Humble Love

The Posture That Changes Everything

As we move closer to Easter, we’re continuing our Passion series by looking at what carried Jesus all the way to the cross.

Last week, we saw that Jesus was fuelled by love.

But this week, we go deeper.

Because if love was the fuel…humility was the posture.

While Jesus hung on the cross, it wasn’t the nails that kept Him there. It wasn’t the power of Rome or the pressure of the crowd.

It was love.

A love so deep that He chose to stay.
A love so strong that He chose to surrender.

And at the centre of that love was humility.

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself;

it’s thinking about yourself less.”

The Gift That Cost Everything

There is something powerful about giving.

Most of us have experienced that moment — giving something up so someone else can have it. A seat, a place in a queue, something we value. It costs us, but it also feels right.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:15:

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

That gift is Jesus.

But here’s what we often overlook:

Jesus didn’t just give something.

• He gave up somewhere.
• He stepped out of heaven.
• He laid aside glory.
• He chose to come close.

The Mindset of Christ

In Philippians 2:5–11, Paul invites us into something profound:

“Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus…”

Before Paul tells us what Jesus did, he tells us how to think.

Because following Jesus doesn’t start with behaviour — it starts with mindset.

Jesus, who had every right to remain in glory, chose not to cling to it. Instead, He emptied Himself, taking on the form of a servant.

• The Creator became a servant.
• The King became human.
• The Holy One stepped into our broken world.

And then, in ultimate humility, He became obedient — even to death on a cross.

Think in Humility

Humility begins in the mind.

Our thoughts shape our lives, and often our minds drift into places that are anything but humble — comparison, pride, offence, insecurity.

That’s why Paul writes in Philippians 4:8:

“Whatever is true, honourable, just, pure, lovely… dwell on these things.”

And again in Romans 12:2:

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Humility grows when our thinking changes.

It’s the shift from:

“What do I want?”
to
“What does God want?”

We see this most clearly in Luke 22:

“Not my will, but Yours be done

That is the heartbeat of humility.

“The road to resurrection always passes through humility.”

Act in Humility

Humility is not just internal — it shows up in how we live.

Jesus didn’t just feel humble.

• He served.
• He washed feet.
• He lifted others.
  

He gave His time, His attention, His life.

True humility shifts our focus outward.

It asks different questions:

• Who can I serve?
• Who can I encourage?
• Who can I lift up today?

In a world that constantly tells us to prioritise ourselves, Jesus calls us to something radically different — a life marked by selfless love.

“Jesus didn’t protect His status — He laid it down.”

Obey in Humility

This is where humility goes deepest. Because obedience often costs. When Jesus stood before Pilate in Mark 15, He was innocent. Even Pilate could see that, and yet, Jesus did not resist.

He chose the cross.

Why?

Because this wasn’t just injustice.

It was substitution.

He was taking our place.

His obedience cost Him everything — but it opened the door to resurrection.

And this is where hope meets humility.

Romans 8:28 reminds us:

“All things work together for good for those who love God…”

If God could use a Roman cross for redemption,
He can use the hardest parts of your life to transform you.

Living It Out This Week

Jesus shows us a different way to live.

A way marked not by pride, but by surrender.
Not by self-protection, but by self-giving love.

So here’s the question:

Where is God inviting you to walk in humility this week?

Who do you need to put first?
What do you need to lay down?
Where do you need to pray, “Not my will, but Yours”?

Because humility isn’t weakness.

It is strength under control.
It is love in action.
It is the way of Jesus.

Final Thought

In John 15:13, Jesus says:

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

That is humble love.

And that is the life we are invited into.

Thinking about coming along on a Sunday? We’d love to welcome you.

If something in this message spoke to you, we’d love to pray for you.