Thanks for listening to the latest message from Him We Proclaim. In this encouraging series, Pastor John walks us through the resurrection of Jesus, the reality of eternal life. The grace of baptism, and the unshakable assurance believers have in Christ. I hope you have your copy of Scriptures along. We'll be looking at passages like 1 Corinthians, Luke, 1 John, and more.
To get gospel-centered reminders of God's faithfulness, power, and grace toward His people. Whether you're seeking hope, clarity, or a deeper understanding of the gospel, these sermons are rich with biblical truth and comfort. Let's dive into today's message called The Servant of the Lord. Luke chapter 22. I want you to think about this.
Who agrees with this statement? Jesus is. Lord. Right. Do you agree with that?
Every hand should go up. Jesus is Lord. This is not a trick question. He is Lord. Um How often do we hear that teaching, right?
The Lordship of Christ. Jesus is Lord, right? Absolutely true. We confess that, we teach that, we preach that, believe that, we follow that. But Listen to this statement.
Jesus Yeah. My eye. Servant. How does that make you feel? I taught this.
Just We Two weeks ago at a church, at our sister church in Cookstown. And I asked that question. And this person in the front row went like this when I said that. Jesus is my servant. And the person in the front row went like this, went, You can tell when you're connecting with people in the audience when you're speaking.
It was one of those cringe moments like, mmm. I don't know about that. Where did this guy come from? Jesus It is my Alright. Servant.
Say that. Say it with me. Jesus is my... How does that make you feel? Jesus is Lord, how does that make you feel?
Sometimes that's taught to make you feel horrible. and to crush your assurance. But that is actually very good news. But Never did you hear a particular crowd who teaches that Jesus is the Lord teach Jesus is my servant. Ha have you ever heard that taught?
Except here, right? That that doesn't count. But this is fundamental to your Christian faith. Your Christian life. That Jesus is your servant.
It just sounds so counterintuitive and it just sounds so far-fetched. It seems so hard to grasp and to believe that God is my servant. It almost sounds. Blasphemous. No.
No, isn't it? It's just remarkable. But teaches us that Jesus is our Servant. Jesus is the servant of the Lord. And this is what you have to understand about that for service in the church.
Because we're called to serve. There's so much that has to be done to have just a church service. We're called to serve. But you have to understand this. verse, before you can serve, you have to learn to be continually served by Christ before you can serve.
Mm-hmm. Luke 22 just unmistakably bears out this great truth because what this chapter shows us. is this. Is that genius? isn't the true servant who acts Wisely.
Isaiah 52 verse 13. This 22nd chapter in Luke shows us that Jesus is a fulfillment of Isaiah 53, the suffering servant. He fulfilling Prophecy. Listen to what he says. Listen carefully to what he says to these disciples.
Come back to a minute to get the context, but just listen. He says, verse 27, he goes, I am among you as the one who serves. When you get the context of that statement, it's just. Shocking. Jesus, who is Lord, is also the servant of the Lord.
And his statement His statement was a stunning lesson. Uh Divine gracious service to needy sinners. Because at that moment when Jesus said this. None of his disciples understood true greatness. They didn't understand service in the kingdom of God.
So Luke tells us that the night he was betrayed. That's that's very, very key. The night he was betrayed, Jesus took this opportunity to teach his disciples this unforgettable lesson about true greatness and service in his kingdom. You see he just just has membership in the kingdom of God was very contrary to what the disciples thought So greatness. and service in the kingdom of God was very contrary to what his disciples were thinking about.
What? What does Zon Luke tell us his disciples were filled with? They had desire for Status. They had desire to be honored. They had desire of thoughts of Greatness in a theology of glory.
And Jesus. says for the paradigm of humble Selfless service to needy, undeserving. centers. Because Jesus has honor. Jesus has greatness.
