No, I’m not talking about myself. That title is a nod to a humorous old country song—but it takes on a whole new meaning when I think about Jesus.
Lately, thanks in part to watching The Chosen (my favorite TV show), I’ve been paying closer attention to the way Jesus interacts with people in the Gospels. Again and again, I see someone who relates to others from a place of radical humility. There is no trace of arrogance, no hint of, “I created you, so get it together” or “I’m better than you.” Instead, I see someone who enters into the pain and struggles of others, someone who truly sees them and lifts them up as though they are His equal.
And that amazes me. Because Jesus is the greatest Person who has ever lived or ever will live. He created humanity from a lump of clay. He made you and me and everything we can see. He is God incarnate. It doesn’t get any greater than that. If anyone had the right to assert superiority, it was Him. Yet He chose humility.
Why? Why is that important?
That’s what I’d like to expore today.
The Humility of Jesus
Jesus’ life and ministry were marked by humility from the very beginning. He was born not in a palace but in a stable (Luke 2:7). He lived as a carpenter’s son in a backwater town. When He launched His ministry, He didn’t choose to associate with the powerful, but with fishermen, tax collectors, and sinners.
In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul captures this beautifully:
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Jesus humbled Himself, even when it cost Him everything. This is the kind of humility, of sacrificial love, that God wanted us to see when He hatched His plan to rescue and redeem the world.
Humility in Action
One of the most powerful examples of Jesus’ humility comes in John 13, when He washes His disciples’ feet. This was a task reserved for the lowest servant in a household. Yet the Son of God, the greatest Man who ever lived, knelt down, wrapped a towel around His waist, and scrubbed the filth from the feet of those who would shortly abandon Him.
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
Another example is how Jesus treated the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). He didn’t shame her. He didn’t lecture her. He defended her dignity and gently told her to go and sin no more. He restored her—the opposite of what the religious leaders had in mind to do with her.
Time and again, Jesus humbled Himself to lift others up. Whether it was healing lepers, touching the unclean, dining with outcasts, or offering forgiveness, He consistently put others first.
Humility in a Self-Exalting World
In today’s culture, humility often gets lost. Or worse yet, it is discouraged. Social media, resumes, and personal branding all encourage us to showcase our strengths, achievements, and highlight reels. It’s easy to fall into the trap of self-promotion.
But through Jesus’ example, the Kingdom of God turns that upside down. In Matthew 23:12, Jesus says:
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
As C.S. Lewis writes in Mere Christianity, true humility isn’t about self-deprecation, as so many people tend to consider humility these days. A common paraphrase of his point puts it this way:
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
Attributed to C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
All of this gets to the heart of why God thought this was an important characteristic to model for us: it’s about seeing others as God sees them, stepping into their shoes, and offering grace, compassion. The best way we can share God’s love to others is by putting their needs above our own.
That takes loads of humility.
Following the Humble King
But as followers of Christ, we are called to model our lives after His. Of course, that’s never easy. God knows this is a challenge for us. I think that’s why it was so important to Him that Jesus model this behavior for us, show us that we can live lives of humility.
He also knows we’ll mess it up more often than not. But He extends us more grace than we can ever imagine, and asks us to try to do better next time.
Wrestling with Humility
I have to confess here that this has always been a struggle for me. Thankfully, God has blessed me with family members and friends who are so much better at this than I’ll ever be. Through their examples and frequent “gentle” reminders from my journies through the Bible, I am often reminded that this is the way Jesus calls us to interact with those around us.
In case it’s helpful to you, here are some of the questions I ask myself when I am struggling to embrace humility:
When I’m tempted to judge someone else, can I recall to mind a time when I struggled with the very issue that just tripped them up?
Am I willing to serve others without recognition?
Can I celebrate others without comparing myself?
Will I admit when I’m wrong and ask for forgiveness? (my wife will attest to how especially hard this one is for me…)
Do I listen more than I speak?
Can I picture where I’d be, what kind of person I’d be if God hadn’t extended me grace more times than I can count?
When I’m tempted to think of myself or my accomplishments as great, can I picture how “great” I or my accomplishment would be if God hadn’t given me the abilities and opportunities He has? In other words, how “great” would I be if God hadn’t blessed me the way He has?
These are examples of the the daily opportunities I have to walk in humility, just as Jesus did. Do any of these hit close to home for you?
Call to Action
What would it look like for you to embrace humility—the humility that Jesus demonstrated—today?
Maybe it means apologizing first, even when you’re not entirely at fault. Maybe it means celebrating someone else’s success without envy. Or maybe it’s simply choosing to listen more intentionally, putting someone else’s needs ahead of your own.
Take a moment and ask Jesus:
Lord, where in my life do You want to cultivate more humility? Help me to follow Your example, to serve others, and to love without needing to be seen.
Then pay attention to where He leads you. Because in His Kingdom, the humble are the ones who reflect His glory best.
If you’ve seen humility modeled in a powerful way or have a story about how God has used humility to grow your faith, I’d love to hear it in the comments. Let’s continue this journey together—following our humble, loving Savior, who truly is great.
Master's Canvas - Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter 