Royalty Who Looks Like Us?

Recently, I read a story told by an older British man.

When he was a little boy after WWII, he saw a picture of some people walking around a bombed out street in a city. Bricks and timber were strewn across the cobblestone. The houses and buildings were totally destroyed.

However, there was something more to the picture. On the photo, there was a small arrow pointing to one of the men in the group. He looked just like the others, wearing the plain clothes of an average person.

Yet the arrow revealed a secret.

That plain-clothed man was King George VI, walking among the debris. He looked so much like the other figures that he was indistinguishable from them.

This story perfectly sets off our verse today:

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:7 ESV

Jesus became exactly like us.

The King of all the universe threw aside his coronation clothes and took on the rags of humanity.

This is the ultimate act of humility. Jesus, our great King, doesn’t shoo us away from himself or make us approach him from a distance…

…instead, Jesus is the King who steps down from his throne to walk alongside his people and make them his siblings (Rom. 8:17).

This kind of love and humility marks the heart of God. And therefore is the aim of every disciple.

Where does Jesus’ example inspire you to lay down your life in loving humility today?