Grace in Christ 8

Imagine a movie star or a major league athlete who didn’t want or have a publicist to spread their fame.  Imagine them telling those who notice their greatness to be quiet about it.  Imagine them going to a place where they could play in the smallest market and even then shunning the spotlight.  Now you are imagining Jesus.

O glorious King without a crown, who spurned the fame, despised renown,

Majestic glory veiled in Thee, O Manhood of divinity,

Humility didst clothe the rays of angel choirs proclaiming praise,

As with the softest touch of love, You raised humanity to God. 

In Mark 1 we find the great Son of God from heaven healing a demon possessed man in the synagogue.  When the demon wanted to declare before all who it was that defeated him, Jesus silenced him.  Later in Mark 1 when Jesus met the leper on the road and healed him, He gave the healed man stern warning not to make Him known.  Indeed it was a pattern of Jesus not to send out press releases.

Quiet humility is a rare commodity today.  It is a product of grace.  It says, “Let God shine and I will be but a candle holding up His light.”  The grace of Jesus Christ was not seeking admiration.  It was not seeking a greater place at the world’s table.  It was saying that, “I know who I am and I know whose I am” and that was all that needed to be said.  There was no grandstanding.  There was quiet ministering.  There was no showboating.  There was service.  There was no earthly crown.  There was an earthly cross.  Grace was in each aspect of His humility.  Grace needs to work its way into each aspect of our lives.  We need to make His praise glorious and not our own. 

O glorious King who wears a crown, who in bright heaven is renown,

Guide me, my Lord, to live aright, always to share Your glorious light,

To magnify Your Name divine and not to make so much of mine,

To work with You in touch of love, to raise humanity above.