January-March
The life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ are a standing rebuke to every form of pride to which men are liable. Take, for instance—
Pride of birth and rank: “Is not this the carpenter’s son?”
Pride of wealth: “The Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
Pride of respectability: “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Pride of personal appearance: “He hath no form nor comeliness.”
Pride of reputation: “Behold, a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.”
Pride of independence: “Many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.”
Pride of learning: “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?”
Pride of superiority: “I am among you as he that serveth.” “He humbled himself,” was “made a curse for us.”
Pride of success: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” “Neither did his brethren believe in him.” “He was despised and rejected of men.”
Pride of self-reliance: “He went down . . . to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.”
Pride of ability: “I can of mine own self do nothing.”
Pride of self-will: “I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
Pride of intellect: “As my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.”
Pride of bigotry: “Forbid him not: for he that is not against us, is for us.”
Pride of resentment: “Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do.” “Friend, wherefore art thou come?”
Pride of reserve: “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.” “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected.”
Pride of clique: “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”
—Indian Witness, as published in The Youth’s Instructor, Vol. 42, No. 2