Pride and Humility: A Lesson from Lucifer vs. Jesus
Let’s look briefly at two case studies regarding how people view themselves. The first is about pride and the subject is Lucifer (an angel now known as Satan after his rebellion). The second will deal with humility with Jesus being our focal point.
Lucifer:
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star (or ‘Lucifer’), son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.” Isaiah 14:12-15 (See also Ezekiel 28:11-19)
Jesus Christ:
“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 (Footnote: ‘Or a thing to be held on to for advantage’), 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. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11
Jesus has always been God in heaven since eternity past (John 1); however, at a pivotal point in time he became God in the flesh when he descended down to earth. While Lucifer wants only to ascend for the love of himself, Jesus is willing to descend for the love of humanity.
Lucifer thinks far higher of himself than he should – he wants to be God! Jesus, who is already God, wraps that godhood in mere flesh – He’s willing to be a man!
Lucifer repeatedly says “I will”, while Jesus continually says not what I will but what My Father wills.
Of Lucifer it is said: “Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.” Ezekiel 28:17a
Of Jesus it is said: “…he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” Isaiah 53:2b Jesus also said of himself: “I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29)
While Lucifer desired to “ascend above the heights of the clouds” but was ultimately brought down by God, Jesus brought himself down and later ascended and was exalted by the Father.
“He (Jesus) who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.” Ephesians 4:10
In his pride and self-will, Lucifer was our example of exactly what not to do. Jesus was the epitome of humility and love and obedience and, thus, our ultimate role model.
What Jesus gained through his humility was nothing less than the redemption of your soul if you would have him. Talk about humbling.
“Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 (also 1 Peter 5:5)
