You're listening to Mountain View Church Audio, Christ-centered teaching from the Wilderness City, Whitehorse, UConn. Here's this week's message.
As unusual as it may be, I want to begin this sermon by talking about sports. At this point, if you've happened to come across this online service and you don't know about who I am or what Mountain View Church stands for, this beginning might bring about one of a couple different kinds of reactions in you.
You may be someone that doesn't know about Maundy Thursday and where it fits into the Eastern narrative, and when you hear sports, you instantly perk up a little bit, lean in a little bit. You thought that this was going to be some boring church thing, and you were already reaching for the back button to exit this video and find something else more interesting to watch. But then, wait, did he just say something about sports? I like sports. This must be one of those chill preachers that talks about modern, relevant things and doesn't focus on boring history. Let's see where this goes.
On the exact other end of the spectrum of reactions, you might be the person that's tuning in because you know exactly what Maundy Thursday is and where it fits into the Eastern narrative. And you hear sports and it instantly rattles in you a feeling of anger or dismay. And you kind of think, oh, this must be one of those easy believism preachers that is going to take something traditional and wonderful and water it down and pander to the masses and completely disrespect our Lord in the process. I am out and I've already made up my mind about where this is going to go. And you are now reaching for the back button to exit this video and find something more reverent to watch.
To both of these people and everyone in between, I would say this. My intention is to be neither relevant and cool or to water down and pander. My intention is to glorify Jesus Christ and to pay homage to our Lord by highlighting his actions and words leading up to his ultimate sacrifice on the cross and his ultimate victory brought about through the resurrection. Today, I want to talk about humility and being humbled. And to begin this, I will start with sports, specifically baseball. Bear with me.
When I was a kid, I was not super coordinated or particularly fast or strong. I'm still not any of those things for that matter. However, when I was a kid, many of my good buddies were all of those things and were naturally good at any sport they tried. If you're like me and you know someone like that, it probably drives you a little bit crazy. I could keep up okay in most sports and wasn't usually the worst player on the team or the last player picked, but I was never anywhere near the best or the first. Except in softball.
For some reason, my awkward two tall legs and my gangly extra-long arms coalesced within the parameters of the game of softball to become excellent pistons and levers, and between my build and my decent hand-eye coordination, I was able to excel at something. I was really good at softball. Thing is that I knew that. Throughout my childhood, I collected my fair share of gold medals and more than one MVP trophy, and I could hit a home run further than most kids. I was very proud of my softball skills, and I always felt pretty important on the field.
However, in being a good player in a minor league softball league in a small town in the early 90s, I was a big fish in a small pond. I was primed to be humbled, and it didn't take long before I was. When I was a young teen, some folks got together and started up a baseball league in Whitehorse. Baseball, at that age especially, is very different, much faster and more of a difficult game than youth softball. In softball, at that age, the ball is pitched underhand, straight across the plate, and it's easy to hit. In baseball, the ball is pitched overhand, with different speeds and spins and height changes depending on the pitcher's grip, and it comes at you like a blur.
I was not ready for this. I had been great at hitting in softball and just took it for granted that I would naturally be just as good at hitting a baseball. I was not. I played one season of baseball and after probably 50 or so at bats in that season, guess how many hits I had? Not one. I hit a lot of foul balls and I got on base a fair amount as well, but that wasn't due to my skill or anything. That was due to wild pitches, not my talent. The end result of that miserable season was I was humbled. The game of baseball humbled me. My lack of strength and bat speed humbled me. The skill of my contemporaries humbled me.