Jesus has status and Jesus has a theology of glory because he is the glory of God. The contrast. cannot be greater in this chapter. None of these disciples were fit to serve. ready to serve.
until they first understood their need for and dependence upon Jesus' service to them, not just one time, but for their whole life.
Now let's look at the context in Luke 22 because you'll see the need for Christ-denied service very clearly. Luke tells us that the power and power of darkness.
now had their way with Jesus. That's verse 53. He says in verse 2 that the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put Christ to death. He says in verses 3 to 6 that Satan, listen. entered into Judas.
Can you think of More horrible thing to happen to a person than to have Satan himself enter him. Judas. Was empowered by Satan, verses 47 through 53, to carry out his betrayal of Jesus. Verse 24, this is kind of, this is the funny part. It's not funny, but it is funny.
All right? Verse 24, a dispute arose among the disciples as to which of them would be regarded as the greatest. Why? Because they were thinking Jesus is a political messiah. He's a conquering king.
He's coming to bring back the Solomonic glory temple. The kingdom. Right. Set set it up. Overthroat.
Overthrow no Roman government Set up his powerful kingdom. And what were they arguing about? Who is Secretary of Defense and who is Secretary of State? Who's on the left and who's on the right? We can't be the king, but who's the next closest thing to being king?
And they were sitting around this table at this time, arguing amongst themselves, having a fight. Like a cat fight. No, I'm gonna be great as a Think about this. Matthew is the tax collector. All right, you also have zealots who were disciples.
Zealots killed tax collectors. Because tax collectors were the oppressive Roman government stealing from the people, oppressing the people.
So you have zealots who were part of the disciples coming to the tax collector, Matthew. You can imagine that argument got pretty heated. You don't deserve it, Matthew, because you're a scum. You've been stealing from us. You don't deserve this position.
We do. We've been fighting for Jesus to set this thing up. We've been faithful, you haven't been faithful. I mean, you can just hear the argument going on, right? Status, honor, glory, power.
Now Luke tells us that these disciples argued like this while Jesus is agonizing in prayer. And that's what he's doing. He's praying for them. As you'll see here in just a moment, he was praying for Peter. His disciples left sorrow, verses 45 through 46, while Jesus agonized in prayer.
Peter completely mistakes the events of what Jesus is about to set up and do, which is die on the cross, rise from the grave.
So he pulls out his sword and he attempts to kill the servant of the high priest, verses 49 through 51. Here's I well Okay, here we go. I'll join the zealous here, and I will bring in the kingdom right now. Here we go. Oh, and this, this, this, this, um.
This servant of the high priest, he's the first one, because he's the closest. And here we go. And he swung, and he didn't mean to cut off his ear. He meant to cut off his head, and he missed. And so at some time after Peter's heart attack, all Luke says of Jesus' disciple, Matthew tells us this.
All of Jesus' disciples fled and ran away. John and Mark was so afraid, he fled naked. Peter verses 54 through 62 denies Christ three times. He cusses a little servant girl. I don't know who the blank, blank, blank, that blank, blank guy is.
Leave me the blank, blank alone. I mean, he just. He just said, forget it. He undergoes mocking, beating in a kangaroo court. Verses 60 read all the way to chapter 23.
He was unjustly sentenced to death by Pilate. He was led away by, it says, godless men. He was crucified. Chapter 23. And so here's what Luke is showing us.
This glaring human depravity. Need could be served. But also highlights Christ's amazing grace in serving these bunch of oahus. And so the contrast, the disciples' sin and their failure, the unjust and evil acts of Judas, Pilate, Herod, the soldiers. The contrast between all of that and Christ's divine service is absolutely.
Startling. Why? Luke chapter 19 verse 10, Jesus says that his divine service, his mission, By the Father, he was sent to, quote, seek and save the lost. And so So here in Luke 22, we have the servant of the Lord gathering his disciples on the day of unleavened bread. Why?
Do you eat Passover with them? Luke 22, 14-23. And this is what Luke says: when the hour came. That's the appointed time by the Father for the Son to suffer. for our sins.
