Mick Roberts - Class 7: Exhortation: Behold My Servant

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:00

   We now ask for your kind and careful attention as our brother Mick Roberts leads us in the word of exhortation this morning entitled, Behold My Servant.

2. 0:30

   Very good morning, brothers and sisters. Thank you again for the welcome, and we will indeed take our love back with us, back to the UK. I think at the start, I would just like to say one thing to the young people following our time yesterday. Did you wake up and think for a moment that today might be the day?

3. 1:17

   As you, brothers and sisters, we spent some time yesterday with the young people talking about the return of Jesus. When will it be, and how will we be watching? And I'm sure a weekend like this will have had an awful lot of effort and planning which will have gone in. And yet, I wonder whether we thought that the day would come, or would the Lord be here first?

4. 1:40

   And I guess when you come together as you have at this gathering on an annual basis, it's always worth reminding ourselves, is this the last time before the Lord comes? That the Toronto Ecclesiastes meet in this way?

5. 1:56

   Indeed, is it that he's going to come before we meet next week? So, brothers and sisters, beholding the servant is something that we need to do as aspiring servants of the master. We need to continually find ways of strengthening ourself. And beholding him is as good a way as I can think. We behold him in the emblems.

6. 2:25

   We behold him in the word. And if we look to him, then we can indeed perhaps find the strength and the example to be the sort of servants that we would want to be for him.

7. 2:41

   I don't know what the pictures are that you have of the Lord, brothers and sisters. This idea of carrying pictures around, I know it's not unique in the UK, and especially with the increase in use of cell phones. It used to be that people would just carry a picture of the people who were special.

8. 3:01

   The people that had a special place in their heart, there would be a picture in their wallet or their purse. And now, of course, with cell phones, you don't just get a picture. You get a movie, or you might get 25 pictures. And you kind of lead into conversations about these people who are special.

9. 3:22

   They're not just on a fridge magnet anymore. They're not just in the dining room. They're not just in a scrapbook anymore. The people who we behold, who are important to us, we carry around with us. And we've been in enough homes in Ontario to know the fridge magnets are well used in this county.

10. 3:44

    And I'm sure if we had the time, we'd be sharing the cell phone pictures, which leads into, oh, this is three weeks old. He's changed since then. And it's a great way of sharing with others those people who are special in our hearts. Behold. Look. Look. Look. Look at him. Look at her.

11. 4:19

    And when we see those faces, brothers and sisters, it lifts us. You've only got to look at someone when they're sharing a picture with you that you can see that they are as excited as they want you to be. When they show you the picture, look. Look at him. Look at him. And you kind of feel yourself getting swept along with that enthusiasm.

12. 4:48

    Because when they see that picture themselves, it speaks to them. It emotionally connects with them. It opens up a channel of thought that is hard and we needn't even worry beginning to explain. But there is just sometimes the image of a loved one just instantly brings a smile. It brings a memory. It stirs us.

13. 5:13

    It inspires us. It brings out all sorts of things. So when we come to break bread and we meet with our brethren and sisters, I wonder what picture you have brought of the master, the servant, the servant, who we are called to remember. We all carry pictures of the master, don't we, in our mind.

14. 5:45

    And I know sometimes when we see some of those beautiful paintings from centuries ago, we admire the skill and we cringe at the scriptural inaccuracy.

15. 5:58

    But I can understand in a way how people want to express what they feel and what they may have read in the scriptures. And how they may have tried to tell the story. They didn't have the benefit of cell phones and so on. They would want to try and capture in some way the emotional feeling of the images that they have taken from the word.

16. 6:20

    So we paint, brethren and sisters, I think, pictures, don't we, in our minds. We behold the servant. And we've seen him in our reading from John. We've seen him as the risen Lord. We've seen him showing the marks. What was it that they were told?

17. 6:53

    Those who would be blessed. Who hadn't seen. But believe. Because we've only seen it in our mind's eye. We've only seen through the power of the words of scripture. That these things are true and that they really happened. And we speak with conviction to our children.

18. 7:16

    That these things really happened. And when we think of our master, brethren and sisters, whom we know as God's son. The future king of the world. And when we contrast that with how the kings of the earth portray their leaders. Their masters. Their rulers.

