MARCH 21, 2021 SUNDAY MESSAGE
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Gospel Redemption Part 7 - Mar 21, 2021
Transcription
My family and I recently had the privilege of discovering Sundae’s.
Some say it’s best ice cream in town…
Arguments arose about which flavor was the best - Lemoreo!
We all tend to organize our minds on a good, better, best system and we want THE BEST! Not just ICE CREAM..
Whatever thing you’re into, there is usually a debate amongst folks as to the best:
Very obvious in Sports (competition)?
Iditarod - Race in Alaska
More wins/better time
Jordan or Lebron
Tiger or …no one?!
Brady greatest Athlete (7 Rings)?
Athlete: Serena Williams
“Over 15 years into her career, Serena Williams still dominates on the tennis court. She has won 23 Grand Slam titles (each one at least three times), 72 Women’s Tennis Association titles, and four Olympic gold medals. It's hard not to argue that she's the greatest of all time. And yet, last night, as Williams was playing in her 20th Australian Open, people were fawning over Tom Brady's Super Bowl performance, declaring him the “greatest athlete ever” for winning his seventh championship”
Of course, the iconic “Mahomad Ali proclaimed: ‘I am the greatest!’”
Everything has a pecking order from ice cream flavors, to sports, to more important issues! Every:
Discipline, profession, salesperson
hobby, sport, interest, genre,
entertainment: show, book, movie, musician, album, restaurant, chef
...has a good, better, best and even the greatest of all time!!
We use this term that we call it: “The G.O.A.T!!”
Sometimes this is just fun competition but we carry this competitive spirit straight into our normal lives:
an obsession with the best,
competing with one another for position, authority,
We want to know “who is the greatest?”
We want to BE the greatest
Want to climb up -or MAINTAIN- whatever status, wealth, position we have…
The problem with this kind of thinking is that it often works at the detriment of others, at the marginalization of, others.
AND it’s ALL conformed to the patterns or SCHEMATICS of the world around us not the Kingdom.
...And Jesus’ disciples struggled with this too, even after being with Jesus side by side, day and night, for three years!
I mean, have you ever noticed how the disciples, as they advance towards Jesus’ death, begin to get more and more agitated, temperamental, and they begin to initiate conflict amongst themselves.
Afterall, “...There is only so much room at the top. Several fights break out on their way to Jerusalem. In THREE DIFFERENT INCIDENCES, the disciples grab for power.”
Along the way Jesus challenges them but the most shocking thing about the third and final conflict is it’s placement in the story.
The third one takes place soon after the night of the Lords supper where Jesus shows one of the greatest ever displays of humility....
Starting with John 13:1-17. I’m going to read it all at once so picture the scene. I’ll make a couple observations and then we will :
13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 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. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
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. 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.
1. The longevity of Jesus’ love is our first lesson here. It said that: “Jesus loved them to the end.” It’s easy to show up for a service day but it’s a different thing altogether to love people to end even when you know they are about to deny you, turn on you, and betray you.
Jesus didn’t pick and choose who he served. He even washed Judas’ feet! Have you ever stopped to think about that?
2. Humility of Jesus’ Love
24-36 hours before death...
Washing feet was dirty and reserved for the lowest ranking person in the room.
We do foot washing ceremonies today but it’s not the same.
We have shoes, vehicles, socks and
What’s even more astounding is that He knows he has been “given all authority in heaven and on earth” and He aprons up to serve the others.
“Acts of love require a humble posture. When I used to help (my daughter) dress, I often dropped to my knees so I could match her height. When we scrub the toilet, we kneel; when we take out the trash, we bend our backs. People who think they’re important don’t take the lowest place—they want the place of honor. As Jesus kneels before each man, he gives us a picture of a life devoted to love.”
When Jesus says: “Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him,” he is CONDEMNING them servitude but he is doing so through the most beautiful and powerful example.
Could you IMAGINE BEING THERE?? Could you IMAGINE taking part in this powerful moment with Jesus and the disciples' lives...unforgettable!!
BUT DIRECTLY AFTER THIS...
Luke 22
24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead (he gives 2 examples), the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
TWO things I want you to see from this verse:
Context
Contrast
1. Context: It’s a dumbfounding realization to read that…
Right after Jesus bore the apron and commissioned them to service AND..
Right after Jesus just redefined the very concept of “greatest”
....we hear the disciples arguing about position, power, and authority again.
WHY ARE THEY TALKING LIKE THIS MERE HOURS after Jesus just did what he did??
Maybe they get it! Maybe they are using Jesus’ definition of GREATEST?
“I am going to be the greatest servant you have ever seen in your life. Hey Peter, you know you what’s gonna happen today...I’m gonna serve you so hard, you won’t even know what HIT YOU!” but I doubt it!
The context wherein this conversation takes place highlights
how quickly their minds compartmentalized what Jesus did as a distant metaphor, idea, or philosophy
instead of a living reality they were intended to walk in!
I think this communicates….
“I get what you said back in the UPPER ROOM but, in the real world you and I both know how this works Jesus.”
It’s like they are saying, “That was powerful imagery and symbolism Jesus, but when it REALLY comes to the REAL world (where the Gentile Kings are in charge), we ALL know there is a pecking order, so….tell us who it is”
Jesus takes this opportunity to make sure they know that HIS Kingdom is truly - not just SYMBOLICALLY - different than the pattern of the world!
How does Jesus respond? Jesus doesn’t get angry. He just reframes the conversation to help them see it from another angle by revealing a CONTRAST!
2. The other thing that jumps out is the CONTRAST between Kingdom and the way others (specifically the Gentiles) organize in their social framework:
World:
Lords authority over others
Benefactors: Two ideas being captured:
Using good deeds, sponsorships, etc for political or positional maneuvering.
