Highfields Church of Christ

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Message From the Pastor
    • Pastor
    • Vision and Values
    • Ministries
    • How To Find Us
  • All Sermons
  • Events @ Highfields CofC
  • Church & Family
  • Phone: 0408 304 776
You are here: Home / Theological / Taking the Lower Place

Taking the Lower Place

December 16, 2020

Tuesday, December 15, 2020 from Center for Action and Contemplation by Richard Rhor

Jesus’ life offered an example of humility and self-emptying, but he chose an additional model for his disciples: that of little children. Despite what we see depicted in so much religious art, it was not meant as a “cute” or sentimental gesture! As Albert Nolan shares, it was a radical revaluing of human dignity, based on nothing that society could see or quantify! Taken seriously, it is still a profound message for us today.

Jesus was uncompromising in his belief that all human beings were equal in dignity and worth. He treated the blind, the lame and the [sick], the outcasts and beggars with as much respect as that given to those of high rank and status. He refused to consider women and children unimportant or inferior. This turned a carefully ordered society of status and honor upside down—even more so when he advocated moving down the social ladder instead of striving to reach the top. [1]

When his disciples were arguing about who was the greatest, Jesus put his arm around a little child (Mark 9:36–37). According to Jesus, the least or most insignificant persons in the society are the greatest (Luke 9:48). In the society and culture of the time, the child had no standing or status whatsoever. The child was a “nobody.” The implication is that Jesus and those who want to follow him are “nobodies,” right at the bottom of the social ladder. For Jesus, the child was a model of radical humility (Matthew 18:3–4) [or what I am calling “self-emptying” this week]. Those who wish to follow him will have to become as humble as little children. [2]

Richard again: It’s difficult to hear, but Albert Nolan is simply quoting Jesus from several contexts—usually when the Twelve are all in their heads arguing. We cannot become humble by mere intellect or willpower. Pretending to be humble only makes us more self-absorbed and self-referential. All we can really do is become more aware of our pride or vanity by noticing how we respond to even minor slights or humiliations. That will be more than enough to let us know how self-centered we are and how meaningless our taking offense truly is in this infinite universe.

· Theological

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Phone
  • YouTube

Our Instagram

  • Would love for you to join us for our Good Friday and Easter Sunday Service. 9:30am to 10:30am at Geham
    Would love for you to join us for our Good Friday and Easter Sunday Service. 9:30am to 10:30am at Geham
  • Missed our message on Sunday or want to hear it again? Click the link below to check it out. https://youtu.be/Pgkz5wYImZM
    Missed our message on Sunday or want to hear it again? Click the link below to check it out. https://youtu.be/Pgkz5wYImZM
  • Youth is on tonight from 7pm to 8:30pm @ St Anne
    Youth is on tonight from 7pm to 8:30pm @ St Anne's (26 Highfields Rd)
  • Missed our message from Sunday? Don
    Missed our message from Sunday? Don't worry just click the link below to check it out. https://youtu.be/yaslcIwtddI
  • Happy Easter y
    Happy Easter y'all and remember He is Risen!
  • Click the link below to check out this Midweek Devotional. https://youtu.be/zZjh9TUAm5M
    Click the link below to check out this Midweek Devotional. https://youtu.be/zZjh9TUAm5M
  • Check out our Midweek Devotional by clicking the link below. https://youtu.be/jukqZuFqK3A
    Check out our Midweek Devotional by clicking the link below. https://youtu.be/jukqZuFqK3A
  • Youth is on tonight y
    Youth is on tonight y'all from 7pm to 8:30pm at St Anne's Church (26 Highfields Rd)
  • Check out our new Midweek Devotional by clicking the link below https://youtu.be/ecclxYHYjrw
    Check out our new Midweek Devotional by clicking the link below https://youtu.be/ecclxYHYjrw
  • Check out our Good Friday message from this morning. We have only been able to upload the audio to our
    Check out our Good Friday message from this morning. We have only been able to upload the audio to our
  • Check out our Midweek Devotional by clicking the link below. https://youtu.be/rKBMCkWeQgc
    Check out our Midweek Devotional by clicking the link below. https://youtu.be/rKBMCkWeQgc
  • Missed our message on Sunday from @pastor_mattzilla? Check it out by clicking the link below. https://youtu.be/_aiClFDIVOw
    Missed our message on Sunday from  @pastor_mattzilla ? Check it out by clicking the link below. https://youtu.be/_aiClFDIVOw
  • Check out our Good Friday message by clicking the link below to our website. Our Easter Sunday Message will be
    Check out our Good Friday message by clicking the link below to our website. Our Easter Sunday Message will be
  • Last Night of Youth for Term 1 tonight 7pm to 8:30pm @ St Anne
    Last Night of Youth for Term 1 tonight 7pm to 8:30pm @ St Anne's Church (26 Highfields Rd)
  • Missed our message on Sunday or want to hear it again? Click the link below to check it out. https://youtu.be/h5F1W36C2bk
    Missed our message on Sunday or want to hear it again? Click the link below to check it out. https://youtu.be/h5F1W36C2bk
  • Hey Y
    Hey Y'all check out the Midweek Devotional by clicking the link below. https://youtu.be/59c8B-1HN24
  • Message from this Sunday will be uploaded onto our YouTube Channel tomorrow
    Message from this Sunday will be uploaded onto our YouTube Channel tomorrow
  • Check out our Midweek Devotional by clicking the link below. https://youtu.be/I86_yeGxkCs
    Check out our Midweek Devotional by clicking the link below. https://youtu.be/I86_yeGxkCs
  • Check out our recent blog post by clicking the link below http://www.highfieldschurch.org/a-gospel-lens/
    Check out our recent blog post by clicking the link below http://www.highfieldschurch.org/a-gospel-lens/
  • Missed our message? Click the link below to check it out. https://youtu.be/-kJCCYQikoU
    Missed our message? Click the link below to check it out. https://youtu.be/-kJCCYQikoU

Copyright © 2021 · Simply Pro by Bloom Blog Shop.