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Prayer – Lesson 8, Christ Demonstrates Humility
Heavenly Father, bless our Sunday school classes today. Help them to understand how humility is not weakness, but greatness in Your eyes. In Jesus' name, Amen.
The Contrast between Pride and Humility
In "Doctrinal Discussion" Randy Bland writes:
One definition of pride is an inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority. This definition is an apt description of the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable. Humility, on the other hand, is defined as having a modest opinion of one’s own importance. Perhaps we should add that it is having a true opinion of one’s own importance. The publican knew exactly who he was and where he stood before God. Such knowledge is the most important thing when it comes to living lives of humility.
Discussion: What kind of opinion do we possess?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 50.
The Fulfillment of the Passover
In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:
The Rabbinical customs prescribed that after the passing of the cup, the head of the group was to rise and wash his hands. It was probably at this point that Christ rose from the table. However, He departed from the traditional hand washing and adapted it to foot washing. Christ was injecting a very practical and relevant principle into the liturgical humdrum that was a part of the Jewish feasts. He was, throughout this feast, transforming it from the Paschal meal to the Eucharist. He was the fulfillment of all that the Paschal meal represented.
Discussion: What are other similarities and differences we see between the Passover feast and the Last Supper?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 46.
Humility Admonished
"Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility." (Daniel 4:27)
After returning home from dinner, my brother and his wife realized they had locked themselves out of their house. He went around the entire house from window to window hoping to find one that was unlocked and finally located a small one that was high above the ground.
Piling boxes on top of a garbage can, he climbed on the teetering tower to crawl through the tiny window, his large frame making this no small challenge! After essentially falling through the window he located the house keys on the dining room table, then gingerly crawled back out the small window onto his unstable tower of garbage can and boxes to the ground. Returning to his wife who was waiting at the front door he smilingly offered her the keys. Her response – “Why didn’t you just come out the front door?” His Response – “Oh, be quiet!”
Sometimes, as my brother did, we do our decision making by default rather than reasoned consideration which often leads to faulty decisions. Default thinking may be “doing it the way we have always done it” and this is known as “stink’n think’n.” A spirit of humility seeks God’s wisdom as we make decisions. (Clifford Churchill)
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me-
All is wonderful passion and p
O Thou Spirit divine, All my nature refine.
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
― Albert Orsborn, Tom Jones
As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on thing and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.” - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
This devotional is the Monday, April 18, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.
Teaching is Leading
In a real sense, the teacher is like a shepherd. The shepherd does not hand feed his sheep. He does not open the sheep's mouth and force grass down it. Rather, the shepherd leads the flock to lush, green pastures that make the sheep drool with hunger. He guides them to quiet pools of water where they feel safe in drinking long and deep.
Our world is filled with spiritual junk food. The type of junk food that interests your students will vary from person to person: ball games, romance novels, TV programs, computers, knitting - the one common trait in such junk food is that it suggests it can satisfy our soul's hunger for God, apart from God.
Teacher, your job is to uncover the delicious, life-giving spiritual meal God has prepared in His Word, let them smell the savor of its eternal flavor, and invite them to ... chow down!
Christ Demonstrates Humility
Lesson Eight - April 24, 2016
Focus Text: John 13:1-17
Central Truth: By humbly serving others we follow the example of Christ.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to name two traits that indicate a lack of humility.
Lesson Outline:
- Precedent for Humility (John 13:1-11)
- Principle of Humility (John 13:12-14)
- Precept of Humility (John 13:15-17)