To Be Humble
Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it]; but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man]. After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely-appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross.(Philippians 2:5-8 AMP)It was obvious that those who were always against Jesus, and, ultimately, those who got Jesus murdered, were wrong. They were wrong to ignore Jesus' teaching. They were wrong to assume they own God's Truth. They were wrong to "revenge" for God by killing a man. They were simply wrong, but rather than dealing with their wrongs, they rather get rid of the one whom they are reminded of their guilts.These same people often will come up to Jesus either to test Jesus, which is more like trying to trick Him, with really stupid misuse of God's Word. I can't imagine what I would have done. Actually, I cannot say that. I have come across similar situations. I wish I could report that I reacted just like Jesus. I reacted like a storm and let those "accusers" have it. The funny thing is, it was not even about me. It was about others.Reading through the Gospels, I often have this fire of anger toward the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes when they were recorded behaving badly. Then, there was Jesus. He was God. The very Word from Him were being misquoted to be used against Him, the issuer of the same Word. He could have said, "hey listen, you can try all you want, you are not going to beat the master." He could have whistle and the angels can come down to beat the daylight out of these idiots. But, He didn't. He didn't even use smart comments to rebuke them.In His gentle rebukes He was still trying to show His accuser the truth. If I were Him, there would be so much I would have done to those ungrateful people. Am I glad I was not Jesus, and so should everyone else....especially those Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes.Yet, that is not good enough excuse to excuse my blown fuses in those situations. Even though the "truth" was "on my side" is still not an excuse. It does not mean it would be easy, from now on, for me to hold my peace when I come across similar situation again, but it means I have something to aim for. Be like Jesus, be kind to your enemy. What a tough lesson to learn. Lord have mercy.