BYM ONLINE DESK November 2016 | Page 9

Who is the Greatest? Mr. A. Lionel, General Overseer, Blessing Youth Mission Mathew 11:28-30 - “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” The Lord Jesus Christ encouraged His disciples to learn from Him. Many people follow political leaders and film icons, but we need to look to Jesus and learn from Him. The very first thing that the Lord wanted his disciples to learn was the lesson of humility. Humility was the crowning virtue in the life of Jesus Christ Himself. In order to understand humility, it would be helpful for us to consider its antonyms like pride, arrogance, egotism, haughtiness, self-exaltation, harshness and crudeness. The simplicity and humility of Jesus Christ is illuminated in all the Gospel accounts. Start To End Humility marked Jesus' life from the beginning till the end. He began His ministerial life when he came to be baptized by John. We read that Jesus Himself came to John from Nazareth to Jordan which was around 50 miles (Mat 3:13). Not only that, but He humbled himself even to the point of death on the cross. Note the following verses: Philippians 2:5-8 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” He was equal to God but he became a servant. This is the hallmark of Jesus' humility. When He was handed over to the Roman soldiers, He was reviled against, abased, spit upon and yet He did not open His mouth. He committed himself in the hands of the Righteous Judge (1 Pet 2:23). Today we find that, many spiritual leaders who start in a humble way become proud as days go by. King Saul is a classic example of, who started off well, but lost his kingdom due to his pride. When Samuel, the Prophet told him about the Lord's choice regarding his kingship, look how Saul replied Samuel in a humble way, 1 Sam 9:21 - “Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?” But this all changed rapidly as years rolled by. When he became great, he forgot his humble beginnings. David also expressed the same humility in 2 Sam 7:18- “Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?” |PAGE 9|