Advent Studyنموونە

Webster’s Dictionary defines humility, derived from the Latin word humilis, as meaning “low, a kind of meekness, modesty, or submissiveness as opposed to arrogance, pridefulness, superiority, or haughtiness.”

Jesus Christ, Son of God, exercised his own free will, and gave up all he had to take on the nature of a servant. Though fully God, he appeared in human likeness. He was humble and walked the earthly path of obedience to death on the cross. —Philippians 2:7–8, GNB

Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the very conditions surrounding Jesus’ birth exemplified humility.

In AD 150, early Christian apologist Justin Martyr recorded that the place in which Jesus was born was a cave in Bethlehem. Historian Matthew Henry said, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecy in Micah 5:2. Bethlehem, only six miles from Jerusalem, was that city of David, a small, poor town of Jesus’ birth, surrounded by lowly shepherds in the nearby fields who raised the lambs for temple sacrifices. Had there been any decency of humanity among the people, they would not have turned a woman in birthing travail into a stable!”

Consistent with the rocky terrain of the region, a stable was often a limestone cave or grotto common to Bethlehem. Like the shepherds present at the proclamation from the Angel, Jesus was born “poor.” He did not inherit a princely estate. He had no rich friends. Instead, he had virtuous, humble parents who honored God. His meager birth reflected characteristic humility embodied later by Christ himself before his Father in heaven (2 Chronicles 7:14). Jesus became a shepherd, not of sheep, but of men (John 10:14–15).

The Angel of the Lord told the shepherds to look for a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger (Luke 2:12). First-century mangers or feeding troughs were usually carved in stone. They would never have believed it if the angel had not told them to look for such a specific sign. They greatly rejoiced at the realization of what they had discovered.

Scottish theologian William Barclay stated, “It is a lovely thought that the shepherds who looked after the temple lambs were the first to witness the lowly birth surroundings of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29–36; Peter 1:19–20). In his humble obedience, Jesus became the final “sacrificial lamb” required by the Father (Hebrews 10:10, 12).