Philippians 2:8 ...he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross.

The two words human and humility share in common a Latin root word: humus, which means "dirt." Humility is perhaps the most human quality of all, for it points us to our created origins from the dirt, and to which in death we must return. Humiliation, however, is the violent act of the proud and arrogant who dismiss or violate others, reducing them to dirt. Such humiliation is a tragic and sinful reminder of our pride. And in it, we fail to realize that the cries of the humiliated reach the ears of God.

Jesus would know us not only in the truth of our humility but also in the tragedy of our humiliation. He was humbled as a human being, and he bore the great and terrifying humiliation of the cross. But through his obedience to this scandalous death, he takes upon himself not only the dirt of our death but the humiliation of being neglected and given no place in this world. None will be forgotten in Christ's cross and his loving embrace. We are no longer nobodies but somebodies living in Christ's freedom.

-- Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,