The Epitome of Humility
Photo of John Anderson Sr.
This is an excerpt from my book HUMILITY THE HIDDEN KEY TO WALKING IN SIGNS AN WONDERS (c) 2010 This is article is written by my Father and was used in Chapter 2 Obtaining Greatness in Christ.
The Epitome of Humility
By John Anderson Sr. January 26, 1935 – May 26, 2025
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:3-11 NASB).
In these few verses we read of the uniqueness of the Person and work of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is of the very same nature and divine essence as God. Our Redeemer existed in the form of God. Jesus is truly divine, and His consenting to become a man was the most remarkable of all possible acts of humiliation. Jesus the man, though being of the same divine nature and essence of God, did not think this something to be exploited to His own advantage.
Jesus emptied Himself—this emptying of Himself is known as the kenosis of Christ during His incarnation. Jesus as God becoming man (flesh and blood) does not mean that He surrendered any of His deity, but that He took on the limitation of humanity. This involved a “veiling” of His preincarnate glory, for Jesus said in John 17:5:
And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.
He voluntary waived some of His divine prerogatives during the time He was on earth in flesh and blood. Literally, He drew a veil between Himself and His divine power—He being God still had the same nature and essence that included all He was before coming into this world. God is God! Jesus could not, nor cannot, literally divest Himself of His divine nature and perfections, for that is impossible. He could not cease to be omnipotent, omnipresent, most holy, true, and good.
Jesus humbled Himself. He had not only laid aside (veiled) His glory and became a man, but when He was a man, He humbled Himself. Humiliation was a constant characteristic of Jesus as a man. He did not aspire to high honors; He did not require pomp and parade; He did not demand the service of servants; but He condescended to the lowest conditions of life, a humble servant; He said in Luke 22:27: For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
Though our Savior was God appearing in the form of man—a divine person on earth—yet He did not assume and assert the dignity and prerogatives appropriate to a divine being, but put Himself in a condition of obedience. For such a divine being to obey implied voluntary humiliation; and the greatness of His humiliation was shown by His becoming entirely obedient, even up to and including the time He hung, bled, and died on the cruel cross.
God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name; no other name can be compared with His. It stands alone. He only is Redeemer, Savior. He only is Christ, the Anointed of God. He only is the Son of God. His rank, His title, His dignity are above all others.
At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Praise His glorious Name! Such a confession honors God.
Now that we have reviewed these words penned by the Apostle Paul under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, let us not forget the beginning verses—“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” If God in Christ Jesus shows such humility on our behalf, dare we not humble ourselves before God and our fellow man—to the glory of God our Heavenly Father?
