Welcome to the Life Bible Church podcast. We
want to thank you for joining us today, and we
hope you find today's sermon impacting as you
listen to it wherever you are in your daily walk.
To find service times and watch messages online,
see our website at lifebiblechurch .org. Now,
enjoy this week's message. I want to, I saved
this manila, or I think it is manila envelope.
Jenny and I were, last week we're at the country
church in Malala, the church just south of Estacada
and longtime friends. And, you know, you think
that everybody's aware of the circumstance. I'd
send out a video to our MFI church family, but
they just in life had not had a chance to read
it, to view it. And so when they were asking
us, because we were doing prophetic ministry
there, and Saturday afternoon they asked us,
well, what's going on with your guys' life? And
I kind of looked over my glasses and went, are
you serious? Yeah, yeah, what's happening? What's
happening in Harrisburg? Well, how long we got?
And so I just said, here, watch this video. And
they were shocked. So there on Sunday morning,
impromptu, they had not prepared. They just said,
hey, church, we're putting some baskets up front.
If you want to sow into our pastor's lives, this
is going to go for the river wall. That's what
they've asked it to go for. Anyway, they sent
me this envelope and I didn't open it. I had
no idea. I said, Deanne, I want you to count
it, keep it, and then give me the envelope back.
Because there was another church, Joy Church
in Eugene, two weeks ago. Pastor Jake called
me and we were meeting about the MFI regional
that we'll be hosting here. And he goes, hey,
I just am reading on your website what's happening.
Are we still meeting for coffee? I said, yeah.
And so at coffee, he slid over a check on behalf
of their church. And so two churches so far.
Malala Country Church, north of us. Joy Church,
Eugene, south of us. And I brought this envelope
up and I'd just like you to stretch your hands
toward it. It represents every person that gave
outside of our house for those churches that
are partnering with us. They're in our fellowship.
They're part of our covenant relationship. Would
you just pray with me? Father, I want to thank
you. I want to thank you for every person. Lord,
in the Malala Country Church, every person. Lord,
at Joy Church, Eugene, I want to, say thank you,
first of all, for putting it on their heart.
Lord, to go outside of their own needs, their
own building programs, their own things that
they're doing, Lord, and what you're doing in
their house, Lord, to partner with us. Lord,
we trust you that you're bringing this in. We
don't know how you're doing it, but Lord, Here's
an evidence of those that are inside the house,
Lord, where you've done so much already and you're
still doing it. But Lord, those that are also
family outside of our own church family and you're
bringing it in. Lord, we bless them. I ask you
to pour back into them. Strengthen them now.
In Jesus Christ's holy name. Amen. Can we just
tell God one more time, thank you. I've got to
get going here pretty shortly. Lots going on
this morning. I do need you to know that this
weekend, as I was just sitting down to ask the
Lord, what are you wanting to do? And it's communion
weekend. And I don't know if I have labored.
I mean, I do that when it comes to special theme
messages on Christmas and Easter, but there was
such an atmosphere of blockage. And I asked the
Lord, I said, what are you wanting me to do on
Sunday? I mean, I try to sit down every Thursday
morning early before the weekend and there's
a time of me just waiting and asking the Lord.
What is your word to this church? And as I was
just waiting on the Lord, I knew God was going
to do something over the weekend because of the
fast. I just didn't know how it was going to
transpire. But I want to deal with this subject.
We touched a little bit on it a few months ago
about Jesus laying aside his garment to wash
the disciples' feet. We looked at that in John
chapter 13. The next time that Jesus had his
garments touched. If I could set the stage this
morning, as we come to this table, one of the
key things about coming to the communion table
is understanding and evaluating and appreciating
what the Lord has done for you and I that we
might appreciate our salvation. Our appreciation,
our wonder, our love for him should grow every
time we take this table. And as I was going through
and I had looked at John 13 and we talked about
it at supper, Jesus got up and setting aside
his garments and took the lowest place as the
servant in John 13 and he washed the disciples'
feet and we recognize, Jesus was willing to lay
aside every aspect, every title, every single
thing that man would have put on him to do what?
