Self-denial must take place for the Christian to grow in holiness. As a result, the Christian must gain clarity on the subject. Where should he look? To whom should he learn by example? While the Bible has much to say on the topic, there is One who stands triumphantly above them all.
Jesus must be the focus and the joy of the Christian’s heart. All other examples, both inside and outside of Scripture, are to be measured with the plumb line of Jesus Christ. Therefore, why don’t we turn to the Scripture to note the ultimate life of self-denial?
Not my time
When Satan tempted Eve in the Garden, he did so through the avenues John lists in the book of 1 John. John tells us that the world is filled with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Eve saw that the fruit looked good to eat and gave into the lust of the flesh. She saw that the fruit looked pleasant to the eyes and gave into the lust of the eyes. Finally, she thought the fruit could make her wise like God and gave into the pride of life.
The fall of man in the Garden is not unique. Many have said that the root of the fall was pride. It could equally be said that the root was self rather than self-denial. The issues that the fall has caused have been monumental. Nobody can say that he has not sought his own will rather than God’s at some time or another. However, when Jesus came to the earth, He did so with a different focus than man. Jesus came with a foundation of self-denial.
A similar scene to what is depicted in the Garden can be seen when Jesus is in the wilderness. It is almost as though the tranquility of the Garden had been abandoned for barrenness and death. The life that was prominent in the Garden with the trees, plants, and things of that nature are contrasted with the deadness of the wilderness.
When Jesus was in the wilderness surrounded by barrenness after the fall, we still see Satan coming to tempt. Satan approached Jesus three times and used the same tactics as he did before. First, he told Jesus to turn the stones into bread during a time when Jesus was hungry. Thus, Satan sought to tempt Jesus with the lust of the flesh. Second, Satan also told Jesus to throw Himself down and have angels save Him if He truly was the Son of God. Thus, Satan sought to tempt Jesus with the pride of life by showing His deity.
Finally, we are told, “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (KJV, Matt. 4:8-10). Jesus looked upon all the kingdoms of the world and denied self. The kingdoms would be given to Jesus, but His time was not yet.
Not my lot
So often, the Christian can find himself caught up in pursuits that Jesus knew nothing about. For instance, the Bible says, “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Matt. 8:20). How many Christians can honestly say they are living like Jesus when reading this verse?
Jesus had no permanent home. He did not live his life to invest as much as He could in real estate. Instead, Jesus lived His life to invest as much as He could in the kingdom of God. Thus, Jesus yet again lived a life of self-denial and exhibited a holiness to be respected.
Not my will
The overriding theme of Jesus’ life and ministry was not so much the cross as His deep desire to do the Father’s will. For instance, if the Father’s will had been something other than the cross, Jesus would have done something different. The cross was the Father’s idea. Before the foundation of the earth, the Father set the His redemptive plan in motion. Jesus came to carry out the plan while the Spirit was sent to make the plan effective in the believer’s life.
Reading the words of Jesus will surely give someone a glimpse into the conviction Jesus had concerning the Father’s will. Scripture says, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). Elsewhere the Bible tells us of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. When God’s will was laying heavy upon Him, and He would soon take upon His shoulders the wrath of God, He stated, “…O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matt. 26:39). Jesus came not to do His own will but to live a life of self-denial and submit to the Father’s will.
Not my endeavor
The desire to please oneself rather than God is at the heart of a selfish lifestyle. But how did Christ approach life and His ministry? Scripture says, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let everyone of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me” (Rom. 15:1-3). Christ did not live for Himself; instead, He sought to live for the Father and those around Him.
Christ has been given as many things, and one of them is an example. When Paul wanted to instruct the Philippians in humility, he told them to look at the example of Jesus. When Paul wanted to encourage the people of Corinth to give generously, he showed them the Savior, Who, although He was rich, became poor for their sake. In Romans 15:1-3 Paul again points his readers to Jesus Christ and says, “Go and do likewise.”
Not my aim
Christ’s aim in life was not self-centered. It was centered on the Father and His will. Jesus lived throughout all eternity in a glorious state. When Jesus prayed toward the end of His life, He said, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (John 17:5). Jesus was glorified with the Father, and He gave up His glorious state when He came to the earth.
In Hebrews, we read of how Christ lowered Himself. Scripture says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death…” (Heb. 1:9). Jesus came to the earth, gave up His glory in heaven, and was made lower than the angels.
But how could Jesus bring Himself to do such a thing? Paul says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation…” (Phil. 2:5-7). The way Jesus could deny Himself in such a manner came from Him having His priorities aligned.
The Christian will advance spiritually by learning to think like Jesus. He is to have the mind of Christ in all situations and learn to live a life of self-denial like his Savior.
Final prayer
Father, I pray that You would help me live a self-denial life. So often, I desire to live for myself and seek selfish gain. Please help me to grow in holiness and be like my Savior. You are deserving of my devotion and my life. Teach me what it means to give my life to You as an offering pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.