Jesus Set the Pattern of Humility - "I DID NOT TURN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION"

God's only begotten Son showed humility even before he came to earth.  In his pre-human existence, Jesus spent and untold number of years with his heavenly Father. The Bible book of Isaiah comments on the close relationship the Son had with his Father, saying: "The Sovereign Lord Jehovah himself has given me the tongue of the taught ones, that I may know how to answer the tired one with a word.  He awakens morning by morning; he awakens my ear, and I, for my part, was not rebellious.  I did not turn in the opposite direction." (Isaiah 50:4, 5)  The Son of God displayed a humble attitude and paid close attention to what Jehovah taught him. He was eager and willing to learn from the true God.  How closely Jesus must have observed the example of Jehovah's humility in exercising mercy toward sinful mankind!

Not every creature in heaven had the same attitude as the only-begotten Son of God.  Instead of desiring to learn from Jehovah, the angel became Satan the Devil himself to be  influenced by traits opposite to humility-self-importance and pride-and actually rebelled against Jehovah.  On the other hand, Jesus was  neither dissatisfied with his own position in heaven nor inclined to misuse his authority. As Michael the archangel, Jesus did not go beyond his authority when he had 'a difference of opinion with the Devil about Moses' body.' Instead, God's Son showed  humility and modesty. He was pleased to have Jehovah, the Supreme Judge of the universe, handle matters in his own way and time. - Read JUDE 9. 

The things Jesus learned during his pre-human existence undoubtedly include his prophecies foretelling details of his life on earthy as the Messiah.  Hence, he likely knew in advance that unpleasant experiences awaited him. Yet, Jess accepted the assignment to live on earth and die as the promised Messiah.  Why? Highlighting the humility of God's only-begotten Son, the apostle Paul wrote:  "Although he was existing in God's form, [he]gave no consideration to a seizure, namely,  that he should be equal to God. No, but he emptied himself  and took a slave's form and came  to be in the likeness of men." -PHILIPPIANS 2:6, 7. 

Next time: Jesus Set the Pattern of Humility - AS A HUMAN, "HE HUMBLED HIMSELF"

From the jw.org publications