To model, but not to model for model's sake,
but to live and show that that element of who
he is is not only was real with them, but it's
real with us. And then we, We move into, if you
will, the Passion Week story. And we begin to,
you can go ahead and just hold there, but you
stay there. I won't be long. We move into the
Passion Week story and we move into the time
of sham trial, the time of betrayal, the time
of going to the cross. I think, Jesus' understanding
here of laying aside the garment on the institution,
finishing Passover and inaugurating communion.
The apostle Peter really had something to say
about this when he said in 1 Peter 5, 5, he said,
clothe yourself, all of you, with humility toward
one another. For God opposes the proud, but gives
grace to the humble. And as I was just looking
at John 13 and getting myself immersed in that
passage and listening to the Lord as he's dealing
with each disciple and dealing with Peter specifically,
it dawned on me as I read 1 Peter 5. Peter was...
Peter wasn't writing the scripture just from
only having a reference of, okay, I'm just now
hearing that from the Lord. Yes, he did hear
it by the Spirit of God as he was moved along
to write this in 1 Peter 5, 5. But his reference
would have been the table where Jesus was washing
feet. That would have been a direct reference
as the Holy Spirit would have brought his mind
right back to watching Jesus take off his, put
on the servant's towel, which was the clothing
of humility toward one another. And that's the
whole verse of John 13. As you've seen me do
this to you, now do to one another. And so Peter
brings this back up in his letter. He says, clothe
yourself. And then he said, all of you. He didn't
leave out one person. He didn't leave out. the
one that maybe already feels humble. He didn't
leave out the wealthy or the leader. He said,
all of you put on and clothe yourself with humility
toward one another for God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble. And we can all
see the incredible love and humility in Jesus'
demonstration at his table with his own disciples.
That's evident. But what happens when it's not
about, what happens when humility is asked of
us and it's not about with those that are with
you? It's one thing in a beautiful environment
with the piano playing just lightly, just something,
just quick, just quickly. Oh, you took everything
off. I just needed you to play something just
real quick. You see, when the environment is
beautiful and like, you know, you just kind of
just, you know, synchronize church worship, you
know. It's one thing to wash one another's feet
in a setting where there's relationship and love
and mutual respect and admiration. It's another
thing when you deal with people that aren't part
of you. Their shoes aren't quite as nice. Okay,
good. Yeah, let's not hurt him. I know, I hurt
him quite a bit most of the time, so we're going
to be gentle. So the Lord says you have to be
gentle with the Gentiles. In the fact that when
people aren't so lovely, when they're not as
friendly, when they don't know you, Or they don't
want to know you. What does it look like to put
on the garment of humility? It didn't say when
conditions are right, then put it on. It's when
conditions, weather conditions are always perfect
for the garment of humility. There's never a
time where the garment of humility doesn't suit
the occasion. And so when we think about this
next time, what Jesus goes into, of course, he
models and he lives among those that he loved
and he gave his life for. But as we move into
this next process, the next process where we
see Jesus having his garments removed, it wasn't
purposeful out of loving service for the disciples.
The next time his garments are removed, it is
Jesus submitting to the fact that his garments
are being either forced off of him or others'
garments are being put on him. Jesus humbly,
peacefully yields to the act of removal of garments
when it wasn't him that initiated it. As I was
reading this passage, I thought, Lord, this is
where persecution... begins to work at the church
at a different level. It's one thing when we
all can get along. It's another thing when we're,
maybe we don't all get along, but we're trying
to love one another in the spirit of unity and
we're now told to be humble and forgiving with
one another. It's when now you're forced into
places that others choose to remove your garment.
What do you do? When others choose to remove
the garment that God gave you, your dignity,
your honor, what happens when they remove that?
What comes out? As we begin to see in Jesus'
life, Jesus humbly and peacefully yields to the
acts of his removal of garments. Out of love
for the Father and out of love for you and I.