Create an economic framework wherein others are dependent upon you.
“Fish...” -
I’m going to help you but there are strings attached.
Jesus power came through his sacrifice
Sri Lanken theologian named Daniel T. Niles on Jesus saying:
“‘(Jesus) was a true servant because He was at the mercy of those whom He came to serve.…this weakness of Jesus, we - His disciples - must share. To serve from a position of power is not true service but beneficence (Niles concludes)...The glory of the Lion is the glory of the Lamb.”
Kingdom serves:
Children: Innocent, fun-loving, trusting
In this time, children were the lowest of the low with no rights, authority, or voice leaving them completely dependent on God to act on their behalf.
Serve
First, Reorient around gifting instead of positional authority: Romans 12:1-3
Do NOT conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Black Thought (Rapper from The ROOTS):
“I don't want to be toughest
I'll just keep it a hundred
and think nothing of it”
When we operate in our gifts instead of positional authority, we operate by a different set of social paradigms. There is no call to strive for greatness in status or posture but to act in faithfulness, and humility -to the best of your ability - use the gift that God has given you.
Second, we serve as a costly demonstration of unexpected love. Those in power are not expected to become a servant and humbly serve his slaves. To the amazement of all God CHOOSES to do so.
This becomes a discipleship theme in the kingdom
To seek the interests of others over yourself. If everyone does it, all are cared for!
AND Discipleship (as with Paul) is described as self-sacrificing service. Elevate the slave and lower the positions of authority for those in power so the slave system is totally subverted.
Those in power tend to minimize these verses in favor of others involving prosperity, health, and maintaining the power and authority we already have usually in the form of “God, protect me” prayers. BUT, once again, when Jesus says this, he is CONDEMNING them servitude AND HE IS ABOUT TO take them even lower...right into the throes of DEATH.
This isn’t a weird masochistic tendency! “Jesus doesn’t want you to think less of yourself but to think of yourself less”...Jesus’ low road has a direct purpose and a direct application in real life...
“Greatest” according to JNTC:
“First, the Kingdom of God functions differently from worldly kingdoms; those who would be great must be not power-seekers but servants like Yeshua himself. Second, those who have been loyal will indeed be rewarded with power. Yeshua does not condemn ambition, only its worldly aims and methods.”
There is fruitfulness in operating according to Yeshua’s framework - there is power in this authority inversion.
Choosing the lower path instead of power communicates something to the world around you:
Spiritual security that you chase power because you don’t need it will get the attention of others!
It opens up unexpected avenues for the gospel:
St. Patrick Born in Britain in the late 4th century in a wealthy family, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. (here’s the crazy part!) He ESCAPED (dream) but was later convicted that he had to return to proclaim Jesus to the Irish and, by the time of his death on March 17, 461, he had established monasteries, churches, and schools all over the country.
Think about your personal relationships and how an environment of serving others permeating your household:
Kids cleaning up without being asked or with little aversion
Coming home to find chores (that maybe the other spouse tends to do) already done
This is what we typically do when
Sure, serving others is a virtue and has purpose but it’s a side note, right?
This is how you know! Everyone:
loves the IDEA of serving others,
likes to serve for a while,
Everyone wants the photo op
We want to be KNOWN for serving others, right up until someone treats you like a servant!
Like the disciples, we understand serving as a philosophical idea but not useful for reality.
In REALITY, we don’t believe our world operates or functions by seeking the lower place.
Do you see taking the lower place as a legitimate strategy for your life and the way you live it?
This is where I want to challenge you to trust God that something is working behind the scenes when you can’t see it. Trust that Jesus knows what he is talking about when He teaches this new schematic of love.
We have the game-plan, we have the strategy, and the schematic for Spiritual revival in our homes, our neighborhoods, and our nations...it’s just not what we thought it was.
It looks less like wearing the crown and more like putting on the apron.
It looks less like sitting on thrones and more like bowing to wash feet
When Jesus invites people to love, he invites them to the low place.
To go with Jesus to his death is to die with him, to die to self. Let’s go now, and walk with Jesus to the cross.
Our call this morning, if we want to change the world and operate in kingdom power, is to believe and obey the words of our Master and trust in HIS schematic, His definition of love, and lay down our lives for one another.
COMMUNION:
(1 COR. 11:23B-26)
“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SAVE THE DATE: The 2020 Marriage Retreat is scheduled to be Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and November 8!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
We are hosting prayer team meetings for both the congregation at large and individuals to sign up for individual prayer.
SUGGESTIONS FOR WORSHIP:
Coty Miller’s own “Praise & Worship” Spotify playlist and “Praise & Worship” YouTube playlist (slightly different from each other), both of diverse music that are being constantly updated!
Bethel Music :
Bethel Music’s hours of live music YouTube Playlist, also being constantly updated
Bethel provides chords to most (if not all) of their songs here (just have to register email, but free!)
Live worship moments from the Upper Room YouTube Playlist
Journal writing! (I’m a writer too, so sometimes creative writing and writing my thoughts to God is my form of worship.)
Declare and worship with truth by singing and praying scriptures.
WORSHIP NIGHT! Dedicate a night to worship with friends and family, your house church or neighbors, those who need prayer, love worship, or just enjoy music through a video chat platform like Zoom. You can have one person leading at a time (switching off to whoever else wants to lead) while others sing along, pray, or prophesy, etc.
Serving your community, both online, in person, or both, is a great way to worship God, from spreading encouragement and God’s Word online to physically serving food to others. If you are able to go out and serve, click here for opportunities.
COMMISSIONING:
As Jesus said in John 20:21,
"Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
Go, be the Church!
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.