Self Denial of Jesus

At the cross of Calvary, love and selfishness stood face to face. Here was their crowning manifestation. Christ had lived only to comfort and bless, and in putting Him to death, Satan manifested the malignity of his hatred against God. He made it evident that the real purpose of his rebellion was to dethrone God, and to destroy Him through whom the love of God was shown. {DA 57.2}

At the cross we see love and selfishness unveiled. Satan demonstrated selfishness. Christ demonstrated love. Christ lived only to comfort and bless others. He lived a life of total selflessness.

Roman 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

We cannot afford to live simply to please ourselves, and to seek our own will. “Even Christ pleased not Himself.” He lived a life of self-denial and sacrifice. {RH, June 12, 1888 par. 6}

Christ did not live to please Himself. He lived a life of self-denial and He has said if anyone is going to follow Me then let him deny himself.

Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

We can live to please ourselves. We can seek our own will but for the followers of Christ there is a different path we need to take.

All who imitate the life of Christ, and conform their character to His, and engage in active, useful labour in self-denying benevolence, will have happiness. “For even Christ pleased not himself.” He said, “I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.” {HR, June 1, 1873 par. 4}

A life of self-denying benevolence actually will bring happiness. Many people think that in serving themselves they’ll find happiness but that is not necessarily true.

Christ denied Himself… He lived a life of self-sacrifice and self-denial… {ST, June 1, 1891 par. 3}

Self-denial is to do good to others where inclination would lead you to serve and please yourself. {4T 521.2}

Inclination will lead you to pleaseyourself and Christ pleased not Himself. Is it possible that Jesus had to resist the inclination to please Himself? Jesus had His own will. In the Bible He says “Mine own will.” So Jesus could have pleased Himself. He could have done His own will and as a man He was subject to temptation. His own will was there.

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.

Was Jesus tempted to please Himself? I’m tempted like that all the time. I’m always tempted to think it’s all too hard. Jesus was tempted in all points and He had self to deny. So self must have been there with Jesus as a temptation.

In temptation, inclination must be overruled by reason. Self will clamour for indulgence, but inclination must be resisted, and temptation overcome. {YRP356.1}

In temptation self will clamour for indulgence. That is not a sin, that’s temptation. But if we give in and we indulge self, that is sin. We have pleased ourselves. Jesus must have been tempted to please Himself. The Bible could not say that Jesus pleased not Himself if there was no self to be pleased. I believe that Jesus went against something in His human nature in order to obey His Father and stay on that path of His Father’s perfect will. When it says that Jesus denied Himself, self must have been there otherwise He had nothing to deny.

Young men and young women will often be brought into positions where they are uncertain what to do. Their inclination leads them in one direction, and the Holy Spirit of God draws them in another direction. Satan presses his temptation upon them, and urges them to follow the inclinations of the natural heart. But those who desire to be true to Christ, will listen to the voice that says, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” They will decide to take the course of the righteous, although it is more difficult to pursue, more painful to follow, than the way of their own heart. But they will also realize the fulfilment of the promise: “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: …” We need to receive divine wisdom in the daily concerns of life, in order that we may display sound judgment, and choose the safe path because it is the right one. He who acts upon his own judgment will follow the inclination of the natural heart; but he whose mind is opened to the word of God, will prayerfully consider every way of his feet, so that he may honour God, and keep the way of the Lord. He will remember that “even Christ pleased not Himself,” and he will consider it a great privilege to follow in His steps. {YI, September 19, 1895 par. 2}

He [Jesus] knows how strong are the inclinations of the natural heart, and He will help in every time of temptation. {SW, February 19, 1907 par. 11}

Jesus fought all our battles during His life upon earth, and in that He was tempted, He knows how to succour those who shall be tempted. {BEcho, December 1, 1892 par. 1}

The Christian is to realize that he is not his own, but that he has been bought with a price. His strongest temptations will come from within; for he must battle against the inclinations of the natural heart. {BEcho, December 1, 1892 par. 4}
Our strongest temptations come from within; this is our greatest battle. Now if Jesus fought all our battles during His life upon earth did He fight our greatest battle? Some people say that Jesus didn’t have the inclinations of the natural heart. But what are the inclinations of the natural heart?

The companion statement below tells us they are simply our own inclinations. Our own inclinations are always there and if we go against them we are lifting a cross. We are doing exactly what Jesus did, lifting a cross.

The Christian is to realize that he is not his own. He will have temptations to resist, and battles to fight against his own inclinations; for the Lord will accept no half-wayservice. {RH, June 16, 1896 par. 5}

It is never difficult to do what we love to do, but to take a course directly against our inclinations is lifting a cross. {5T 94.2}

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
AMEN.

Glendon Higgins, Australia