Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 27
Larger Catechism Q. 46-50
Q. 27 Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist?
A. Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition,[d] made under the law,[e] undergoing the miseries of this life,[f] the wrath of God,[g] and the cursed death of the cross;[h] in being buried,[i] and continuing under the power of death for a time.[k]
[d] Luke 2:7 — And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. .
[e] Galatians 4:4 — But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.
[f] Hebrews 12:2,3 — Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Ver.3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Isaiah 53:2,3 — For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. Ver.3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
[g] Luke 22:44 — And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Matthew 27:46 — And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
[h] Philippians 2:8 — And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
[i] 1 Corinthians 15:3,4 — For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; Ver.4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
[k] Acts 2:24,25,26,27,31 — Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. Ver.25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Ver.26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Ver.27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Ver.31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Larger Catechism
Q. 46. What was the estate of Christ's humiliation?
A. The estate of Christ's humiliation was that low condition, wherein he for our sakes, emptying himself of his glory, took upon him the form of a servant, in his conception and birth, life, death, and after his death, until his resurrection [s].
[s] Philippians 2:6-8 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Ver.8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Acts 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Q47. How did Christ humble himself in his conception and birth?
A. Christ humbled himself in his conception and birth, in that, being from all eternity the Son of God, in the bosom of the Father, he was pleased in the fulness of time to become the son of man, made of a woman of low estate, and to be born of her; with divers circumstances of more than ordinary abasement [t].
[t] John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Ver.18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Q48. How did Christ humble himself in his life?
A. Christ humbled himself in his life, by subjecting himself to the law [v], which he perfectly fulfilled [w]; and by conflicting with the indignities of the world [x], temptations of Satan [y], and infirmities in his flesh, whether common to the nature of man, or particularly accompanying that his low condition [z].
[v] Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
[w] Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
[x] Psalm 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
Hebrews 12:2-3 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
[y] Matthew 4:1-12 Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil, etc..
Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
[z] Hebrews 2:17-18 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Ver.18 For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Isaiah 52:13-14 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. Ver.14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
Q49. How did Christ humble himself in his death?
A. Christ humbled himself in his death, in that having been betrayed by Judas [a], forsaken by his disciples [b], scorned and rejected by the world [c], condemned by Pilate, and tormented by his persecutors [d]; having also conflicted with the terrors of death, and the powers of darkness, felt and borne the weight of God’s wrath [e], he laid down his life an offering for sin [f], enduring the painful, shameful, and cursed death of the cross [g].
[a] Matthew 27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
[b] Matthew 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
[c] Isaiah 53:2-3 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. Ver.3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
[d] Matthew 27:26-50 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. etc.
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
[e] Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
[f] Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
[g] Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Q50. Wherein consisted Christ's humiliation after his death?
A. Christ's humiliation after his death consisted in his being buried [h], and continuing in the state of the dead, and under the power of death till the third day [i]; which hath been otherwise expressed in these words, He descended into hell.
[h] 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
[i] Psalm 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Compared with Acts 2:24-27 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. Ver.25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Ver.26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Ver.27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Ver.31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Rom. 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
End of Lesson, Day 33
For Further Study:
Francis R. Beattie's The Presbyterian Standards
The Humiliation and Exaltation of Jesus Christ
James Fisher's Catechism on the Catechism
John Flavel's Exposition of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism
Matthew Henry's A Scripture Catechism in the Method of the Assembly's
Thomas Vincent's The Shorter Catechism Explained from Scripture
Thomas Watson's Body of Divinity
John Whitecross' The Shorter Catechism Illustrated
Alexander Whyte's A Commentary on the Shorter Catechism
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