Five Reasons Jesus Came (Week 02)

To become the lowest, in order to become, unquestionably the Highest.

     Jesus Christ said of Himself in Matthew 11:29, “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.” Jesus came from the highest place and lowered Himself to be the laughingstock of humanity. David tells us of the Messiah in Psalm 22:6, “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.” This is extraordinarily demeaning and unbecoming language to term the fairest of ten thousand, the bright and morning star, the lily of the valley! Yet, in order to become unquestionably the Highest, he walked the lowest path: the path of utter humility. Andrew Murray says in his book entitled ‘Humility,’ “The holiest will always be the humblest.” Jesus Christ lived in heaven with the cries of “Holy, holy holy,” ever before Him and the praises of His purity resounding around Him. He came to earth, as our propitiatory substitute, and rather than coming with the tone of begrudging a favor, He came with the humble notes of meekness and lowliness. 

     The world clamors for fame and glory. Jesus came and feasted with whores, tax collectors, thieves and sinners. Jesus chose for His disciples a weird conglomerate of fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, and less than savory gentlemen. Jesus came in a period of human history when His death certificate was the most painful execution ever issued upon man. He lived a nomadic life, lived off of the charity of others, endured weather, ruffians, scoffers, and a collection of timid followers. He was born and raised in poverty and exile, son of an unknown carpenter and an obscure young maiden. The story of His “virgin birth” was (and still is) a cause of derision by those with impure minds. When push to came to shove in the garden of Gethsemane, He was utterly deserted by the thronging masses. All day every day, during His ministry, He poured out Himself in service to the people of Israel. He awoke early, most mornings before the sun was up, and spent time travailing in prayer for the lost sheep of Israel. He fasted for 40 days. Was tempted by the devil. Spurned by the Sadducees. Loathed by the lofty. Thronged to by the thousands. Deserted by all in the hour of His deepest trial. On top of all the abuse our Savior suffered, Isaiah tells us that it “pleased the LORD to bruise Him.”

     Jesus, the brightest star and the joy of heaven, enduring all of His dear Father’s hatred and seething vengeance on sinful man. He suffered more than any man before or after Him. He endured the cruelest form of execution invented by the Romans. He endured their skilled tortures. The Jewel of heaven’s crown, Jesus Christ, degraded to the point of being unrecognizable, despised, rejected, reviled, spat upon, loathed, mocked, spurned, and detested. Oh, what humility! This humility could have only come from a heart of pure holiness. Any mortal man trying to concoct a plan to save the world would have left out this path of holiness and sought the path to worldly grandeur, power and riches. But, He came to be made the lowest to show us His exceedingly great power over death. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:5-11 KJV - 

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

     Could there be any argument against the utter and complete exaltation of Jesus Christ to the highest place?! Could anyone withhold Him from sitting upon the throne He not only deserves, but also purchased with His own humble blood? Could any protest cause Him to sway to public opinion? Could any in history contest His right to the Father’s right hand?! I think not. As the Holiest of Holies, He lowered Himself beyond all comprehension to the position of servant, the position of “wrath absorber,” the position of foot washer! At the cross we see every tongue in heaven, earth and hell utter what was already true: Jesus is King of kings. The throne of Heaven was Christ’s by right. But to assure all the doubters, simpletons, and skeptics, He battled every foe, upon earth and in hell, wrested from Satan’s grasp the power of Hell and damnation, and conquered Death so soundly that now it is said, “Where, O Death, is now Thy sting?!” On the cross Jesus became the uncontested Prince of the Universe! Astonishing! The King of kings conquered and won every battle against the powers of darkness in a position of utter humility, lowliness and degradation! In a position of apparent weakness, frailty and vulnerability, He won the battle of the Ages! The Kings of the earth conquer with shows of power and glory. Jesus Christ conquered and won the Throne of thrones (which was rightfully His already), and became the King of kings, and now “upholds the universe by His very word!” And He did it in the lowest most insignificant way ever invented!