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Text: Mark 3:7-12 7 Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and also from Judea, 8 and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, a great number of people heard of all that He was doing and came to Him. 9 And He told His disciples that a boat should stand ready for Him because of the crowd, so that they would not crowd Him; 10 for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed around Him in order to touch Him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, "You are the Son of God!" 12 And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was.

So, Jesus was gaining in popularity. For most of us, that would be very challenging. Part of the sin nature is the hubris of pride that is trapped in our hearts. We long for significance and recognition. To complicate matters, we live in a culture that seems to thrive on celebrity and narcissism. Jesus met the challenge of pride with a demonstration of true humility.
Jesus is our example in all things, including how to walk in humility. There is no doubt that people accomplish and do some pretty spectacular things. In fact, we have works to accomplish that God has prepared for us. These "works" are significant and may even bring attention to the person who accomplished them. However, as Believers, we need to strive for humility even as our popularity grows. It is possible to be famous and humble at the same time. Jesus showed us the way.

Questions to Consider:

Many of the children stars that were on the cast of a Disney Show, seem to struggle with fame. Why do you think fame is problematic?
Jesus was becoming popular in Israel, what kind of problem did this create for Him?
How popular would a person be today who could heal the sick and raise the dead?

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While Men Slept

3/1/2021

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Text: Mark 1:35-39 35 And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time. 36 Simon and his companions eagerly searched for Him; 37 and they found Him and *said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 He said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may also preach there; for this is why I came.” 39 And He went into their synagogues preaching throughout Galilee, and casting out the demons.

Questions to consider:

1. How do you view prayer? Do you view it as a work or a privilege?

2. Why is it that Jesus went to a secluded place? What is it about seclusion that makes prayer more powerful for you?

3. When it comes to ministering to others, why do you think we become tired or exhausted by ministry?

As believers in Christ we understand the divinity of Christ and the numerous times He is referred to as the 'Son of God'. In fact, this was one of the main reasons why He was delivered up to the Romans to be crucified because He spoke of himself as being 'one' with the Father. But when we look at the ministry of Christ we see that He ministered as a man (while still fully God) full of the Holy Spirit, obeying the voice of His Father. So, when we look at the humanity of Christ there is a remarkable aspect to how He lived. Understand this, even in Christ's humanity, He was unlike any other man.
When we look at our text we get a glimpse into the remarkable 'other-worldly' way that Christ lived on earth.
Mark 1:32- When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed.
Mark 1:35- And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time.
Imagine you just got done working a 12 hour shift at the local market. It was a long day with many stresses and issues to deal with. There is one thing you are looking forward to which is 'closing time'. The time you get to head home, relax, eat dinner with your family and then head off to your cozy bed to get rejuvenated. Yet, when we look at Mark 1:32 we see that when the evening came, Jesus ministered. During a time when most men would be relaxing with a few drinks, 'kicking back' with their friends, hanging out at the house with their families; Jesus is giving out freedom to demon-possessed people and healing many who were ill with various diseases.
To further confirm the uniqueness of the humanity of Christ; the next morning after a full night of ministry, Jesus wakes up before everyone else, while it was still dark, to go to a secluded place to pray. There was no apparent need for Him to get up early to go and pray; except the need within Himself to minister and be ministered to by His Father. Here is the main takeaway: while other men slept, Jesus ministered and prayed. What about us?
Jesus gave a parable in Matthew 13:24-30 about the tares among wheat. A man sowed good seed into his field that would eventually produce good crops. But the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat. So when the wheat sprouted the tares came along with it. But notice verse 25 of Matthew 13. It says: “But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.
How did the tares come into the good field? Was it because of devious, evil acts among the field keepers? Was it because these field keepers hated the field owner and wanted to destroy his crops? No, it was a very simple choice that allowed this to happen. While men slept.
Let us all understand that when Jesus calls us to 'be ready' and 'be on the alert'; it is because, while we may be sleeping, the enemy is working. Our sleeping, our apathy, our lack of concern for the lost and hurting. These are the open doors that our enemy looks for to come and sow his lies and deceit. Let us not be a sleeping church, let us not give an opportunity to the devil!

For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14

How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? Proverbs 6:9

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