19. 7:52

    Again, if you go back to the paintings as it were back through the Middle Ages. There will be the kids. If I think of merry old England and our kings. You know. They were a fine looking bunch. They would all be there with their military regalia. They would be there on their noblest of steeds.

20. 8:09

    And with their mightiest of swords. And I guess now. We will find when the rulers of this world. The rulers and kingdoms of men. Will portray their leaders and masters. Their pictures will be neatly choreographed. And neatly airbrushed. And maybe they will be there with a row of medals right across the chest.

21. 8:37

    Maybe they'll be there just stage managed beautifully to be aboard the aircraft carrier. With the jets behind. As they stand there in their imposing statesman like stance. Maybe they'll be there taking the salute from the entire army as they march by.

22. 9:04

    That's what they see. Brothers and sisters. Our master doesn't look like that. He didn't take the salute. He took the towel. And the basin. And the jug. And the water. And he washed their feet. Isn't that brothers and sisters. The man who we see. The servant. Whom we behold. As we meet today.

23. 9:50

    To remember him. Just turn with me will you. To the words that we find. In John 13. Knowing what we know. Of our Lord's command. Of his father's word. Jesus knew. That his time was near. He had told his followers. Of the suffering which. He would face. And he knew. Brothers and sisters.

24. 10:42

    Those words. That we had read for us. From Isaiah. He knew those words. From the Psalms. From the Psalms. And it's in that context. Brothers and sisters. That he washed their feet. So it's not just here. When we read. That Jesus did these things. And we. We think it's the most wonderful. Act of humility.

25. 11:10

    He's teaching them something. He's teaching us something. Brothers and sisters. And it's in the context. Of giving everything. You know. We talked the other day. Didn't we. About the servant. Who has. Done everything. And when he comes in. There's still yet more to do.

26. 11:31

    You know. Just even thinking about. Speaking for you. You know. I just think. I just need a few minutes. To get my thoughts together. And just sit. Sit quietly. I wonder what the Lord needed. Before he did what he did. And yet. There he was. On his knees. Washing the feet. Of his disciples.

27. 11:57

    The opening verses. Of chapter 13. Says that before. The feast. Of the Passover. When Jesus knew. That his hour was come. That he should depart. From this world. To be with the father. Having loved his own. Who were in the world. He loved them. To the end. And supper being ended. And the devil.

28. 12:15

    Having already entered. Into the heart of Judas Iscariot. Simon's son. To betray him. Jesus. Knowing that the father. Had given all things. Into his hands.

29. 12:28

    And that he had come from God. And was going to God. Rose from supper. And laid aside his garments. And took a towel. And girded himself.

30. 12:49

    That's the man. Brothers and sisters. That's the servant. That's the love. That's the example. That's our Lord. Lord. And we know the dialogue. That happens there with Peter. Don't we? Oh Peter yet again. Lord you're not going to die. I'm not having this. Lord you're not washing my feet.

31. 13:18

    And of course we've. Seed him yet again in conversation. Peter. Peter. Do you love me? Yes Lord. We might say. I love. My. Master. In which case Peter. You have to feed. You have to nourish. You have to provide. For your brethren and sisters. You have to follow. Me.

32. 13:57

    And of course. As the record tells us in John. Jesus was signifying for him. That he would also be in. Bonds. Here we are brothers and sisters. We can see ourself. Can't we in these things. The master. Serving. Us. The master calling for us. To feed. And to follow. And to be as it were in bonds.

33. 14:29

    We've gone from being slaves to sin. To being as Paul puts it to the Romans. Slaves. To God. Giving everything. In the service. Of. Our heavenly father. The beautiful passage. That we had read. For us. From. Isaiah. We know is a powerful one. And we often. Use it. When we come together. To break bread.

34. 15:01

    It's. It's in part. The beauty of the language. As it comes across to us. In. In scripture. The way in which. Particularly the authorised version. Or the new king James. Words and presents. The suffering servant. To us. It's almost like a Shakespearean speech. We might know it so well. The eloquence. With which it paints.

