It is sometimes difficult to watch and listen to the news and commentary about significant events that have or are taking place. Last evening, on The O’Reilly Factor, the host was on a rant about his theme of humiliation. It was in his reference the President and a series of current events that are occurring: Russia sending a state of the art Missile Defense System; Iran repudiating his interpretation of the Nuclear Treaty; a US Senate Committee voting unanimously to be involved in any final treaty proposals; the removal of Cuba from the State Terror list; the movements of the Russian Fleet and intimidating tactics of its Air Force; the lack of sufficient involvement and interest in the struggle of Ukraine; and the negative sense of Jordan and other Middle East nations about his detachment from pressing issues pertaining to ISIS and Iranian intrusion into several surrounding countries.
What is humiliation on a personal or national scale? When used as an adjective, one of the definitions is: “having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience” (dictionary.com). When used as a verb, one meaning is: “to lower in condition, importance, or dignity; abase.” One of the Synonyms indicates: “to subdue, crush, break. Humble, degrade, humiliate suggest lowering or causing to seem lower. To humble is to bring down the pride of another or to reduce him or her to a state of abasement.” Humiliation carries with it a sense of one being ignored, disrespected, marginalized and disregarded. Such a one may arrogantly continue on with a chosen agenda but the effort in speech or negotiation is merely tolerated and actually ignored. By extension, a nation whose word was once its bond is now ignored. The national interests and presence no longer causes fear or respect by others. The trust factor has been diminished and words no longer are believed or appreciated. The national and international response to this nation and its elected officials is a serious concern. It has placed the nation and its allies at risk.
There was a far more important event that occurred regarding humiliation. Theologically, it is referenced as The Humiliation of Jesus Christ.” After Martin Luther arrived at a place of understanding of the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17), he would later write a Catechism that covered the basics of Christ’s purpose and accomplishment when He came to this earth. In Question 127, he asks and answers: “What was Christ's humiliation? Christ's humiliation was that as man He did not always or fully use His divine powers. Philippians 2:5-8, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (NKJV). In Question 131, he asks and answers: “What do the Scriptures teach about Christ's life, suffering, and death? They teach that Christ endured poverty, contempt, and persecution in His earthly life; 2 Corinthians 8:9 Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich; Matthew 8:20, Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head; Isaiah. 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.” His answer also includes reference to: “He suffered great agony of body and soul under Pontius Pilate and He died in excruciating agony on the cross.”n
In Isaiah 53:3-8 (NASB), we read about The Suffering Servant, Jesus Christ and His Humiliation: “He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him…He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away…” The thrust of Easter is that Jesus arose triumphant. Death no longer had its sting. The grave no longer had its victory. The sad reality regarding our nation is that the claim continues to be made that the United States indicates it is 80% Christian! When the survey question is asked, How many evangelicals are there in America, the response is: “There are about 2,154,000 evangelical/born again Christians in America as of 2008. This is according to the 2010 Statistical Abstract of the U.S. Census Bureau, which sourced its data from the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) 2008.” Sadly, most people think they will go to heaven when they die. However, they lack a substantive response to What/Who is a Christian. Are you a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ? Is it evidenced by your commitment to Jesus Christ and your obedience to His Word? Consider these things with me!
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