An Attitude of Humility

Gate City Message Notes

DTR: Define the Relationship with Jesus

Joshua Robinson

12/07/25

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ John 13:12–18

Servant - δοῦλος (doulos) someone who is a slave and obeys the commands of his or her master; willful subjection to will (God)

Master - κύριος (kurios) - supreme in authority, Lord, Master, God; often used as a substitute for the name above all names YHWH (Lord, Lord)

Submit - ὑποτάσσω (hupotassó) to subject, to submit, to be under obedience

Overview: Discipleship is defined by Jesus not us

     Jesus lays out what it means to follow Him

Cannot have two masters - A right heart leads to a generous spirit

Choose God/Invest in Him - A generous spirit invests in God’s Kingdom

Count the cost - No comfort, no delay, no looking back

Come after me, Deny yourself, Take up your cross daily, Follow Me

Doing Gods Will - More than words, works, and showing up

Attitude/Position Matters - I have authority to teach on this issue

“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am”

Attitude and Postion of a Disciple

1) Jesus models attitude and positional obedience 

“If I then, you Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also out to” v.13

Jesus lives in submission to the Father

    “Father knows him and he knows the Father”   John 10:15

    “I do as the Father has commanded me” John 14:31

    “(Jesus) did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped” Phil 2:6

2) Jesus makes clear who is the Authority

“A servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”  v. 14

“A disciple is not above his Teacher,” Luke 6:39-40

We DO NOT correct Jesus

      Dictating what God should think is arrogance not humility/obedience

“did God really say” Genesis 3:1

“Who is it that darkens counsel with words without knowledge?” Job 38

We DO NOT update His commands

    Rewriting scripture is self-justification not humility/obedience

“unstable twist (scripture) to their own destruction” 2 Peter 3:16

We DO NOT tell Him what He means

      Using broad concepts to create your own Jesus is not humility/obedience

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” Isaiah 5:20

3) Jesus commands humble/obedient imitation

“you also ought to” v. 13

“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” v. 17

You are BLESSED - tied to DOING not knowing

    Blessed Means:

A state and condition of the soul

Experiencing true and lasting joy

God’s favor that comes through obeying and humble service

Our ONLY response - Humility and Submission

God is Lord (Master) and I am not

I will do what He tells me to do

I will learn, grow, and imitate

Jesus says “If you love me you will keep my commandments”  John 14:15

Joshua says “Choose for this day who you will serve . . .” Joshua 24:15

Paul says, “Let God be true though every one were a liar.” Romans 3:4

Early church says, “We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29

James says: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. “ James 4:7–8

What will you say?