Jesus washing the disciples' feet (note his manly haircut)
So many people think of humility as weakness. Nothing could be further from the truth. True humility is not born of any self-effacing contempt for one's own perceived deficiencies. It has nothing to do with adopting a posture of inferiority, in the sight of men, in order to give the appearance of self-abasement. True humility is only sometimes soft-spoken, tender and mild. At other times it commands with indomitable power. But at all times, whether one is moved to 'wash the disciples' feet', or to to 'overthrow the money-changers' tables and drive them out with a whip', as it were: true humility doesn't come and go but it is ever present, it never retreats, it never withers in the face of any circumstance. True humility is infused with divine strength, under-girding the soul like the ocean bearing up some great ship. True humility is the seal, the proof, if you will, of one who is in possession of a heavenly vision.
The late Francis Schaeffer - a very gifted Christian theologian and philosopher of the twentieth-century - wrote, in his book "True Spirituality":
When God tells us [Christians] to live as though we had died, gone to heaven, seen the truth there, and come back to this world, he is not asking us merely to act on some psychological motivation, but on what really is.
In the above quote, Schaeffer is referring to the Christian's identification with Christ in his crucifixion, death, burial (represented in baptism), and resurrection: all of which positions the Christian to "walk in newness of life", by virtue of the 'new birth' (spiritual regeneration) and the indwelling Spirit of Christ. We, Christians, are to live in this present world as if we are really (eternally) alive from the dead, and now living in the power of the Resurrection. Schaeffer compared the above-mentioned process to the Apostle Paul's experience, when he was stoned and left for dead and, later that same day, Paul evidently came back to life and then stood upon his feet, completely well. Whereas Paul wrote that he "knew a man" who had such an experience of being in the "third heaven", where he saw and heard unspeakable things; Schaeffer believes that man was Paul himself; and so do I. Schaeffer then said that Paul's experience of seeing heaven must have profoundly changed his life: that is to say, it must have radically altered his thinking and his conduct after that Paul was restored to life in this world. Doubtless that was the case. For, Paul, after that experience, later wrote that he continually felt as if he lived 'between a rock and a hard place', as the saying goes, being torn between two great desires, viz.: on the one hand, wanting to go (return) to heaven and to be with Christ; and, on the other hand, wanting to remain in the world for the sake of teaching and shepherding the Church. Paul's great conflict stemmed from his experience of having seen the reality of heaven.
Thus a most important factor which enables one to live in this present world not as a mere mortal but as one possessed of eternal life, abiding in the power of the Resurrected Christ, appears in Schaeffer's above quotation, where he said that we must "live as though we had died, gone to heaven, seen the truth there, and come back to this world". Most Christians seem to have seen very little of "the truth there", in heaven. Judging from the way they live, they couldn't wait to get back to earth - to the television programs, to the shopping malls, to the frivolity and countless distractions of this present life, practically as soon as they had been born-again. Heaven was not much more than a 'port-of-call', on their round-trip journey to glory and back again to this world, subsequent to their conversion. Having seen with their own, newly-opened spiritual eyes the brilliance of New Jerusalem afar off, and being thus satisfied of the bare fact of heaven, they have since contented themselves with the thought of one day being allowed to actually go there - never realizing that, in a real sense and in real measure, access to heaven is their present birthright.
Only those whose eyes have "beheld the King in his glory" can be possessed of true humility. True humility is not born of inward looking and, there, seeing oneself as impotent. But true humility flows from the springs of true spirituality, which replenish the soul not alone with divine thoughts and images, but with genuine faith, respecting the King and his eternal Kingdom. Those who are born of God, who are 'new creatures' in Christ Jesus, are not born blind and deaf, but they have been given 'seeing eyes' and 'hearing ears' with which to perceive spiritual realities. True humility takes hold when one accepts and believes the truth involving himself or herself, "in the sight of God". In other words, when we see God, in some substantial measure and according to the truth of his divine nature: only then can we really see ourselves - and other human beings - as we are. We cannot view God as if in (his) isolation; for, the beholder is necessarily aware of his or her own being, in the Presence of God. In comparison with who and what God is, we are in one sense as nothing. Yet, the Bible tells us that we were made in God's own image. Accordingly, the seeming paradox - which really is no paradox but two aspects of one and the same truth; the seeming paradox, I say, serves to form a right perspective, in one's own mind: a) of God; b) of oneself; and, c) of other human beings. Of God, because, we must see that God is indeed transcendent, higher than the works of his hands, and greater by far than we are at all capable of imagining him to be. Of oneself, because, in the light of such an image of God the Creator, I see myself at once as a created being, yet, one who is made in the image of God. Of other human beings, because, I see my fellow man, though fallen and a slave to sin, yet, he, too, is made in the image of God - and he is the object of God's love in and through Jesus Christ.
