“Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown when Thou camest to earth for me …” the Christmas hymn says. Psalm 22:18 continues the idea of the humility — and even humiliation — that Jesus underwent for us: “They divide my garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.”

Some of us may know something of the hurt of losing our possessions; of having strangers sort through our goods and treasures — perhaps due to a financial reversal, or other ill fortunes. But this was magnified many times over in such a case as Christ’s, who was literally stripped of everything. As this scripture prophesies, even the most basic garments of His dignity would be divided among coarse soldiers. He was totally abased in the process of bringing about our salvation through His humiliation and suffering on the cross.

There is no humiliation His followers could undergo which could begin to compare with His, who left the indescribable glories of heaven and poured Himself out for us. There is no hardship which we should not be willing to adopt for the sake of Him who so humbled Himself for us.