Chapter 19: Of Christ's Humiliation

Having spoken of the person & Offices of Christ, how are we in the next place to consider of his actions?

In a twofold estate: his state of humiliation, and his state of exaltation.

What are the general acts of his humiliation?

Laying aside the full manifestation of his divine majesty for a time, and assuming to him the nature of man.

What else?

It was a great act of his humiliation, that he became subject to the law, and not only a man, but in the meanest condition of men.

What may be evidences that he was a man of a very mean condition and state?

His poor birth, his afflicted and poor life, his shameful and accursed death, with the things that follow afterward, do evidently show the same.

What was his poor birth?

He was born of a poor Virgin for his mother who was espoused to a Carpenter for her husband; and when he was born was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, because there was no room for his poor mother in the Inn (Luke 2:7).

What else was the testimony of his poor birth?

When he was presented to the Lord in the temple with an offering, the offering was but a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons, which was an offering appointed at the birth of children of the poorest sort of people (Luke 2:24; Leviticus 12:8).

What was his poor and afflicted life?

His fleeing into Egypt from the rage of Herod, his poverty in outward estate, and his subjection to his parents as any other child.

What else were testimonies of his afflicted life?

His temptations from the devil, his wearisome journeys from place to place, and his manifold persecutions from the hands and tongues of wicked men.

What was his shameful, painful and accursed death?

It was his crucifying or death upon the Cross, which was a death accursed by the law.

Wherein was the shame of that death?

It was shameful in that he was crucified in the midst between two thieves, and Barabbas a murderer counted more worthy than he.

What else was the shame and pain of that death?

He was crowned with thorns, and otherwise derided by the people and priests, his hands and feet were nailed to the Cross, and his side was pierced with a Spear to the effusion of water and blood (Matthew 27:29, 30, 31; John 19:34).

What else was there in his death?

That which was the greatest of all was, that he endured a grievous agony with his Father's wrath (Matthew 26:37, 38 and 27:46).

What followed after his death?

He was buried in the grave, and continued under the power and dominion of death for a time.

What was the end of all this humiliation of Christ?

That he might make satisfaction to the justice and honor of God, which had been wronged by our sins, and to procure for us reconciliation with God and eternal life.

How came Christ to be liable to make satisfaction for our sins?

Because he voluntarily became our Surety, and so was to pay the debt that we were in to God (Hebrews 7:22; Psalm 40:7).