Jesus reclined at the table with his twelve disciples to fulfill Passover and institute a new covenant. which is central and indispensable to his divine service to us, and we'll receive it today. What this does, it signifies and seals that Jesus is the sacrificial lamb. He is the Passover Lamb. which by which God passes over the sins of his people.
And by setting himself aside as the Passover lamb, Jesus prepares his disciples for effective service to needy centers in the future. Because he instituted that New covenant meal through which he comes to needy sinners and he serves them at his table in his visible church. He teaches them in chapter 24, verses 27 and 44, that he has the content of their message. Luke tells us in chapter 22, verse 15, that Jesus earnestly desired to eat this Passover meal with his disciples before he suffered. And so here's the context.
Listen to this. In the midst of betrayal. Fuck row. Hate. Agony.
suffering. Jesus is a faithful servant. servant. Who earnestly desired to serve his people this meal because he's serving those people himself. And that's grace.
In the midst of all this, he sits down at this meal and he gives thanks. When's the last time in the midst of such a very difficult circumstance in your life? As Catherine often reminds me, John. Shift.
So she literally does that. Shift.
Start thanking God for all your blessings. Jesus, in the midst of this, the worst possible. possible circumstance gives thanks. He demonstrates grace. Verses 25 and 26, he rebukes his disciples for posturing about beaten first and second in command.
Jesus insists to them, he says, the greatest In the kingdom of God is the youngest. What does he mean by that? Listen carefully. the person who isn't least. In honor.
And Jesus is going to apply that status. to himself. And so, as the twelve reclined around the table, Jesus having literally just served them a meal, right? He looks at them and he says, For who is greater? Who is great or not One who reclines at the table or the one who serves.
Is it not the one who reclines at the table? Is it not the one who's being served? He says, but I am among you as the one who serves. You see how shocking that is? Jesus' self-disclosure summarizes the essence and purpose of why he came to this earth.
He is the faithful covenant Servant. He is the faithful covenant servant. He is God who spoke the world into existence. And he is God who puts himself into this world in the body of Christ. And Christ hears the words spoken of God, and he responds to God perfectly.
A perfect servant. And so he declares, for example, in Matthew 20, verse 28, he says that the Son of Man. Which is the conquering son of man of Daniel 7 who conquers the nations of the earth The Son of Man. Did not Come to be served. But he came to.
Serve. and to give his life as a ransom for many. That is just shocking. And so Jesus wasn't just born. All of us were born.
But Jesus was sent by the Father for this purpose, this mission. to serve his is creation that have fallen. Luke's narrative continues to reveal Christ's service until it culminates in chapter 23 with his crucifixion. Then after that, his burial, chapter twenty-three. Chapter 24, it continues his divine service to us with his resurrection.
Then It continues with his ascension in Chapter 24 Now just stop there just for a second. Luke tells us that Christ Christ. Crucifixion, his burial, his resurrection, and his ascension is how Christ now serves us. And people have been thinking: well, Jesus ascended. What's the big deal about ascension?
I'll preach about that one of these days, but here's a little insight about that. People go, okay, Jesus lived 2,000 years ago. What's he up to now? He's not here.
Well, listen, he's working very hard. He has ascended to the right hand of the Father, where he now is our advocate before the Father, forevermore, serving us. He's not stopped serving us. You understand that? He's still serving us.
Hebrews 7 says, believe it's verse 25. That Jesus lives forever. Yeah. Two. serve us, to intercede for us.
That's what he does. And so Christian, wouldn't you sin? You have an advocate. You have a defense attorney. And his defense is perfect.
And he defends you and he serves you and he never stops. stops defending you. Never. That's how he serves. That's why he ascended.
And so following his resurrection, Christ, the good shepherd, he continues to serve his people by teaching them his post-resurrection appearances. He teaches them the central importance of a word in sacrament ministry as he talks to two of his disciples on the Emmaus Road. And how did their eyes open up? How did they recognize Jesus and have their hearts burn within them?