35. 15:22

    The picture. For us. And it's no wonder that. The Jews. As a people. Are clearly very uncomfortable. With this passage of scripture. Which paints the picture. Of the Messiah. Suffering as he does. And how it echoes through. Into our new testament. And we can see the true. Meaning. Of these things. We know don't we.

36. 15:50

    That it's the very passage. That the Ethiopian eunuch. Was reading. When Philip is drawn. To be alongside him. And the Ethiopian eunuch. Asked that fundamental question. Well who is this. That the prophet is writing about. Is it himself. Is it somebody else. And in a way. The Ethiopian is asking the question. That the world keeps asking.

37. 16:16

    Who is this man. Who is this individual. This servant. That is being spoken about. And we know him. To be the son of God. The Lord Jesus Christ. And we're saying to the world. Brothers and sisters. Aren't we. To turn aside. From those who would have the. Medals across the chest. Who would have the aircraft carriers behind.

38. 16:41

    Who would have the trusty steed. And the strongest sword. We're saying. Turn your back on those. And behold. This man. Now I don't know. How good a. Conversation. How good a. Exhortation. Presentation. It was that Philip gave. But boy. Wouldn't you want to be. In that chariot. When he says. That he opens up.

39. 17:06

    At that. Very. Scripture. And opens up. For the Ethiopian eunuch. And preaches to him. The Lord. The Lord. Jesus. Christ. And in a way. Brothers and sisters. I. I can almost see. I sort of have this idea. Of. Of. Of. Of Philip. Like a great. Curator. At an art gallery. You know. When they take you down the aisles.

40. 17:32

    And they show you. All the pictures. And explain the detail. And the finite points. Of what you can see. Before you. I can almost. See Philip there. Painting the picture. Opening up. The eunuch's eyes. To things that he hadn't seen. And yet would believe. And he takes him. Picture after picture. Of this suffering servant.

41. 17:59

    And explains to him. That it was necessary. That these things happened. That men and women might be forgiven. That there may be redemption. And reconciliation. There may be the hope of life. And it's all bound up. In this man.

42. 18:17

    Making the subtle. Connections. The richness of the meaning. Of each. Word. It's no wonder. Brothers and sisters. Is it? That. When the eunuch sees. Water. He wants. To. Immerse himself. Into. A new relationship. With. With this man.

43. 18:43

    And that's us. Brothers and sisters. Somebody showed us. The same. Pictures. Somebody. Explained to us. Just who he is. So if your Bibles. Are open there. At. Isaiah. 52. 52.

44. 19:12

    Verse 13. Behold. My servant. She'll deal. Prudently. He shall be. Exalted. And. Extolled. And. Be. Very. High. And there's a kind of double play there isn't there brethren and sisters in what's being said. Exalted. And. Extolled. Or literally. Lifted. Up. And of course Jesus on a number of occasions talked about being. Lifted up.

45. 19:49

    Just as a serpent. Was. Lifted up. In the wilderness. Even so. Must the son of man be. Lifted up. Up. So Isaiah is painting this picture. Of a man who is lifted up. And at the same time he is exalted. A servant. Exalted. A servant. Lifted up. That he might draw. Men. And women.

46. 20:13

    Like you. And me to him. In that hideous sight at Calvary. And. And there's two things that strike me particularly brethren and sisters. We're not going to. Wonder through every verse. But. This idea of beholding. The man. We know that echoes you other parts. Doesn't it? Even of the trial of Jesus. Behold the man.

47. 20:46

    When we behold the man. What is it that we. See. It's a. Hard verse to read. Isn't it. Brothers and sisters. That verse 14. Just as many were astonished at you. So his. Visage. His. Appearance. Was marred more than. Any man. And his form. More than the sons of men.

48. 21:22

    This servant. Brothers and sisters. What had been done to him. We know we can read. And we can. Rationalize in some way. When we read the words. As it's recorded for us in the gospels. But. The snapshot picture. That we just get from Isaiah. Almost in shorthand. That just says. Do you know.

49. 21:42

    It didn't even look like a man. Such. Was the wicked. And cruel hands. That had taken him. And yet. This man. Who will. Sprinkle. Many nations. He will bring about. That cleansing. And that healing. Through. His. Suffering. Kings.