The second reference here is seen in Luke chapter
23, verse 8 through 11. When Herod saw Jesus,
Herod was very glad for he desired to see Jesus
and had heard about him and he was hoping to
see some sign done by him. So Herod questioned
Jesus. At some length. But Jesus made no answer.
The chief priests and the scribes stood by. Vehemently.
Accusing him. Now. If you've watched any form
of news. Over the last. Several weeks. You have
seen people. Vehemently. Get in someone's face.
And accuse. The accusations. invading of personal
space the and I'm not saying I'm not talking
about the legal issue of the right to protest
I'm talking about the viciousness of it Herod
now listen I'm using it as a context to put your
mind now at Herod's palace at the if you will
the palace governmental court And the atmosphere
that was around Jesus at that moment, take what
you've seen on the news and transfer it now into
black and white at that palace at that day is
exactly the environment of what this is saying.
They were vehemently accusing him. And Herod
and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt
and mocked him. It's the whole context for why
I brought up what I'm bringing up. Verse 12 of
Luke 23. Then arraying Jesus in splendid clothing,
Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. Standing before
Herod, Herod known as one of the most bloodthirsty
and evil kings that Jerusalem had ever known.
This is the same one that ordered because he
didn't know in the lineage, they didn't know
where the baby Jesus would be born, ordered for
the destruction of all the two and three -year
-old male children of his own people. Jesus did
not answer one question. Jesus did not do one
thing to impress or turn the tide. Jesus did
not impede in any way their full, mockery, insults,
false witnesses, blasphemy, intensity, and he
did not stop them from putting on him something
that was of their own making. Isaiah 53, 7 says
this, Jesus was oppressed. He was afflicted.
and yet he opened not his mouth. Like a lamb
that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep
before a shearer's is silent, so he opened not
his mouth. This prophecy was fulfilled standing
in front of Herod. Now listen, it says if you
read different gospel accounts, it was in front
of scribes and Pharisees. It means what? team
of lawyers, a team of religious clergy, soldiers
in high command and government officials. He
opened not his mouth. Notice Herod's questioning
was at length. Accusations came from the religious
leaders and the scribes. Have you ever watched
a committee meeting on C -SPAN? Okay, three of
you, great. I know it's just part of our national
process, but in that process, if you watch a
committee call in a special witness, you watch
on the politically charged stage on those that
whoever's on that committee trying to ask questions
to most of the time, not to find out the truth,
but to prove a political agenda. And you watch
the source of questions. Even when the true answers
are given, for the most part, they just keep
asking other questions. It doesn't matter. It's
A, you have to sit and endure the ridicule. And
that's what it's become, unfortunately. Here
Jesus is standing at the ridicule. Herod and
his soldiers are treating Jesus with contempt.
And Jesus never loses the garment of humility.
Now we don't know, the scriptures is silent in
this part and it's a 50 -50 point. Did they keep
Jesus' garments on him and put their own over
the top? Or did they disrobe Jesus and put the
garments on? Because the text is silent, we probably
would have to lean on the fact that they just
covered up what Jesus was wearing. With the garments
that they brought. What does the text say? They
brought garments out from the king's palace.
The only garments. That are going to be from
the king's palace. Was Herod's personal clothing.
That because. And you need to see the intensity
of the mocking. As we get ready to take this.
Because it wasn't not. just a servant's garment.
They were expecting from the rumors of Jesus'
three and a half ministry, they were expecting
a world -renowned something. No one had done
the miracles that Jesus and his team had done
by the very power of God. No one had more, raising
from the dead ever. No prophet in history had
raised that many from the dead. Jesus had already
raised a boy, a girl, Lazarus. Herod was expecting,
he'd met John, he liked John, didn't like his
message, and ended up having to kill John because
of his rash oath. And now he's standing to the
one that John said he was the forerunner of,
that he wasn't even fit to untie this man's sandals.
And Herod is almost giddy with excitement of
getting to now be brought to him in a personal
audience, this man who claimed to be the son
of God. And Jesus said nothing. and did nothing.
Hmm. Said nothing, and did nothing. And because
of that, after question, after question, provoking,
accusations, sedition charges, false witness,
finally it was said, and you can just hear it,
hear it, bring me a garment. From my closet.