And I never forgot that. Now, I continued to play softball for many years, but after that, any swagger that I had was always tempered by that one year where I learned that no matter how good at softball I was, I could not hit a baseball. I had been humbled by others and my own lacking. External forces, internal shortcomings, and other people's dominance had brought my inflated view of myself and my capabilities down low. This is how it works with human beings. When we are humbled, in whatever context, it is often by these factors or circumstances.
none of these factors or circumstances apply when we're talking about Jesus. And yet, as we will see today and through Easter week, his example of humbleness is one that has stood out as an example for all of humanity for almost 2,000 years now and counting. I'm going to start by reading a passage from the book of Philippians in which Paul is addressing the church at the ancient city of Philippi. And in this passage, he's reminding his listeners what exactly it was that Christ had done for them and how great the sacrifice was that he had made for them and for us. But I want you to notice three words in particular that tie into what I've already been talking about and the great contrast that they present.
with what has already been discussed about humility and being humbled by external factors. Philippians 2, 3-8, Paul says, Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant. Being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Now I'm going to read an excerpt from a commentary on this passage, and I want you to see if you can identify what makes Paul's reminder of the servant role that Jesus acts out in his account so striking and astounding. In the Pillar New Testament commentary, Walter G. Hansen elaborates on the humility of Jesus. Humility, as exhibited by Christ, is not passive inability or pathetic servility. Christ chose his destiny.
He made himself nothing to become one with humanity, and he humbled himself to obey the will of God. In humility, he expressed immense compassion for humanity by enduring suffering and death on a cross. Did you catch what Paul says that is again pointed out in this commentary about Jesus? The three words I was talking about earlier are he humbled himself. That ought to blow our minds and take our breath away. No one is above God, and no one can make him do anything, let alone act as a servant. He chose to, and he humbled himself.
And we who believe in him are the beneficiaries of his willingness to do so in a really big way. Now, we're not at Good Friday yet. Today we're celebrating Maundy Thursday. But what, may you ask, is that? Eardman's Dictionary of the Bible defines Maundy Thursday this way. The Thursday before Easter, a celebration of the original observance of the Lord's Supper, also known as Holy Thursday. It is rooted in the biblical accounts of Jesus' celebration of the Passover meal and the institution of the Eucharist with his disciples, and may be traced back to the very origins of Christian liturgical history.
We will be partaking in the Lord's Supper or communion shortly, but before we do, I want to take a look at one of the more amazing examples of Jesus' humility and his living out the role of a servant that was extremely profound in his disciples' eyes. It took place during the Last Supper, as it is recorded in the book of John. I'll read the applicable passage and then get into what makes this so shocking and what would have made it such an impactful moment for his followers. Still does, in fact. In the book of John, chapter 13, verses 3 through 8, it says, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garment and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that he had wrapped around him. He came into Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Do you wash my feet? Jesus answered him, what I'm doing, you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. Peter said to him, you shall never wash my feet. And Jesus answered him, if I do not wash you.
You have no share with me. The conversation goes on and Peter relents of his stubbornness, but the point that has been made in this portion of the passage that we've read would have astounded the people present. Jesus is showing them in the most obvious terms, this is what it looks like to serve others. And he's giving them an example of serving that they will not forget. He's also illustrating that cleanliness and being part of his kingdom comes only through what he does. We don't do that ourselves, it's through what he does. So let's break down what's happening in this moment.
They, the disciples, are followers of Jesus. They submit to his leadership. He leads them. And yet when he kneels and begins to wash the dirt from their feet, he's performing a role that was reserved for the lowliest, least important servant of a household. Only the ones of least value and position did this job. The people in those days wore sandals. Many of the roads and streets would have been dirt or mud or whatever else you can imagine. And even if they were walking on the paved Roman roads, so did herds of animals like oxen and sheep and whatnot. So you can imagine how utterly filthy people's feet would have been.
It was customary for the household servants or a household servant to wash the guest's feet, but it was only the lowest who had this job. Jesus took the position of that servant. He didn't fulfill the role of one of the higher status servants. He didn't hang their cloaks by the door. He didn't cook the dinner or even serve the food. He washed off their dirt and made them clean. This is a picture, a small glimpse of the servant's role and the washing of his followers through atonement brought about through his own sacrifice that he would endure the following day of the cross.
