And He said, ‘A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that is coming to me.’ And so he divided his wealth between them.

Luke 15:11–12 (NASB)

So he set out and came to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Luke 15:20–24 (NASB)

Two groups of people are coming to Jesus.

• Tax collectors and sinners
• Pharisees

For both groups, God seemed far away.

What does this story teach us about God?

This is a picture of God, who is the creator of all things.

The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who live in it.

Psalm 24:1 (NASB)

For every animal of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and everything it contains.

Psalm 50:10–12 (NASB)

When the son disrespects the father and asks for his inheritance, the father doesn't stop the younger son. 

God respects our free will. He has made his love for us very clear but we can make choices.

So he set out and came to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Luke 15:20 (NASB)

The Father did not give up waiting. The Father’s reaction was intuitive and merciful.

“Then HE RAN, EMBRACED and KISSED HIM.”

In African and Middle Eastern culture, running is a shameful act, especially for an older man.

The father knew what would happen if other members of the community saw the son first. In these communities, “they would beat him, send him away, publicly humiliate him for shaming the family. The community had nothing but disgust for such a scoundrel.” (Trevin Wax)

By lifting his robes and exposing his legs, he was taking on the shame the son would have received and placing it on himself.

The Father does not make some aristocratic gesture to allow the son to come near — He lowers himself.

Divine Humility in the Old Testament

1. God and Abraham

Now the Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. When he raised his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed down to the ground.

Genesis 18:1–2 (NASB)

2. God and Moses

But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.’ The Lord continued, ‘Look, stand near me on this rock. As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.’

Exodus 33:20–23 (NLT)

3. God and Joshua

Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, he raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, ‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’ He said, ‘No; rather I have come now as captain of the army of the Lord.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down, and said to him, ‘What has my lord to say to his servant?’ And the captain of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, ‘Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so.

Joshua 5:13–15 (NASB)

4. God and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Divine Humility

…Divine Humility…the stooping down of the Highest…He is not proud… He will have us even though we have shown we prefer everything else to Him…It is hardly complimentary to God that we should choose Him as an alternative to Hell: yet even this He accepts.

C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated … but one uncreated … So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty; And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord; And yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord.

Athanasian Creed (excerpt)

This predisposition… of humility is rooted in God’s own being… as the divine Father begets the divine Son, and together the Father and Son spirate the divine Spirit. Then, as a necessity contingent upon this self-giving, the divine humility moves outward in creation and redemption.

Matthew Wilcoxen, Divine Humility

Divine Humility is rooted in the Trinity and is extended to God’s creation since God is relational.

The heavens declare the glory of God; The skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of armies. The whole earth is full of His glory.

Isaiah 6:3 (NASB)

Divine Humility is presence. God is not out of reach.

“Humility as an attribute of God’s eternal existence is absolutely necessary and is the absolute necessity upon which creation and redemption are contingent.”

Katherine Sonderegger, Divine Humility (via Matthew Wilcoxen)

1. Divine Humility is expressed in the Incarnation

Incarnation: God becoming flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:1–2, 14 (NASB)

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life

1 John 1:1 (NASB)

2. Divine Humility is expressed in Kenosis

Kenosis (from Greek kenoō, “to empty”): Christ’s voluntary self-emptying in humility.

Crucifixion stripped its victims of their clothes as well as their dignity.

Looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2 (NASB)

Jesus bore our shame.

He didn’t enjoy the shame he bore but was willing to bear it because of the joy it’d produce.

Jeremy Treat, Being with You

Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you.

Daniel 9:7–8 (NIV)

The lost son brought shame onto the family and community when he disrespected the father and took his inheritance.

Just like the father humbled himself and took on the shame for his son so that the community did not kill him, God humbled Himself and took on our shame so anyone who receives what Jesus did on the cross no longer carries shame but is adopted into God’s family.

“But the humility of our Lord in undergoing human birth was too little for Him to do for us, so He even went so far as to die on a cross.”

Augustine

Divine Humility is God’s presence in strength for the sake of His creation — God became flesh and dwelt among us... But He goes down and comes up again to bring the whole ruined world up with him… He must stoop in order to lift up…

C.S. Lewis, Miracles

3. Divine Humility Brings Light to False Religions

(Divine) Humility overthrows the superstitions of false religions.

Matthew Wilcoxen

What separates Christianity from other religions is what they believe about two things:

1. God becoming a human

2. Jesus’ death on the cross

Mormonism

Mormon doctrine teaches that Jesus atoned for our sins in the garden and finished it on the cross.

The Bible is very clear: atonement for our sins happened on the cross.

But He was pierced for our offenses,He was crushed for our wrongdoings; The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5 (NASB)

Islam

The Qur’an teaches that one cannot know God intimately, denies Jesus’ divinity, and denies that Jesus was crucified.

In fact, they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them as if they did.

Qur’an 4:157

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!

Galatians 1:8 (NIV)

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2: 4-9 (NIV)

Humility is true greatness because it lifts others up, and that’s what Jesus did for us.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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.

Matthew 11:28–29 (NIV)

1. Divine Humility Implies God is Relentlessly Pursuing You.

True happiness, your true self, is only found in God. And even though you keep running, He keeps pursuing you because He is humble and loves you.

Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’

Genesis 3:9 (NASB)

Is God asking the same question to some of you?

2. Divine Humility Implies Your Shame is Gone.

On the cross, there was an exchange: Jesus took on our communal and individual shame.

Today, receive the honour Jesus gives you. You are seated in the heavens at the right hand of God with Jesus.

3. Divine Humility Implies an Incarnational Church.

"Where has God already placed you? Your first mission field is often woven into your daily life—friends, co-workers, neighbours, classmates, people you regularly see.”

Leak Klingseis, Created for Good Works

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