A fresh look at the cross my brothers and sisters.

“Don’t be humble... you are not that great.” (Golda Meir).

For the poor to say “I am poor” is nothing but the description of his obvious present state, there is no virtue in it at all. For the poor to say “I am rich” is a testimony of having achieved their aspirations and there is virtue in it.

For the rich to say “I am rich and I want to be poor” is to say at the least, "puzzling." There must be an extraordinary reason for a rich man to aspire to be poor.

In the same way and unless we seek to understand why King Jesus wanted to become a mere human being, we will leave this world as dry as an oily backed duck that leaves the lake.

Jesus “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!”

Philippians 2:7-8

For God to become a human being is to become a “Nothing” in capital letters.

Please fellow human beings, do not take offense in this statement because it is true and nothing comes as close as possible to the true truth that we are indeed nothing because we are created ‟ex-nihilo” that is "out of nothing."

We might think we are “something”, but in reality, we are nothing but Jesus “Is” and there is no other. If we are something for a short period of time it is only because we derive our existence from him.

The name of God in the Old Testament is “I am that I am” and our proper name should be “I am not.” So, for a “Nothing” to say, “I am nothing” it is not virtue but an accurate description of who we really are.

To those who were bragging of being nothing is what the former Prime Minister of Israel Golda Meir said, “Don’t be humble... you are not that great.”

On the other hand, for Jesus to become a human being is true humility and a humiliation. As if that was not enough, Jesus took the nature of a servant placing himself at the bottom of the pail among humans.

The most extraordinary thing is that King Jesus the Lawgiver who commanded into existence the whole of creation humbled himself into obedience as one of a menial job to the point of death and that not a natural death of old age but death in the spring of life humiliated by death on a cross.

The misconception in the world is that humility is not something to be desired but avoided at all cost.

The scripture teaches that Moses, the greatest leader of the Exodus, is known as the “Meekest man on earth.” Jesus himself said, “learn from me I am meek and humble and you shall find rest for your souls.” This should lead us to conclude that Humility and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Therefore, we can say “A humble man is a great man and a great man must be a humble man.”

Golda Meir said, “Don’t be humble ...you are not that great.” We all can agree that only Jesus is the most humble of all because there was no one greater than him. Therefore, God exalted him above every principality and power and had glorified him by seating at the right hand of the throne of God.

Might the Lord inspire you to aspire to humility above as it is fitting for all those of us who follow Jesus.

This was a gentle reminder to take a fresh look at the cross of Jesus this week.

Gerry Gutierrez.

PS. Please pray for my grandchildren in Tacoma, Washington, so that our Lord might take their infirmities away.