Well, Jesus said, hey guys, do you know what happened? You've heard this a million times. You know what happened in Jerusalem this past weekend? They're like, yeah, the Messiah, this guy is Messiah, he failed. He was crucified.
They had no idea they were talking to Jesus risen king. And Jesus says, okay guys, you so much foolish of heart. Let's start in Genesis and let's go to Malachi. Genesis to Malachi. And he just starts teaching them, that's me, that's me, that's me, that's me.
The whole point is about him. And then he goes to their house and he serves them. Emil, he's the servant. What meal did he give them? The Lord's Supper, the new covenant meal.
And it says, their eyes were opened and they recognized him. And they said, did our hearts not burn within us when he explained himself to us? in all the scriptures. Martin Sacrament. It's not church is not hard.
He comes to us as our servant, word and sacrament, baptism and Lord's Supper. And this is what he taught his disciples after his resurrection. Chapter 24. A Christ-centered hermeneutic of scripture. And the sacraments to sign and seal what you just heard is true for you.
He assured the hearts of his disciples of his resurrection. Why? So to not grow weary and fall away from faith and service. Think about Peter. You have to come back to Luke 22.
Think about Peter. Look at verse 31. Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat.
Well, that's that that would make me very concerned. Mm-hmm. If God revealed that to me. I'm like, well, do something. Um What Jesus did, he says, but look at this contrast.
He says, I have prayed for you. That's service. That's divine service. Jesus intercedes for his people. He's praying for them.
What did he pray? That your faith may not fail. Peter fell, but he didn't fall completely. He didn't shipwreck himself. Why?
Because Jesus was his divine servant and prayed for him. that his faith May not Ultimately Fail. And do you think Jesus' prayers are not going to be heard and unanswered? No. Look at this.
When once you have turned again, repented. Straight your brothers.
Now, how would Peter strengthen his brothers after he repented of such a gross sin. sin of denying Christ. Here's how. Jesus comes to Peter. And as post-resurrection appears, Simon, Simon, Peter, do you love me?
So I can, yeah, yes, the Lord feed my sheep. Simon, do you love me? Yes, Lord. hit my way of Feynman. Do you love me?
And he's like, oh boy, here we go. I know what he's doing now You know all things, Lord. He says, feed my sheep. He's and he said, I mean, remember back when you denied me? Three times.
But I prayed for you as your servant that you wouldn't fail. And I said, when you repent, when you turn again, strengthen your brothers, how's Peter going to strengthen his brothers? He's going to feed the sheep the grace that he received. Do you see that? He could not feed the church, God's people, until he had first received such amazing divine grace service, he would have nothing to give them.
He was a great horrible sinner. Who committed grave sin. And Jesus says, I'm praying for you that you won't fail. And when you turn again, you'll repent because of grace. And you tell them that story, Peter, about how Jesus, your servant, gave you grace.
That will strengthen them. That's why the author of Hebrews says this. He says, it is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace. Jesus is our. Fervent.
He also, in chapter 24, verses 36 through 43, he instructs his disciples in the necessity of the Holy Spirit's empowerment to serve as his witnesses. This is so important to understand. This is so critical. To get. Why?
Because without the Holy Spirit, Without the Holy Spirit, there's no power. There's no power to God's word. There's no power to the sacraments. Because it is the Holy Spirit who opens up our eyes. That's why we pray at the beginning of the service.
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit. That's take scripture, and by the power of your Holy Spirit, open up my heart so that I can receive all that you have from me here today. Because if your Holy Spirit doesn't work and move, I'm doomed. And so he sends the Holy Spirit. Upon his people to empower them for service.
This is so critical to understand and to get. And so Jesus is constantly serving. His people. And so when we think about his pronouncement, when he says, I am among you as the one who serves. That becomes of Sorry for the pun.
