To continue the mission of Jesus Christ
Date: 07-12-25
Preacher: Ps Ong Kian Kee
Title: Christ Humbled Himself
Christ Humbled Himself
The biblical reference for this morning’s message was taken from Phil 2: 5-8.
With a title like ‘Christ humbled Himself’, one must be forgiven to think that there would be little relevance to the spirit of Christmas. But it was and what an appropriate message, especially for a world that has commercialised Christmas to such an extent that the original spirit has been lost. That was why I myself was guilty for thinking that the title belie the spirit of Christmas in the first place for we have gotten so used to many Christmases of feasting, drinking and merry-making. In that light (or darkness), with the recent fire in Hong Kong and floods in the various South-east Asian nations which had taken thousands of lives, Ps Ong asked how do we share with people who are afflicted, the Christmas message. He himself admitted he would find it very hard.
However, he took pain to take the congregation back to the night when Jesus was born.
Mary and Joseph had walked more than a hundred km when she was about to give birth. That night just before Jesus was born, Joseph was desperately looking for a suitable place for his wife to give birth but there was none so in such dilapidated conditions like a manger, Jesus was born. And certainly it wasn’t the ‘luxurious manger’ the commercial world would have us to believe. Ps Ong did this to illustrate the point that God had chosen such poor conditions for Jesus to be born in so that Christmas was ‘born’ to give hope for the multitudes of the poor who were suffering then as they are now.
Ps Ong then shared 3 classic quotations on humility:
- The essence of Christianity: First, humility; second, humility; and third, humility.
- The moment you say you are humble, you are already not humble.
- True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of Yourself less.
Next, he spoke that the enemy of humility is pride. I think he deliberately made the illustrations so down to earth to make sure that these are concepts can be understood by all.
He then went on to share 3 ways Jesus had humbled himself. To get a full measure of what it means, we must remember that Jesus need not have bothered for He was equal to God in all aspects.
- Jesus was not being demanding
He, who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage. Ps Ong gave the example of an outfield general who can be excused from following the Emperor's order in the battlefield.
- Jesus was not status conscious
He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant with no status and dignity. It was a fall from the most supreme position to having no position. He did this to serve minute humans.
- Jesus became an ordinary man
Being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. He had to endure all the degenerations humans face: fatigue, thirst etc. And as a human, he faced all the limitations of space, time and physical strength.
Ps Ong then told members of the congregation that they just need to remember 3 things about Jesus: He was God, servant and human.
Thank you Ps Ong for your strong reminder for us to see why we celebrate Christmas through renewed lenses.