The Character of Christ: Humility
What does it mean to be truly humble?
It's a question worth sitting with, especially in a world that prizes self-promotion and personal brand. We celebrate those who climb to the top, who make a name for themselves, who refuse to be overlooked. Yet when we turn our gaze to Jesus Christ, we discover something radically different. Humility isn't the absence of strength—it's the foundation of true greatness. It's the bedrock upon which every other godly characteristic is built.
The Downward Journey
Consider the journey of Jesus. He existed in the very form of God, equal with the Father in glory, power, and honour. Yet He didn't cling to those privileges. He didn't insist on being treated according to His rightful position. Instead, He emptied Himself. He took on the form of a servant. He was born in human likeness, entering the world not in a palace but in a stable, not to royalty but to a young couple far from home.
This was only the beginning. Jesus humbled Himself further by becoming obedient to death—the most shameful, degrading death imaginable. Death on a cross. The Creator subjected Himself to His creation. The King died a criminal's death. That's humility in its purest, most shocking form.
The Towel and the Basin
Jesus didn't merely teach humility—He lived it. On the night before His crucifixion, when the weight of what was coming pressed heavily, Jesus wrapped a towel around His waist and washed His disciples' feet. This was the work of the lowest servant, the task no one wanted. Yet here was Jesus, knowing full well that all authority had been given to Him, choosing to kneel in the dirt and wash away the grime from the feet of those who would soon abandon Him.
When He finished, He sat back and made the point clear: "I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." Humility isn't just a nice idea. It's a pattern of life. It's choosing to serve rather than be served. It's kneeling when the world says to stand tall.
Gentle and Lowly
There's something beautiful in how Jesus described Himself. "I am gentle and lowly in heart," He said, inviting all who are weary and burdened to come to Him. His humility made Him approachable. It drew people in rather than pushing them away. The broken, the marginalised, the sinners—they found in Jesus someone who didn't look down on them but drew near.
This is the Christ we're called to follow. Not the Christ of our imagination who validates our pride, but the Christ who shows us a better way. The one who teaches us that the path to glory runs through the valley of humility.
The Process of Becoming
Here's what matters: God is shaping us to have the character of Christ. He positions us strategically in places and situations where humility can be established and deepened. Often, asking to be more like Jesus becomes an invitation to endure situations that expose our pride, our self-sufficiency, our need to be recognised. These moments aren't punishment—they're grace. They reveal what needs to be put on the cross so the Spirit of God can change us from the inside out.
Becoming humble like Jesus isn't about thinking less of ourselves. It's about thinking less about ourselves. It's recognising that we're completely dependent on God, that every breath is a gift, that we have nothing we haven't received. When we grasp this—really grasp it—humility flows naturally.
For His Name's Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
Next Steps
Reflect: Where in your life is God inviting you to humble yourself? Is there a relationship where you need to serve rather than be served? A situation where you need to let go of your need to be right or recognised? Spend time honestly examining areas where pride has taken root.
Pray: Lord Jesus, You are the perfect model of humility. You who are exalted above all chose to descend to the lowest place. Forgive me for the times I've sought my own glory rather than Yours. Grant me the grace to follow Your example, to embrace the towel and basin, to find my identity in being Your servant. Change me from the inside out. Make me gentle and lowly in heart like You. For Your glory alone. Amen.
Act: This week, identify one specific way you can demonstrate humility in action. Perhaps it's apologising when you've been wrong, serving someone who can offer you nothing in return, or choosing to elevate someone else's contribution instead of your own. Do it quietly, without announcement, and notice how the Spirit works in your heart through the act.
