CHRIST’S STATE OF HUMILIATION

By Gary Ray Branscome

The doctrine of Christ’s humiliation has to do with the fact that even though His two natures (divine and human) were inseparably united from the moment of His conception, He chose to live, suffer, and die as a man. That doctrine is summarized in the words, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being by nature God, did not see equality with God as something to be used for self-glorification: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the nature of a servant, and was born as a man: And being found in human form, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8).

The angel’s words to Mary, “The holy one who will be born of you,” tell us that Christ was God (the holy one) from the beginning (Luke 1:35). The Bible also describes the unity of Christ’s divine and human natures in the words, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” and “All the fullness of God dwells in Christ bodily” (John 1:14 and Colossians 2:9). What we want to concentrate on in this section is the fact that from His conception until His resurrection Christ refrained from the full and constant use of His divine attributes, and was, “Obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). The fact that in order to redeem us Christ was, “Born under the law” (Galatians 4:4). Took upon, “Himself our pains, and carried our sorrows… He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:4-5). And, received, “The curse in our stead: for it is written, Cursed is every one who hangs on a tree: That the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14). That self-renunciation on the part of Christ is what we refer to as His state of humiliation.

During His humiliation, Christ did not fully avail Himself of everything He, as God, had at His disposal. And, the reason He humbled Himself was for our sakes. The words, “Do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and He would at once give me more than twelve legions of angels?” tell us that He could have avoided capture, but did not (Matthew 26:53). The words, “Jesus said… shall I not drink the cup that my Father has given me?” tell us that He was willing to be captured and crucified for our sakes (John 18:11). The words, “When the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, To redeem those who were under the law,” tell us that He came into the world “to redeem” us (Galatians 4:4-5). The words, “I lay down my life for the sheep… I am laying down my life, that I might take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down voluntarily. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it back. That is the commandment that have I received from my Father,” tell us that He willingly laid down His life for our sakes (John 10:15-18). The words, “This is a trustworthy statement, worthy of complete acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” tell us the same thing (1Timothy 1:15). Therefore, even though Christ could have escaped crucifixion, He chose not to, but was “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). Without that obedience, He could not have died for our sins, and we would be lost. [See Isaiah 53:1-6, 2corinthians 5:19-21.]

However, even though Christ did not fully avail Himself of divine power during His state of humiliation, the power was still there, and He employed it when it was in our interest for Him to do so. For example, all of the miracles that He did were done by divine power. The words, “These are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name,” tell us that they were recorded for our salvation (John 20:31). And, because He endured the agony of the cross we can be, “Justified freely by His grace… through faith in His blood” (Romans 3:24-25).