At supper that night, before his sacrifice, Jesus was basically saying that his followers all need washing off of their dirt. And today, as his followers, this applies to our dirt too. This is something that only he can do and indeed has done through the greatest example of his love, his sacrifice for us on the cross that we're going to hear about tomorrow on Good Friday. Now, after Jesus finishes washing his disciples' feet, he goes on to give the disciples an instruction to follow his example. So John 13 verses 12 through 15 says, 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 then your Lord and teacher has 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. Through all of this, Jesus makes it clear that his disciples are to love one another, care for one another, serve one another, and be willing to sacrifice for one another.
And it is not empty advice because he shows us by his example that he is willing to lead us in this endeavor. Jesus leads from the front and we would do well to follow. With that thought, I want to move on to communion now that we've established the humility of Christ and how he's willing to show that. We remember and honor his example of servanthood and his sacrifice through which he has brought us all together into his own kingdom and his own family. This great family called the church includes all Christians everywhere from Jesus' time to the present and in the future until he returns.
When we gather for communion, we should take time to consider our many blessings and appreciate the now. Because like the disciples back then, we never know what tomorrow may bring. Remember that everything can change in a moment. Tomorrow is not a given for us here any more than it was for them. It's not a given for us here on this earth. And if it does come, everything may be different. Appreciate our time together here and now and our privilege of sharing communion with our Lord and his church as though we may not get another chance with these people in this place.
I wonder what the Last Supper would have been like for the disciples had they known it would be the Last Supper. For them, at this point in their journey together, it was probably just supper. Yes, it was the Passover festival, which was a big deal in that culture, perhaps elevating their mood a little. And yes, it was an honoring of and a celebration of God delivering and saving his chosen people from the unbreakable grip of a power that had kept them in chains, perhaps reminding them of their blessings a little. And Jesus had been repeatedly telling them that time was short and that they wouldn't be basking in his presence for much longer. So had they understood, they might have registered the significance of this specific meal and how special a gift it was to be there with him and with each other. But I don't think that they got it. They likely did not look around and take in and commit to memory and to their hearts how special and beautiful this moment was. They likely did not savor every bite and hang on every word and take joy in every second like they could have.
Now, I wasn't there. I can't tell you exactly what was in their hearts, but from what we can learn about this evening from studying the Bible, I'm confident in saying they were not aware of the climactic reverence that this moment in time called for. I wonder what they would have thought about all these things later that night or the next day or next week once everything had changed forever. During the Last Supper, Jesus, who is God, the highest, most powerful and exalted being in existence, shares a meal with, serves, and washed the dirt from the feet of his own creation. He knew what was waiting for him the next day. He knew how special now was.
I wonder how much more present, appreciative, and in awe all the hearts of the disciples might have been if they knew what he knew. How much more significant would his washing of their feet have been if they knew that it was one of his last acts? How much more would they have gasped in awe at the magnitude of his love when they saw him wash the feet of Judas Iscariot, his betrayer and enemy, if they knew what he knew? How much more would they have trembled with gratitude as he broke bread for them if they understood that it was a representation of the destruction of his body that was to become on their behalf?
Imagine the conversations between them as they remember this night, weeks, months, years later amongst themselves. I'm sure it wouldn't have been as simple as, hey, you guys remember that time that Jesus washed our feet? Chalking it up as just another thing on the giant list of cool things that Jesus had done. I think it would have been more like what we might say now, us having the full picture of what transpired that night if we truly grasped it. I think it would sound something like, can you guys believe that one of the last things our Lord did for us was to take on the role of the lowest servant in the house and wash our feet?
He used that moment to live out an example of what he'd been teaching us all along. We can never forget that he literally washed the grime and dirt from our feet and wore it. Just before he washed the filth and corruption from our souls and wore that too. From that moment on, he didn't stop serving us, acting on our behalf and sacrificing for us until there was nothing left of him. Our God, who is humbled by no one, humbled himself for us. How great and wonderful is the God we serve. And you and I, sitting here today, 2,000 years later, we serve that same God.
