Humility Conquers Narcissism
Pastor Erickson teaches from John 13, where Jesus laid aside his garments and washed his disciples' feet while they argued over who would be the greatest. He calls the church to let humility conquer the self-centered spirit of the age, to serve one another as Jesus did, and to lead as servants.
The message in 6 points
Jesus washed their feet
He reads John 13, where Jesus poured water into a basin, washed the disciples' feet, and told them they ought to wash one another's feet. His title is Humility Conquers Narcissism.
33:13What narcissism looks like
He reads an article describing narcissism as an excessive sense of self-importance, a need for admiration and a lack of empathy, made worse by social media and materialism. In Luke 22 even the disciples at the Last Supper argued over which of them was the greatest, like a pecking order among chickens.
35:56No servant in the upper room
The disciples came in with dirty feet, but there was no servant and none of them would do the lowly job. Jesus loved them to the end and used his last hours to show them humility, because humility produces unity, and humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.
45:25Confident and still a servant
Jesus washed even the feet of Judas, and knowing he came from God and was going to God, he still chose to serve. Drawing on a teaching by Bishop Raymond Woodward, he says the disciples were young men competing to be greatest, and Jesus showed them there is no pecking order in his kingdom.
53:52He laid aside his garments
After Peter's protest, he compares the scene with Philippians 2:5-8: Jesus laid aside his glory, took the form of a servant and humbled himself to the cross, then rose to the throne. Revelation 1:5 says he washed us from our sins in his own blood, so we should not seek to be great here but to serve.
1:06:14Wash one another's feet
Jesus our Lord and Master gave us an example to follow. Pastor Erickson tells of kneeling to wash a guest's feet the night before and feeling the Holy Ghost, and he calls people to pray that humility would conquer pride and that they would serve their families and others.
1:15:04
In his words
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of [yourself] less.”
“Something struck my heart, that the lamb was willing to wash the wolf's feet.”
“It's not to be great, it's not to have a title, it's not to be promoted, but it's to be the servant among us. We are servant leaders.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added. Words in [brackets] were fixed so the line reads clearly.
Scripture
He reads
John 13:1-5
1Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 3Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
King James Version.
John 13:7-15
7Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
King James Version.
Luke 22:21-24
21But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. 22And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! 23And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. 24And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
King James Version.
Philippians 2:5-8
5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
King James Version.
Revelation 1:5
5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
King James Version.
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