How does Jesus exemplify humility, and how can we follow His example? The Setting of Luke 14:11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11) – Spoken at a dinner where Jesus noticed guests scrambling for the best seats (Luke 14:7–10) – Jesus flips worldly values: true honor comes when God lifts us up, not when we lift ourselves How Jesus Models Humility – Birth in a manger (Luke 2:7): the King arrives with no earthly fanfare – Life of service (Mark 10:45): “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” – Foot-washing (John 13:4-5, 14-15): the Master performs a slave’s task, then says, “You also should wash one another’s feet.” – Submission to the Father (Philippians 2:5-8): • “He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.” – Silence before accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-14): power under control, choosing meekness – Dependence on prayer (Mark 1:35; Luke 22:41-42): constant acknowledgment of the Father’s will Practical Steps to Follow His Humility – Choose the low place: look for unnoticed tasks and do them gladly (Luke 14:10) – Serve without spotlight: give, visit, encourage where no applause is expected (Matthew 6:3-4) – Submit to God’s timing: allow Him to open doors rather than striving for self-promotion (1 Peter 5:6) – Value others above self (Philippians 2:3-4): actively seek ways to advance their good – Guard the heart: confess pride quickly, remembering that “apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5) – Speak with gentleness: let words build up, not broadcast superiority (Ephesians 4:29) The Promise of Exaltation – God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6) – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may exalt you in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6) – Jesus Himself is now “highly exalted” because He first went low (Philippians 2:9-11) Key Takeaways – Humility is not self-loathing; it is accurate self-assessment under God’s gaze – The way down is the way up: God alone decides exaltation – Following Jesus’ pattern means daily, practical choices to serve, submit, and trust – When humility is embraced, God’s honor replaces human applause—now and forever |
    |