Paramount importance. Yeah. It is of apparent importance that we learn to just come to church. and sit down and be quiet and just let Jesus. Serve us.
That's so counterintuitive. What he taught Peter Here's another life lesson for Peter. Peter says, oh, he's a theology of glory. He's a radical Christian, right? I surrender all.
Jesus, I'll die for you. And Jesus says, Back up a minute. And then he also says this, he says, Jesus, right prior to this, he says, he's going to wash his disciples' feet. Be a lowly, humble, and less than servant. All right.
A person who hasn't no honor. And he comes to Peter and he says, okay, Peter, your turn in. Peter, what does Peter say to Jesus? Oh. You will never wash my feet.
Aren't you grateful for Peter for all the dumb things you've ever said to? You will never wash my feet. Never. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not going to sit down and let you do that.
Jesus puts this title on, he says, Peter. If I don't wash your feet, You can have no part of me. Peter. If I can be less In honor. and serve you.
You can't have anything to do with me because you don't understand why I came.
So Peter Sit down. Put your feet out. Let me wash them. Let me serve you. That's what God is teaching us here through Luke 22, when we get to Luke 24 about word and sacrament.
Come to church And just Fit. Down and be served by me. And I promise you, when you finally get that. You're going to serve. You're not going to have to be guilted into serving.
You're going to serve. Why? Because your heart is so. Filled with gratitude for the grace that you have received, realizing that you had to sit there. Let Jesus, the eternal God and humanity.
serve you and wash your feet. Do you not think that would just produce amazing love and gratitude like If he said, Job, how high? How long? How far? That's what grace does.
That's what divine service from Christ does. changes us. It Humbles us, but it fills us with joy and comfort. Grace, assurance. It makes our hearts go, yes, I want to serve.
And so, Jesus, now among you as the one who serves because of pain. Paramount importance. Because his whole life Not just in his incarnation, but now as the risen. Conquering Lord at the right hand of the Father.
Now, as we speak, His entire life. comprised of rendering service. to his people. Jesus is serving us here today. That's why we came.
This is his divine service. This is his service to us. And Jesus knew, Luke says, we'll finish with this, he says, knowing all things that were coming upon him. He knew what was coming. This agonizing death John 13:1, listen to what it says.
He loved, he loved and served his disciples. To the end. He never stopped. And here's the good news for us today, because of his ascension. Right.
He never Ever Stops. Fervinath. I would like that. Isn't that great? Amen.
Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for Christ. It's very hard for all of us to put our minds around such an amazing concept that Jesus is our servant. Yet it's true. He is the suffering.
Servant, he is the conquering servant, he is the risen reigning servant. We thank you that He's our advocate. And so we ask you, Holy Spirit, come and fill our hearts with this truth and comfort us as we come to your table to receive your meal and your service, to receive you through these visible signs, these visible gospel signs and seals. We ask you, Holy Spirit, feed our hearts. with Christ and give us comfort.
Give us grace. And from that grace that we have received, Compel our hearts to serve. Not to get your service. But because we've received it. We ask this in Jesus' name.
Amen. John Fawnville sends his thanks for listening today. And before we wrap up, can I tell you about an encouraging book you might want to get soon? It's called Hope and Holiness: How the Gospel Enables and Empowers Sexual Purity. You're not alone if you've tried to conquer sexual temptations and tried all the methods available, only to find yourself feeling defeated again.
This book may be just what you're looking for. With his shepherding heart, John shows that the gospel, not practical steps or more self-discipline, is God's provision for the power to live a life of sexual purity. and it's available to every Christian. What I like is the book is available in three convenient ways. paperback, audiobook, or Kindle.
The links are in our podcast descriptions or check out. Just search for Hope and Holiness by John Fonville on Amazon to get a copy for you, and it's a wonderful book to go through with a small group. Him we proclaim is a ministry of Paramount Church in Jacksonville, Florida. You can find us at Paramountchurch.com. We'll talk again soon.
