Exalting the Humble
Luke 14:7-14
September 12, 2004
There's an old fable about two ducks and a frog, who lived in a farmer's pond. The ducks and the frog were the best of friends and played together all day long. But when the hot summer days came, the pond began to dry up. The ducks realized that they would have to move. They could easily fly away to another place, but what about their friend, the frog? Finally they hit upon an idea. The ducks would put a stick between them. Each would hold one end in its bill while the frog hung on to the stick by its mouth. So the three friends set out for another pond. As they were flying away, the farmer saw them and said, "How clever! I wonder who thought of it." The frog opened his mouth and croaked, "I did." And of course, that was the end of the frog.
That little fable is a perfect example of the Biblical adage: "PRIDE GOETH BEFORE A FALL." Indeed, when we think of ourselves more highly than we ought to, when arrogantly boast about all our good qualities, when we foolishly puff ourselves up with pride, it usually leads to our downfall. And that's especially true in our spiritual lives. When we proudly think that we can contribute anything to our salvation or somehow make ourselves pleasing to God, we're like that frog. He not only didn't think of the idea, he didn't do anything to make it happen. The ducks did all the work, and when he boastfully tried to take the credit, he plummeted to the ground. Likewise, when we think we can do something to earn God's favor, we are headed for a huge fall. That was the spiritual problem that Jesus addressed in our Gospel lesson for this morning, when He said: "EVERYONE WHO EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, AND HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED."
Now in Greek the word 'humble' literally means: 'to be made low.' In other words, to think less of yourself than others and in deference to put their needs first. However, the Old Adam in us always rebels against that. He constantly clamors to be on top and to have his wants and desires met first. And in our text, Jesus gives us a classic example of that - the example of the Pharisees, who exalted themselves by jockeying for prestige and power, always looking for the best seat at a banquet.
We could imagine it, like being invited to the wedding of a very close friend. After the wedding you go to the reception hall along with the other guest, while the wedding party remains in the church for some pictures. When you enter the reception hall, you see the other guest milling around, looking for a table. Since you are a very close friend of the groom, you assume that you will be seated at the head table. And so you promptly seat yourself there. Pretty soon the bride and groom arrive. And when they get there, you realize that there are only enough seats at the head table for the wedding party. You weren't supposed to sit there after all. Think of how ashamed and embarrassed you'd be, as get up and look for another seat. By mistakenly exalting yourself, you would wind up being humbled in front of everyone.
Well, I doubt that like the Pharisees, we would ever dream of doing such a thing in public. And yet such prideful thoughts and actions are a normal part of our sinful nature. For example, we do a good job at work, but then become bitter when someone doesn't pat us on the back and appreciate it. Or we struggle at home to make sure that our voice is heard and our plans are carried out. Or we do something for God's kingdom, not for His glory, but so that people will think highly of us. In these and many other ways we exalt ourselves in pride.
I am reminded of the proud and pompous professor, who said to his class on day, "If there are any idiots in the room, will they please stand up." After a long silence, one freshman rose to his feet. "Now then mister, why do you consider yourself an idiot?" inquired the teacher with a sneer. "Well, actually I don't," said the student, "but I hate to see you standing up there all by yourself."
Like that professor, when we exalt ourselves we end being humbled, in this case by God. As matter fact, Jesus' statement in our text that he who exalts himself will be humbled is in the passive voice, which usually indicates divine action. God is the one who humbles our pride, because it is the ultimate sin, the sin of Satan, trying to exalt ourselves above the Almighty. It's the sin against the First Commandment, putting other gods, namely ourselves, ahead of Him. And the penalty for our sinful pride is the ultimate shame and humiliation, which is God's eternal curse and condemnation. Being sent to the lowest possible place, the depths of hell.
In fact, in our text the word 'humiliation' is a Greek word that actually means: 'to be deformed and misshapen.' What an accurate picture of what sin does to our soul. It twists and perverts us, so that we are deformed and misshapen in God's sight. It dishonors us and destroys our relationship with God our loving Father. Indeed, for the ancient Greeks dishonor always meant the removal of a citizen's rights. And in our case, the dishonor of sin leads to our removal from God's Heavenly mansions.
Thankfully, though, that is only half of the story. The other half is the Good News of the Gospel; namely, that everyone who humbles himself will be exalted. As we humbly confess our sins to God and turn to Him in faith, He exalts us, that is, lifts us up to the highest place - the place of honor and glory in His heavenly kingdom. But even that is not something that we do, but rather is a gift God gives us in Jesus Christ our Savior.
After all, He is the one who ultimately humbled Himself, by taking on human flesh and blood and suffering in our place. As Philippians 2:8 says: "HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH - EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS." Yes, Jesus lowered Himself to the depths of hell on the cross, where He took God's eternal curse and condemnation for us, so that we might be forgiven and spared. He took away all the shame and humiliation of our sin and erased it in His cleansing blood. He paid the full price for our pride and arrogance and removed it for good, so that we might be exalted to His right hand, the position of favor and approval.
Dear friends, all of that is ours, not by any works or merits on our part, but simply by humble repentance and faith in His name. By faith in Him, it's as if He says to us: "FRIEND, MOVE UP TO A BETTER PLACE." Better yet, move up to the best place of all, close to my side. That shows us just how dearly Jesus cherishes you and me, because He has exalted us to the status of His precious, special friends. And best of all we have His engraved invitation, engraved in His own blood, inviting us personally to come to His banquet hall in heaven some day, where we will feast on His blessed supper forevermore! The invitation He extends to us in our Baptism by faith in His name.
It is said that Peter the Great of Russia once laid aside his royal garments and traveled to Holland and England to learn the art of shipbuilding for his people. Dressed in working clothes like any other worker in the shipyards, he kept his identity a secret as he learned his trade and labored as a commoner for the eventual benefit of his country. He willingly assumed the most menial tasks to preserve his anonymity and to learn the full measure of laborious toil, so that he could provide for the needs of his subjects.
In a much greater way, Jesus Christ, the King of heaven, vacated His throne for a time, laid aside the garments of His heavenly glory, clothed Himself in the humble garments of mortal man and became a carpenter. And He did this for the sake of us His people, to rebuild our broken lives. In other words, He humbled Himself for our sakes, so that we might be exalted to His heavenly kingdom. May that wonderful blessing encourage us, then, to do likewise - to humbly repent of our sinful pride and lay it aside. And with the aid of the Holy Spirit, to put others ahead of ourselves, giving generously of our time to serve each other in love, giving generously of our talents to help those in need, and giving generously of our talents to work in God's kingdom spreading the Gospel for His glory. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
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