Lion and the Lamb: Confidence and Humility

Intro:

TENSION: Think of a time where you or someone you knew let their authority go to their head. How did it go?

Maybe you’ve had a parent coach or a teacher who used their authority in a way that hurt you.

I had a coach make me do 400 pushups at practice: Weren’t exactly close after that.

We’ve watched peoples lives be ruined because of authorities who abuse their power.

In an age that is defined by skepticism, it has never been more important for us to find an authority that can be trusted.

Truth is it isn’t wrong to be skeptical: even Jesus was skeptical of people:

“24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.” John 2:24-25 NIV.

BUT.....

TRUTH: Yet, Jesus died for us while we were still sinners.

Jesus wielding His authority as the rightful King of Heaven and Earth with tremendous humility.

3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. John 13:3-4 NIV

Jesus: King of the Universe, having all authority in heaven and earth washes his disciples feet.

Jesus washes the feet of the one who was going to betray him.

No matter how bad you’ve been: Jesus’ love is greater than those wrongs you’ve committed.

No matter how elite you are: Serving others is never beneath you.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:12-15 NIV

16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

John 13:16-17 NIV

Jesus tells us that if we do these things, if we serve others as He has served us, we will be blessed. This is really important. Grace is never earned, but some blessings are. God’s love is unconditional, but some blessings are given as rewards to those who earn them.

Close your eyes and think back to what it was like to be 5 years old:

Sitting at the table eating. You don’t really want to finish your spaggetti and ugh your mom made cooked spinach.

If you finish you know you’ll get....

Open your eyes.

God gives us everything that we need, but he leaves certain things as added benefits if we choose to follow the way he has prepared for us.

That matters because, if you’re taking notes, Jesus is a King who chooses to sacrifice Himself to serve others.

Now, we’re going to fast forward a few chapters in John’s Gospel and a few hours in Jesus’ life to see, once again, the way He wields His authority with humility. Chapter 18…

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

Judas, who just a few hours earlier, was having dinner with Jesus and had his feet washed by Jesus, shows up with a group of people to arrest Jesus, and eventually, get him killed.

4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground…

Jesus responds by saying, “I AM.” Which, if you didn’t know, is the name of God. So in one response, Jesus announces His identity (I AM, God in the flesh) and demonstrates His authority. When He says His name, I AM, the armed soldiers and the religious officials fall to the ground! With just the sound of His voice, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that He is in complete control of the situation. And yet… in humility, He still chooses to go with them…

12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. John 18:2-6, 12 NIV

Jesus is a King who wields His authority with humility. All the power on heaven and earth was given to Him, and He chose, over and over again, to sacrifice Himself to serve others.

Why?

Because He is a King worth serving, a Leader worth following, and Savior worth trusting.

What does this look like?

APPLICATION: We follow Jesus and serve people with confidence and humility. But, in order to do that we need to make sure we have the right understanding of what confidence and humility are, and how they work together.

Not: Confidence ←→ Humility. This: Arrogance ← Confidence + Humility → Insecurity.

When we attempt to separate confidence and humility from each other, we lose out on both.

So, how do we grow in confidence and humility? Build confidence by trusting Jesus’ authority more than your insecurity.

What we believe about ourselves we put into action.

ANTS- When you start to have them, remind yourself who Jesus is and who he says you are.

Prized possession

Royal Priesthood

Heir with Christ (Brother or a Sister)

The more you focus on Jesus being the main character of your life, the less time you have to fixate on how your life isn’t measuring up to main character status.

every time a negative thought starts spinning around in your brain, you take it captive. You admit whatever part of that thought is true, and you replace whatever part of it is false. Because confidence isn’t built by lying to yourself about how awesome you are. Confidence is built by working with Jesus to overcome significant challenges, and coming out on the other side better and stronger.

And, Develop humility by serving someone you think is beneath you.

If Jesus wasn’t above washing Judas’ feet, then you aren’t above serving others.

It’s not enough to say “I’m not a big deal” you have to live it out.

“Clean the Toilet”

What is the dirtiest Job that you can think of?

If you see yourself as too big of a deal to do that job, then you don’t understand the gravity of what Jesus has done for you.

We follow Jesus and serve people with confidence and humility.

The key to living a life of Confidence and Humility is seeing ourselves as Jesus sees us