He humbled Himself …” Philippians 2:8 KJV
He humbled Himself …” Philippians 2:8 NASB
“Wondrous Thy humiliation, to accomplish our salvation.” – C. Homburg
Their treatment of Him was merciless. These were seasoned soldiers. Humiliating a captured enemy was sport for them, relieving the tedium of the day. They were able to vent their frustrations and anger on their victims in this manner. They knew all too well how to humiliate and shame a foe.
But this time was different. Whatever they did to Him, He did not seem to react as others. They stripped His clothes from Him, and He did not resist. They found an old threadbare robe to throw around Him, and He seemed to wear it in regal majesty. The spittle that they aimed at Him did not cause Him to change the serene expression on His face. There was no sign of anger, hatred, or bitterness. This was not the stoical response of unflinching pride; something far different was present in Him.
The buffeting, the lash and scourge, the crown of thorns would certainly eventually “break” this Man. And yet, they could not humiliate Him. The reason is that He humbled Himself. Men might do what was calculated to shame, humiliate, and disgrace a fellow human being, all those strategies would be successful on others, but they were futile with the Man Who humbled Himself.
His coming to earth was a step of immeasurable humility. The High and lofty One Who inhabits eternity chose to enter into humanity and move through its successive stages: a babe in the womb, an infant of days, dependent on earthly parents, an adolescent, and then an adult. 
Not only the reality of His humanity but the conditions of it were tokens of His self-humbling nature. He lived in Nazareth, laboured with His hands, performed no miracles to improve His lot, lived in relative obscurity for 30 years, and, as subsequent events proved, was not valued by His family or village. He humbled Himself!
Then there was the final step, the step to Calvary. It has fallen to many men to die in a blaze of glory: men sacrificing their lives to save others, men who die heroically for their country. This is all grist for pundits and commentators who laud praise upon the heroes of the day. Society recognizes their sacrifice and heroism, awarding medals and ribbons to all such.
But He died “numbered with the transgressors.” He died as a malefactor, condemned by the Roman court of “justice.” No funeral cortege followed His body to its burial place. There were perhaps only four mourners as His body was entombed by Joseph. No hero’s parade accompanied the bier. No headlines in the Jerusalem Gazette. Jerusalem was glad to be rid of Him. Even in death, He humbled Himself.
It is a reason to worship and to wonder that we have a God Who is a self-humbling God. Nothing and no one can humble Him. All that humbles us as human beings – our inadequacies, imperfections, infirmities, etc. – are all foreign to Him. If He is to know humbling, it must be of His own willingness and choice. And praise His Name, He chose to humble Himself.
Consider
Phil 2:5-8 begins by saying that “Who being in the form of God …” Our instinct is to read into it that, even though He was God, He humbled Himself. Could it also mean that because He is God, He humbled Himself? In other words, this is the very character of God.