True humility, then, while it brings me very low indeed, in the sight of the Great God; yet, at the same time it also lifts me high and draws me near unto him. Moreover, to be like him is a thought, and a goal, and a privilege, and a prize that is set before me as a real opportunity and possibility; yet, only so, by virtue of God's effectual grace and power toward me and in me, in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Behold Christ! Consider him who came down from the throne of his eternal glory to become like unto the least among mortals. His first bed was a cattle-trough. He grew up in relative obscurity. His few, short years of ministry, though attended by the most spectacular demonstrations of divine power in the behalf of mankind, consisted of increasing opposition to himself. He suffered ignominious death by crucifixion, as even his own disciples fearfully fled his company, leaving him to die among thieves. But that same Christ arose from the dead with unspeakable power and, not many days afterwards, he ascended into heaven where, as Lord of heaven and earth, he now sits enthroned at the right hand of God. Now, listen to God's King speak from his place of supreme power and authority. What will he say? Will he avenge himself upon the human race because of how he suffered at our hands? Will he utterly crush us beneath his feet, which, because of his perfection and holiness, shine like polished brass in flames of fire? Can we at all endure his Word, which proceeds like a two-edged sword from the same mouth that spoke Creation into existence? Hear, O earth! Give heed, ye heavens! Christ the Lord speaks:
If the Lord of all Creation is "meek and lowly in heart", what else can we be, what else dare we be, in his sight? If we aspire and purpose to be like he is, then, what HIGHER character could we ever hope to attain to, unless, we seek to emulate the greatest mind, the greatest heart, the greatest soul that ever lived: that is, the man Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is "meek and lowly in heart"?
Only those whose eyes have "beheld the King in his glory" can be possessed of true humility. True humility is not born of inward looking and, there, seeing oneself as impotent. But true humility flows from the springs of true spirituality, which replenish the soul not alone with divine thoughts and images, but with genuine faith, respecting the King and his eternal Kingdom. Those who are born of God, who are 'new creatures' in Christ Jesus, are not born blind and deaf, but they have been given 'seeing eyes' and 'hearing ears' with which to perceive spiritual realities. True humility takes hold when one accepts and believes the truth involving himself or herself, "in the sight of God". In other words, when we see God, in some substantial measure and according to the truth of his divine nature: only then can we really see ourselves - and other human beings - as we are. We cannot view God as if in (his) isolation; for, the beholder is necessarily aware of his or her own being, in the Presence of God. In comparison with who and what God is, we are in one sense as nothing. Yet, the Bible tells us that we were made in God's own image. Accordingly, the seeming paradox - which really is no paradox but two aspects of one and the same truth; the seeming paradox, I say, serves to form a right perspective, in one's own mind: a) of God; b) of oneself; and, c) of other human beings. Of God, because, we must see that God is indeed transcendent, higher than the works of his hands, and greater by far than we are at all capable of imagining him to be. Of oneself, because, in the light of such an image of God the Creator, I see myself at once as a created being, yet, one who is made in the image of God. Of other human beings, because, I see my fellow man, though fallen and a slave to sin, yet, he, too, is made in the image of God - and he is the object of God's love in and through Jesus Christ.
True humility, then, while it brings me very low indeed, in the sight of the Great God; yet, at the same time it also lifts me high and draws me near unto him. Moreover, to be like him is a thought, and a goal, and a privilege, and a prize that is set before me as a real opportunity and possibility; yet, only so, by virtue of God's effectual grace and power toward me and in me, in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Behold Christ! Consider him who came down from the throne of his eternal glory to become like unto the least among mortals. His first bed was a cattle-trough. He grew up in relative obscurity. His few, short years of ministry, though attended by the most spectacular demonstrations of divine power in the behalf of mankind, consisted of increasing opposition to himself. He suffered ignominious death by crucifixion, as even his own disciples fearfully fled his company, leaving him to die among thieves. But that same Christ arose from the dead with unspeakable power and, not many days afterwards, he ascended into heaven where, as Lord of heaven and earth, he now sits enthroned at the right hand of God. Now, listen to God's King speak from his place of supreme power and authority. What will he say? Will he avenge himself upon the human race because of how he suffered at our hands? Will he utterly crush us beneath his feet, which, because of his perfection and holiness, shine like polished brass in flames of fire? Can we at all endure his Word, which proceeds like a two-edged sword from the same mouth that spoke Creation into existence? Hear, O earth! Give heed, ye heavens! Christ the Lord speaks:
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:28-9)How...? What...? But....
If the Lord of all Creation is "meek and lowly in heart", what else can we be, what else dare we be, in his sight? If we aspire and purpose to be like he is, then, what HIGHER character could we ever hope to attain to, unless, we seek to emulate the greatest mind, the greatest heart, the greatest soul that ever lived: that is, the man Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is "meek and lowly in heart"?
True humility does not bid us to walk with our heads perpetually lowered in shame, debasing ourselves in the sight of a world overrun by God's enemies. That is not humility. But neither does true humility tempt us to raise our heads up above our fellows, as though we are better than them; from which, pinnacle of pride, we would surely fall headlong into disgrace. True humility walks softly before God and before God's King, in the presence of men and in the sight of God. Nevertheless, true humility walks upright, in purity of heart and mind; clothed with honor and dignity; filled with the spirit of power and might; acknowledging always that man "is the image and glory of God" (1 Corinthians 11:7); and ever "looking unto Jesus", alive unto God by him and through him. Christ could humble himself to wash his disciples' feet, because, no task of loving service is beneath his royal dignity. He was never more their (our) Lord, than when he washed their feet.
True humility is a mark of true nobility and godliness. If the body of redeemed man is the temple of the Holy Ghost; then, I like to think of my spirit as Christ's Throne. My lowliness, therefore, is to realize that I am but His throne, as it were, whence Christ bears rule over me and through me. My dignity and honor, however, is to realize that I am His throne, forever. I want to be found worthy of him who is meek and lowly in heart.
True humility is a mark of true nobility and godliness. If the body of redeemed man is the temple of the Holy Ghost; then, I like to think of my spirit as Christ's Throne. My lowliness, therefore, is to realize that I am but His throne, as it were, whence Christ bears rule over me and through me. My dignity and honor, however, is to realize that I am His throne, forever. I want to be found worthy of him who is meek and lowly in heart.
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