And he did as much for us. So as we move to communion, I ask you, how much more might moments like this mean to us if we approach them with the knowledge and understanding that they could be the last that we share before something monumental happens, before something is taken away from us, or before everything is different? Is it possible that we take for granted what we currently have? Do we overlook and kind of gloss over the kind of comfort and security that we currently have in this place and time? How much more would this communion and this Easter mean to us? How much more would we appreciate and thank the Lord with all of our hearts?
if we partook with the understanding that everything could be different tomorrow. Let's approach communion now with our hearts in that state. Take a minute now to pause the video, go get what you need for communion, bread or crackers, juice or wine, and come back and we'll take it together. Now, I'll pray for us, and then we'll partake in the bread after I read the corresponding verses for that, and then the same with the cup, and then I'll close in prayer. Father, thank you for today. Thank you for the great reminders throughout Scripture of your love for us, of your mercy, of your kindness, of your patience.
But today we're looking at this specific event, this Last Supper, Lord. And as we go through communion, remind us that it is a community event with all Christians centered around the breaking of the body of your son for us. Lord Jesus, thank you for being who you are. Thank you for being willing to go through such grotesque punishment simply to sacrifice for a rebellious creature, a creation of yours that had essentially separated itself from you. This was your bridge. This was your way to remind us that we are important to you.
This is your way to show us that redemption comes through you. Thank you. Please just help our minds and our hearts be reverent as we partake in this today. In Jesus' name, amen. Now I'm going to read the applicable passage from Luke 22, 14 through 19, and then we'll take the bread, and then I'll read a bit more, and then we'll take the cup, and then we'll close in prayer. So Luke 22, 14 through 19, setting the scene for the Last Supper. And when the hour came, he reclined at table and the apostles with him. And he said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
For I tell you that I will not eat until it is finished in the kingdom of God. And he took a cup. And when he had given thanks, he said, Take this and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on, I will not drink the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. And he took bread. And when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. You may eat the bread. Moving on to Luke 22, 20. It says, And likewise the cup, after they had eaten, saying,
This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Let me drink the cup. Let's pray. Father, wherever people are watching this, I mean, thank you for the technology to be able to sit here and record this and send it out to whoever may see it. I pray that you would direct this to the hearts that need it. I pray that everyone who participates in communion on this Maundy Thursday, whether it be via video, in this video, or in any church group anywhere, is reminded that we are all one, the body of Christ, centered around Christ, who is the central figure of all existence, Lord.
Thank you for allowing us to partake in this. Thank you for looking past our sin and placing it on your son. Thank you, Jesus, for taking that burden off of our shoulders, Lord, because that's something that we could never undo. It's something we could never repay, but it's something you willingly did. You humbled yourself for us. Help us never forget that, that you humbled yourself for us. I ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for joining us today for our online Maundy Thursday service. We would love to hear from you, so please feel free to connect with us at mountainview.church.
We also want to invite you to one of our two in-house gatherings on Good Friday. We're at 2060 Second Avenue Whitehorse, and the gatherings will be at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Now, we also have three Easter Sunday services for you to choose from. One at 9.30, one at 11 a.m., and then another one at 3 p.m. They'll be identical, but we do ask that you please register online at our website, mountainview.church.easter, so that we can hold a seat for you, as we expect to be pretty busy. As well, on Easter Sunday, we'll be offering baptisms, so if you feel it is time to publicly declare yourself a follower of Jesus, let you know, and we can make that happen.
Now, regarding our discussion question, as we do, we'd like to give you something to discuss among yourselves that kind of points to what we talked about today. So the discussion question today is, in what ways do you serve your brothers and sisters in Christ? Jesus gave us plenty of examples of what that looks like. In what ways do you serve your brothers and sisters in Christ? And then the prayer request would be, I would ask that the Lord, I mean, we should all ask, that the Lord would make clear to you, to me, how we can be better followers of his example of service.
If you prayed to receive Jesus today or would like to connect with our church community, visit mountainview.church and click the connect link. If this podcast and radio ministry has been a blessing to you, please consider partnering with us or making a tax-deductible donation at mountainview.church. Thanks for listening to Mountain View Church Audio. Join us next week for more Christ-centered teaching from the Wilderness City of Whitehorse UConn.