Most likely it was a used garment. But one of
the finest. That the world could have made. Garments
that were crafted. For kings. And royalty. Jesus
never asked for a beautiful robe. Jesus. Jesus
never asked. For a kingly robe. Or for worldly
rulers robe. Yet. If anyone deserved to wear
something like that, it would have been the Lord.
But Herod ordered a garment of political importance
to be placed on Jesus. And in doing so, Herod's
mockery and shame would be placed on Jesus as
a garment representing this man. By Herod doing
this, This man is only fit, of all you people
that think he's something, he's only fit to wear
my leftovers. Jesus standing there now in one
of Herod's garments is now being sent back to
Pilate. A mocking gesture. Herod was saved to
Pilate with, Herod now sending Jesus in that
garment. Jesus didn't say anything, didn't do
anything. And the text shows us through the scripture
that Jesus did not throw that garment off and
say, get that puke Herod's junk off of me. He
didn't say that. He would wear that garment back
into Pilate's presence. He would wear it. And
Pilate would be receiving the message from King
Herod that Jesus was no threat to Rome. It spoke
to everyone in political power that would say
this man is no king according to Roman standards.
This man is a sham of a king. He's a pretender
and a serious nobody. You see, by Jesus receiving
the garments of the world and refusing to take
it off, humility said, you can put on me whatever
you want to put on me, but I know in whom I came
from. I know who I am, but I will not be forced
or coerced. to identify or partner with the world,
its governments, its power, or its political
efficacy for the sake of aligning with your agenda.
The mocking nature of the world that would be
placed on Jesus. And listen, hear me, an aligning
with religion. It was one of the clearest. Parts
of scripture that it was scribes, meaning what
the lawyers of the law, the Pharisees, the religious
of the law, working together with political power
to derobe, to... deride to put down. And now
in a final gesture of Herod who represented kingship
and government of this world, throwing on Jesus
a huge robe and sending him back to Pilate to
be finally tried as a condemned man there. But
I think about, and we're gonna receive communion
now if the ushers would come. When I think about
this and I think about getting ready to take
this cup and take this bread in the few moments
that lay ahead and maybe we'll deal with this
another communion message but there would be
two more times that the garments would be used
in the crucifixion process between the scourging
and the crucifixion, two more times, there would
be a forced disrobing and a placing on and a
placing off. The first time Jesus decides to
remove his outer garments, he does it on the
basis of voluntary love to remind us what our
obligation to one another is and to the world.
The second, the third and the fourth time that
his robes are touched, that his garments are
removed and that other garments placed on and
off of him to cause pain and shame is a reminder
that we better have fellowship here with Christ.
Because where we're moving, I know we don't like
to hear this, but where the church is moving
in the ages, comes from the power of having fellowship
with him as the world gets more hostile toward
the Jesus that we serve. And he'll reach out
and they'll try to throw garments on you or they'll
try to take garments from you. That's the nature
of what the world does. The key is the garment
that you get to carry and wrap around ourselves
is the garment that Jesus girded himself with,
the towel and the cloak of humility. Would you
stand with me this morning and let's pray. And
as we come around this table, you can come around
both sides. You can grab bread on both sides,
cup on both sides. We'll take it at the end together.
But as you do so, would you just, they're gonna
sing a song here. You're welcome to sing that
chorus with them. But as you're doing so, I want
you to make it an understanding in your own heart
this morning of saying, God, you were stripped
of all dignity, all shame, all dishonor, all
mocking, all vehement things that we know that
people can do and say and be. You experienced
it. There's nothing that I will ever go through.
In this world that you haven't already gone through
for me in advance. Give me love. And give me
the cloak of humility. That I find my identity
in you. Thank you for this meal. And thank you
for this table. Father. Now bless. Each person
this morning. As they come to your table. Let
us partake of the richness of your fellowship
with us. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for
serving us. In Jesus' name, God bless. Thank
you for taking the time to listen to this week's
message. We are so grateful for those who tune
in each week and have given generously to this
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