"A Little Lower"

Before His incarnation, the Lord Jesus Christ was greater than the angels because He was the Creator of the angels. "All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3).

During His earthly life as a man, our Savior was "made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death" (Hebrews 2:9).

By His resurrection and ascension unto glory, the Lord Jesus is "made better than the angels" (Hebrews 1:4).

The former and the latter truths are understandable. We expect the Maker to be greater than any and every aspect of His creation. That He could be "made a little lower" than a part of His creation, however, presents a reality beyond our understanding. More literally, it presents a humility beyond our understanding. "Being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8).

The fear of God begins both our wisdom and knowledge, according to Solomon (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). Our Lord is beyond every high and lofty concept of greatness we can imagine. Seeing the loving humility of God, on the other hand, begins the eternal journey of fulfilling our wisdom and knowledge. The new birth ushers us into such glory as we believe in a Servant/Savior who "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). Growth in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus involves ever-increasing awareness of the Divine heart of humility whereby we "walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us and given Himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor" (Ephesians 5:2).

Biblical understanding of God involves both a high view and a low view. The former drives us to our faces in awe, reverence and the creaturely fear that acknowledges a Creator of breath-taking and heart-stilling magnitude. Interestingly, the latter view, the low view that sees God's humility, may drive us even more deeply into the depths of worship and awareness of how glorious He is. Indeed, "a little lower" reveals a Heart so wonderful that it transforms, at the highest cost to itself, former rebels into loving sons and daughters. No depth of bowed adoration, awe and amazement will be low enough for the redeemed to adequately acknowledge so great - and so humble - a Lord.

"I am meek and lowly in heart."

(Matthew 11:29)