One of the most controversial truths in the Christian faith was that the Savior of the world came not as a mighty warrior but as a humble servant.
For so many years Israel have waited for the Promised Savior who will free God's people from centuries of bondage and slavery. Nations around them took turns in oppressing them and using them in forced labor. They were subjected to shameful state of existence. But all this time they were looking for a way out. They were looking to God for redemption.
Imagine their excitement when the arrival of the Messiah was announced. An angel from heaven appeared. Yehey! Everyone gets excited and expectant. Hooray! It was their moment of glory. Alright! God will at last vanquish their enemies! Yeaah! A mighty warrior is coming! But...
Instead, God Himself will come down and be with us, so goes the announcement. Oh,great! But wait, there's more! He's gonna come in a form of a baby. He is to be born in a forsaken place called Nazareth, and he will lay his head on a manger with animals around him as an entourage because that's a fitting entrance for a coming King! Then the child will grow and be a carpenter for many years and then will take to the streets to do ministry to call the people to repentance. Great plan! Then he will die a shameful, torturous death after being beaten and spat upon and laughed at and nailed on a cross. And that's it!
But many people just couldn't take that. They can't imagine why God would allow himself to be subjected to such shameful and disgraceful turn of events and to be called the "suffering servant". I couldn't understand, but it is because his thoughts are greater than mine. His ways are definitely far better than people. What he did was to demonstrate a life that we should live--with humility and total abandon to God's will.
God defeated the root of our sin--pride and rebellion--by coming down in reckless abandon of himself and total humility. It makes sense. God defeated pride with humility.
