This week’s Bible Lesson , titled “Sacrament,” is a lesson in humility. Each section illustrates the humility requisite to follow Jesus’ example in healing, serving others, and worshipping God. We are instructed to “be clothed with humility” (I Pet. 5:5, Golden Text), to put on “humbleness of mind” (Col. 3:12, Responsive Reading), to “walk humbly” with God (Mic. 6:8, citation 1), to humble ourselves as a “little child” (Matt. 18:3, 4, cit. 3), and to feel humility (Science and Health, p. 8, cit. 2). 

To grow in humility, the right disposition is needed— fervent desire, habitual struggle, longing, watchfulness, and striving (Science and Health, p. 4, cit. 4). Jesus’ disciples had to find this out. They appeared less than modest when they pressed Jesus to say who would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. His response must have been startling—a little child? The point isn’t who will be greatest, but who will be humblest. And yet, do we truly want to be humble? Science and Health asserts: “Praying for humility with whatever fervency of expression does not always mean a desire for it” (p. 8, cit. 2). Honesty with oneself is essential.  

Like the disciples, the Pharisees had a lot to learn about humility. Had they forgotten the words of the prophet Isaiah? “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled,” he said, “and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down” (Isa. 2:11, cit. 6) The Pharisees watched Jesus silently, with lofty looks. Would he heal on the Sabbath? They knew the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy and “not do any work” (see Ex. 20:8–11). The Bible itself gives very little specific directive as to how “work” is defined, but the Pharisees had been constructing their own interpretations for centuries, developing the oral tradition of rabbinical law. The Gospels indicate that they had interpreted the heart right out of the law! Jesus healed a man of dropsy and then told a parable directed at the Pharisees, the moral being that “whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14, cit. 9). Science and Health notes: “It should have humbled the pride of the priests, when they saw the demonstration of Christianity excel the influence of their dead faith and ceremonies” (p. 228, cit. 5).  

It wasn’t ceremony that prompted Jesus to share the bread and the cup with his disciples (Matt. 26, cit. 11). He wanted them to experience the same healing power he knew, to understand that “their bread indeed came down from heaven. It was the great truth of spiritual being, healing the sick and casting out error” (Science and Health, p. 33, cit. 13). When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, they were once again taken aback. He, their Master and Lord, washing feet? But there was another lesson in his action. He said, “I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13, cit. 12).  

Jesus’ entire life was a model of humility—from the manger to the cross. 

Jesus’ entire life was a model of humility—from the manger to the cross. “He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8, cit. 14). In the Greco-Roman world, there was no more degrading punishment than crucifixion. Hardened criminals were crucified, not kings or messiahs! But Jesus was lifted up by his humility: “The Christ-idea, or the Christ-man, rose higher to human view because of the crucifixion, and thus proved that Truth was the master of death” (Science and Health, p. 316, cit. 16).

The book of Acts describes how Jesus’ followers carried his message forward. Philip, for example, was one of seven chosen by the apostles for special service (see Acts 6:5). His willingness to preach in Samaria was indicative of his humility—the Jews had always felt superior to the Samaritans and the two peoples had been at odds for centuries. But “the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip” and brought him to Gaza, where he shared the gospel with the receptive heart of a “man of Ethiopia,” who after being baptized “went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8, cit. 17).

 “O come, let us worship and bow down” (Ps. 95:6, cit. 4). In Christian Science branch churches on Communion Sunday, the congregation is invited to kneel. Humbly, Christian Scientists “bow before Christ, Truth, to receive more of his reappearing and silently to commune with the divine Principle, Love” (Science and Health, p. 35, cit. 22). 

Isaiah tells us that “the high and lofty One” lives with those who are “of a contrite and humble spirit” (Isa. 57:15, cit. 10). By losing a sense of our own importance, we gain company with God, and find ourselves “clothed with humility,” claiming with Jesus “no intelligence, action, nor life separate from God” (Science and Health, p. 136. cit. 6). And that is a humbling experience!