By Hugh Binning
I don’t know any antidote so sovereign as the example of Jesus Christ, to cure this evil [pride], and he himself often proposes this for his disciples to receive, (John 13:13-17) ” You call me Master and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet you should wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his lord, neither is he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If you know these things, you are happy if you do them.” (Matthew 11:29-30), “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 20:27-28) “And whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant.”
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and give his life a ransom for many. That this might always sound in our ears, the servant is not above his lord, the “Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister?” Oh whose spirit would not be encouraged? What understanding of wrong would it not make up for? What flame of contention about worth and respect would it not quench? What noise of tumultuous passions would it not silence?
Therefore, the apostle of the Gentiles prescribes this medicine,(Philippians 2:5-8) “Let this mind be in you, that was also in Christ Jesus who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross,” If he humbled himself out of charity, who was so high, how should we humble ourselves, both out of charity and necessity, who are so low! If we knew ourselves, it would not be a strange thing that we were humble, the evidence of truth would forcefully obtain it from us. But here is the wonder, that he who knew himself to be equal to God, should notwithstanding become lower than men, that the Lord of all should become the servant of all, and the King of glory make himself of no reputation! That he was pleased to come down lowest, who knew himself to be the highest of all, no necessity could persuade it, but charity and love has done it.
Now, then how monstrous and ugly a thing must pride be after this! That the dust should raise itself, and a worm swell, that bad, miserable man should be proud, when it pleased the glorious God to be humble, that absolute necessity should not move him to, what simple love persuaded him to! How this heightens and elevates humility, that such an one gives out himself, not only as the teacher, but as the pattern of it. “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls!”
[The End]
Modernized in places by this site.
Mercy Triumphs! 