How was the crucifixion transformed from being a humiliation into being honor and glory?

The apostle Paul says of Christ that He “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:7–8). Therefore, His faithful followers were the first group in the history of humanity to consider humiliation to be a virtue; for it was not due to sin committed by Christ that He was crucified, but out of love for the whole human race. Therefore, the apostle Paul calls us to have the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5), renounce temporal honor, and devote ourselves to loving others. Crucifixion was considered the most horrible of deaths, for it signifies the curse of God and people upon the crucified. The psalmist devoted a psalm to the topic of humiliation: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? … But I am a worm, and no

man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head” (Ps. 22:1, 6–7).

If Christ became a slave because of His love for us, we ought to say with the apostle Paul that each of us is “the bondservant of Jesus Christ” (Rom. 1:1), considering slavery to Christ as the most exalted honor in the world. The cross transfigured the way we see the world; many now prefer to serve than to be served (Matt. 20:28). Through the Cross He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly (Luke 1:52).