February 7 Humility Lifts

Luke 11:43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.”
 
RECALL the many times Jesus healed people with this instruction, “Don’t tell anyone.” (Mathew 8:4; Matthew 17:9; Mark 1:44; Luke 5:14) One reason he did so was to keep crowds from disrupting his preaching. As joyful as it was to restore people physically, Jesus’ main purpose on earth was to “preach good news to the poor…to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the (spiritually) blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (from Luke 4:18-19). Jesus’ main ministry was to declare God’s favor of eternal healing.
    Could another reason for his command, “Don’t tell anyone.” be a visible demonstration of his humility? Jesus spoke of his humility in Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Then see Jesus’ mother Mary respond to the news of her Kingdom role. She honors God as one who honors and empowers the humble: Luke 1:52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. In addition, Paul records Jesus’ sacrificial humility in Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! 
    Jesus separated himself from pride. He knew how deadly pride is. Pride took Eve to the forbidden tree. Pride took Joseph into the pit of slavery. (Humility took Joseph to the rule of Egypt and restored him to his brothers.) Pride took the Pharisees to the forbidden seat of condemnation.
    Jesus was just to speak “woe”, great distress, over the Pharisees’ prideful behavior. He called them to stop their “Look at me!” walks through the markets and to come off their high seats in the synagogue. He urged them to humbly turn their eyes onto those they served.
    Jesus shows us how we are to use our knowledge and position to serve. A true leader puts himself with his people to know and understand who they are. A humble leader lives as our humble Lord to know all things come in the Spirit’s anointing and the Father’s favor.
 
Prayer: Forgive my pride, Father. I have too often desired that people look at me instead of at you. Teach me humility to help people see you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.