Like Unto Us
Jesus' example of becoming like unto His brethren teaches us the importance of humility and service in our own lives.
James Hudson Taylor emphasizes the humility and compassion of Jesus Christ, who chose to become fully human in order to save mankind. Taylor highlights how Jesus could have appeared in a more majestic form to attract more followers, but instead, He chose to identify with the people He came to save, even enduring indignity and suffering. Taylor encourages Christian missionaries to follow Jesus' example of humility and service, seeking to identify with the poor and marginalized to bring them to salvation through Jesus Christ.
Text
"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto His brethren" (Heb. 2:17).
Had our Lord appeared on earth as an angel of light, He would doubtless have inspired far more awe and reverence, and would have collected together even larger multitudes to attend His ministry. But to save man He became Man, not merely like man, but very man. In language, in costume, in everything unsinful, He made Himself one with those He sought to benefit. Had He been born a noble Roman, rather than a Jew, He would, perhaps, if less loved, have commanded more of a certain kind of respect; and He would assuredly thereby have been spared much indignity to which He was subjected. This, however, was not His aim; He emptied Himself.
Surely no follower of the meek and lowly Jesus will be likely to conclude that it is "beneath the dignity of a Christian missionary" to seek identification with this poor people, in the hope that he may see them washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God! Let us rather be followers of Him who "knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God, He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments, and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded."
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Identification
- The Cost of Identification
- The Call to Follow Jesus' Example
- Seeking identification with the poor and marginalized
- The hope of seeing them transformed by the power of God
Key Quotes
“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto His brethren” — Hudson Taylor
“He emptied Himself” — Hudson Taylor
“He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments, and took a towel, and girded Himself” — Hudson Taylor
Application Points
- We should seek identification with the poor and marginalized in order to serve them and see them transformed by the power of God.
- Humility and service are essential qualities for a Christian missionary.
- We should be willing to empty ourselves and set aside our own dignity and status for the sake of others.