“He had given so much! He had done so much! Nobody understood Him and, as far as we can tell, He died utterly forlorn, aloe and humiliated!”
These were the words of a man talking to his priest about Jesus’ crucifixion and, I’m sure, reflecting the feeling of Jesus’ disciples the morning after Good Friday. After all, they had left everything they knew to follow Jesus – their families, jobs, businesses – because they had experienced the presence of God in Jesus in a decisive and powerful way. They were filled with hope that the long-awaited Messiah who would exalt them with power had come and then – suddenly – it was over!
The Master had been humbled beyond belief and it left the disciples spiritually, emotionally, and physically wiped out. Because Jesus had been killed, the forces of evil seemed to have risen to pre-eminence as never seen before. This seemed contrary to everything Jesus had said about justice prevailing. The words we hear from Luke’s Gospel today about the man who exalted himself will be humbled and the man who humbled himself will be exalted seem ironic at best. It all sounded so good! Yet, it didn’t work!
Or did it! The tomb was empty! Everyone was astonished! Think what the disciples must have felt once the reality set in! It was not some plot set up by the Roman soldiers – they experienced the risen presence themselves!
But that was just the beginning. They would soon understand the resurrection power of God. Jesus had won the victory as He said He would. Jesus, who had been so pitifully humbled was now exalted. And the awareness spilled over from the disciples to the next generation; and the next; and the next -and here we are today. Here, today, we are reminded of the same words Jesus used – to humble ourselves so that the resurrection power of God through the Holy Spirit can exalt us, too.
At the bottom line, to humble oneself means to put others first; to be of service to others; to give generously and unselfishly. That is also a good description of the high cost of Discipleship. But we are many ties reluctant to pay the price. We get used to heeding that part of us that says: “Don’t give, take!” “Get all you can because life is short!” When we give in to that temptation we play right into the hands of the Evil One and use people.
The great inventor, Thomas Edison, lived in a large home with a high fence around it. Visitors had to push open a very heavy gate to enter the grounds and then push it back until it clanked shut. One of Edison’s friends complained to him about the large amount of energy it took to open and close the gate. Edison escorted his friend to the roof of his home and showed him an elaborate set of pulleys, levers, and pumps. “You see,” Edison said “What you don’t know is that everyone who opens and closes the gate automatically pumps a gallon water into the water tank here on the roof.”
If we’re honest, we all do it! People come walking into our lives and greet us and we say “How you doing?” and mean what can you do for me? How much water can you pump into my tank? Can you make me happy? Can you make me rich? Can you tell me how wonderful I am? Will you exalt me? However, when you know Jesus, all that changes. That knowledge makes you say “How you doing? What can I do for you? God’s love for you becomes clear and real. God’s grace comes into focus. Yet, mere words do not a humble Christian make.
The Pharisee in today’s Gospel reading was hardly at a loss for words as he stood in the Temple to pray! In his prayers he reminded God that he was probably the best of men! He was not a crook! He was not an adulterer! And God would be pleased to know that he gave his fair share to the Temple and obeyed the fasting laws! Most important, he was not like that poor, unattractive soul standing in the corner quietly with his head bowed!
There are persons who are willing to open to the movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives an approach those who are unattractive, “unlovable” or depressing. And there are those who drag their feet whenever they are nudged in the direction of relinquishing control to welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives.
Poor Pharisee! You obey the law. You are a law-abiding citizen. But what do you know about the power of the Holy Spirit to change your life? You are free to exalt yourself, but expect to be humbled!
And what about the other man in the Temple. Look, over there in the corner! “He kept his distance, not daring to raise his eyes to heaven. All he did was beat his breast and pray: “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, while he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Source: © The Rev. Peter Groschner, October 23, 2016. Luke 18:9-14. Reprinted with permission from the author.