The Humility of Christ

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” - Philippians 2:5-7

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Christ’s taking our flesh was a great abasement. For the Son of God to be made flesh was more humility than for all the angels in heaven to be made worms. He stripped Himself of the robes of divine majesty and covered Himself with the rags of human nature. It would have been much for man to become a worm, but for God to become man was far more. Low thoughts of Christ make low thoughts of sin. If Christ humbled Himself to be made flesh, how should we be humbled who have defiled our flesh with sin!

There is a mighty mystery in the person of Christ. That two natures, perfect and distinct, should be united in one person without conversion or confusion of either is a profound mystery. Christ took our flesh, yet not our sin. He assumed human weakness but not human wickedness. Though He took our nature, He did not take our corruption. He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, yet without sin. Christ humbled Himself to be made man and to be born of a woman, and that woman a poor woman. He was born not in a palace but in a stable. He lay not in a cradle of gold but in a feeding trough. The King of glory had no attendants of state, but only the company of beasts.

Christ descended so low that He might raise us so high. Though He was God, He became man. Though He was Lord of all, He became a servant. Though He had the highest honor, He endured the deepest shame. Though He was clothed with glory, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. Christ’s humiliation is the saints’ exaltation. He was man that we might be made children of God. He became poor that we might be made rich. He endured the wrath of God that we might enjoy the love of God.

(Takem From The Incarnation by Thomas Watson)