Sermon Introduction:
Have you ever stopped to think about what Jesus would look like if he were to walk into this room?
On the conference level at Lifeway there are about 50 painting of Bible scenes, all from the original art that many of us remember from children’s Sunday school literature. None of them demonstrate what the Bible teaches us about Jesus. Movies.
I don’t think God left us enough clues to know what Jesus looked like physically, because that wasn’t the important thing. But he did reveal to us exactly the right amount of information about his character, and his values, and his virtues, and his attitudes. Because, these are the things he wanted us to inherit, to imitate, and to develop.
I found a great book at the Library at Lifeway. It’s from 1908, a hundred years ago, and called The Character of Jesus, by Charles Edward Jefferson. He says, “The writers deal with only three years out of thirty-three years, and of these selected days the deal only with shreds and fractions.”
He said the gospel writers were not trying to write a biography, because while it may take volumes to write a biography about Abraham Lincoln, or George Washington, or Napoleon, or Alexander the Great.
But they tell us exactly what we need to know … that Jesus’ character was one of power and strength.
Look at how strong and powerful people reacted to Jesus
John the Baptist was a mighty man, none mightier had ever appeared in Judah. When Jesus presented himself to be baptized something amazing happens. John had called to repentance, he had faced the greatest men of his day without flinching. John falters, and falls back and says, “I cannot baptize you.” Jesus was powerful! (Matthew 3:13-17)
At another point he walks along the shore of the sea of Galilee and sees two men fishing: he says, “follow me,” and they leave their nets to follow him. Jesus was powerful. (Mark 1:16-20)
Think about the reaction that the Roman centurion. (Matthew 8:5-13)
I think of Russell Crowe when he portrays General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the movie Gladiator.
“The first impression of Jesus is the impression of authority, mystery, power, leadership. He is a man of strength.” (The Character of Jesus, by Charles Edward Jefferson)
This was God in the flesh - look how he is described throughout the Bible.
As the Son of God, Jesus is the Power of God(John 5:17-19; 10:28-30)As a man, Jesus’ Power is from the Father(Acts 10:38)Jesus is described as Supreme(Ephesians 1:20, 21; 1 Peter 3:22)Jesus is Unlimited(Matthew 28:18)Jesus is over all things(John 3:35 Eph 1:22)Jesus is Glorious(2 Thessalonians 1:9)Jesus is Everlasting(1Timothy 6:16)Jesus is able to subdue all things(Philippians 3:21)Jesus is upholding all things(Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3)Jesus is salvation(Isaiah 63:1 Heb 7:25)Jesus has power to perform miracles(Matthew 8:27; Luke 5:17)Jesus enables others to work miracles(Matthew 10:1; Mark 16:17, 18; Luke 10:17)Jesus has the power to forgive sins(Matthew 9:6; Acts 5:31)Jesus has the power of eternal life(John 17:2)Jesus has the power to raise the dead(John 5:28, 29)I want you to take a brief look at one of the most amazing chapters in the Bible. I wish you and I were blown away by this passage, but it’s become so familiar. Ask God to open your eyes to the truth of this scripture.
“Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God.” John 13:3
That is an amazing statement about the power of Jesus and the authority that God was giving him.
So how does Jesus use his power?
"So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.” John 13:3-5
I heard Andy Stanley speak on this passage at a conference last year. He said that for Jesus, He realized that He was the most powerful person in the room and He chose to use His power and authority for the benefit of the disciples and for us.
What’s your first move when you become a powerful person? Jesus sheds his symbol of authority his robe. Jesus disciples were stunned by his humility. Jesus sheds all his authority (his robe is the symbol) and became a humble servant.
Don’t leverage your power for your own sake, but for the sake of the other people (in the room). Look for opportunities to leverage your power for the other people in the room.
George Washington story - he surrender his power. If decides not to be King he would be the greatest person in the world. Supreme example of a leader that can be trusted with power — he gave it up.
Reminder at what it is …
(Note: the discussion of the virtue, the opposite of the virtue, and the perversion of the virtue is adapted from T.W. Hunt's study, The Mind of Christ.)
Virtue of Power: Steadfast, firm, unshakable, sure, never-failing, enduring, abiding, resolute, constant, devoted, steady, immovable, uncompromising.
Think about where we get our power, strength, authority
• Resources (money, business, equipment, land, controlling interest)• Position• Physical strength• Wisdom, Knowledge, Intellect, Skill• Influence over someone who is in power• Family• Ultimately, they all come from God
As believers, we share in that power. He has placed that power, authority, in you.
Opposite of Power: wavering, unsure, unstable, fickle, indecisive.
In Wild at Heart, Waking the Dead, and The Way of the Wild Heart, John Eldridge has done the church a great service by reminding all of us, especially men, that we were created in the image of God. And God is powerful, God is a warrior
See The Way of the Wild Heart (pp. 138-144)
The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is His name. Ex 15:3 (HCSB)
The LORD will march out like a mighty man,like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;with a shout he will raise the battle cryand will triumph over his enemies.Isaiah 42:13 (NIV)
Perversions of Power:
inflexible, rigid, narrow-minded, stubborn, unbendable, hard-headed.
it is repulsive to him when we pervert or abuse the power and authority he gives us.
Consider how you’ve seen men and women abuse their God-given power.
Stubborn and Hard-Headed in your family, or the board meeting, or in the class room.
That’s not power, that’s not strength, it’s a perversion of power and it is repulsive to Jesus.
12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you.
16 “ I assure you: A slave is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. John 13:12-17 (HCSB)
Legacy of your leadership will be to decide: I’m not greater than my Master and Savior. He leveraged His power for the benefit of the others (disciples) in the room. We should do the same.
What do you do when you are the most powerful person in your department? Church? Organization? Classroom? Family?
What did Jesus do? He washed their feet.
When it dawns on you that you have power, look for ways to leverage your power for the sake of the other people in the room.
If you don't do this, you are declaring that you are greater than your master--Jesus.
For some of you, your power is your money
For some of you, your power is your charm, or your skill, or your intellect, your mouth.
Your legacy won’t be what you write or what you own or what you leave to your kids or what you teach
But what you do with your power
Personal Example: When Chris Ediger came to work at Lifeway I realized pretty quickly that he knew more about internet technology than any of out team. Now, I was older than him, more seniority,
Went two ways, instead of me flaunting my seniority and refusing to learn from him I would see the work that he did on a graphic and say, show me how to do that. And, instead of him believing that as long as he knew how to do that and I didn’t that he had power over me, instead, he stopped what he was doing and he would teach me how to do it.
Men, we need to multiply ourselves … For the benefit of your wife, your children, the people in your company, your neighbors, your church family.
“I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his power is to help those who believe him. It is that same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in heaven, far, far above any other king or ruler or dictator or leader … God has put all things under his feet and made him the supreme Head of the Church...” Ephesians 1:19-23 (Living Bible)
What kind of power has God given you?Are you using the power He has given you for His glory?