When the angels showed up to announce the birth of the Messiah, it wasn’t to the priests in the Temple, or to King Herod in his palace. It was to a bunch of shepherds working the night shift (Luke 2:8). And God didn’t just come to associate with the meek and lowly, but to become one of them, to be born to poor parents in an obscure corner of the Roman Empire. Let’s face it – you can’t have more humble beginnings than to spend your first night in a feedbox for animals (Luke 2:7,16).

But it is still the case that God chooses to reveal His glory through humility. And why is that? The essence of God is love, and love by definition puts the needs of others ahead of the desires of the self. Love always considers the beloved to be more important than the self. It is thus impossible to be proud and loving at the same time.

In fact, the greatest love, as Jesus Himself said, is to lay down one’s life for his friends (John 15:13). And so He did that at the beginning of His life, giving up all the comforts and glories of Heaven to become an infant born to poor, powerless parents, sharing in all our sufferings. And so He did on the cross, giving up His life so that we might live with Him forever.

That’s the amazing truth – from beginning to end, Jesus humbled Himself, giving up everything for us. So, how else can we follow Him unless we give up everything for Him and for others?

Luke 2:8-16 (NASB)

8 And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10 And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
15 And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.