50. 22:14

    Shall. Shut. Their mouths. At him. Oh. Brothers and sisters. Isn't that just wonderful thought. The. The. The. The great. Ranting and raving. Of. The kings of this world. And yet. This servant. Who we watch. Going to. The cross. To be nailed. To the wood.

51. 22:45

    To serve his father forever. He goes in silence. Silence. He goes. With. Dignity. He goes. As Isaiah puts it. Without opening his mouth. He is led. As a lamb. To the slaughter. And there's a. Sheep. Before his shearers. Is silent. So he opens. Not his mouth.

52. 23:09

    And when he does open his mouth. Brothers and sisters. It's to ask for forgiveness. For those. Who have done these things. To him. We know. As Isaiah continues. In verse 53.

53. 23:32

    Verse 2. He shall grow up before him. As a tender plant. And as a root. Out of dry ground. He has. No form. Or comeliness. And when we see him. There is no beauty. That we should. Desire him.

54. 23:53

    So we. Bell and sisters. Are privileged. In that we see the beauty. That goes well beyond the surface. The world. Only sees that man. Who was nailed to the cross.

55. 24:08

    Marred. And blooded. Weak. And empty. But we see the beauty. Of a man. Dedicated in his service. We see the man. Who loved us so much. That he lays down his life. For his friends. And that's why. Brothers and sisters. When he says. I want you to come together. And take bread and wine.

56. 24:37

    And remember. My body. And my blood. Which has been given to you. It's maybe a way that we can. Capture a picture. Of the one who we carry in our hearts.

57. 24:56

    The one who inspires us. And yes. The one who brings. A smile. To our face. The Lord Jesus. Can we just turn to the. The letter that Paul wrote. To the Philippians. The Philippians.

58. 25:29

    Surely. Surely. Brothers and sisters. One of the great. Qualities. And requirements. Of a good servant. Is that of humility. We know. Don't we. How the Lord. Prior to his death. Was having to deal. With disciples. Who were arguing. About who was going to be. The greatest. Imagine that. Brothers and sisters. Imagine the mental.

59. 26:09

    Torment. Of facing. What he faced. And having those. Around him. Who were arguing. About who would be the best. It's crazy. Isn't it? Maybe it's teaching us. Brothers and sisters. As we come to this. Letter that Paul wrote. When he speaks. Of humility. And says in verse 5. Let this mind. Be in you.

60. 26:35

    Which was also. In Christ Jesus. It's the mind. Of a servant. It's the mind. Of one who gives. Without. Ceasing. It's a mind. Of one who loves. Without stopping.

61. 26:52

    Let this mind. Be in you. So here's another picture. Brothers and sisters. It's Paul giving us. This picture. Who being in the form of God. Didn't consider it robbery. To be equal with God. But made himself. Of no reputation. Taking the form. Of a bond servant. And coming. In the likeness. Of men.

62. 27:16

    And being found. In appearance. As a man. He humbled himself. And became obedient. To the point. Of death. Even. The death. On the cross. And it's in that spirit. Brothers and sisters. That Paul goes on to. Try and show his love. As a serving brother. For his brethren and sisters. He talks later.

63. 27:44

    In the chapter. About wanting to. Be with them. He wants to. Send Timothy. Just look on it. In verse 19. I trust in the Lord. To send Timothy. To you shortly. That I also. May be encouraged. When I know your state. For I have no one. Like minded.

64. 28:03

    Who will sincerely care. For your state. It's this mind. Isn't it? This mind. Of the Lord Jesus. And Paul saying. You know. There's a little. Like mindedness. In Timothy. And there's got to be. That like mindedness. In us. Brothers and sisters. Jesus. Because if we do. It means that we feed. It means that we follow.

65. 28:25

    It means that we care. For all seek their own. Says Paul. And not the things. That are of Christ Jesus. But you know. This. Proven. Character. That as a son. With his father. He served. With me. In the gospel. Therefore. I hope to send him. At once. As soon as I see. How it goes.

66. 28:54

    With me. But I trust. In the Lord. That I myself. Shall come. Shortly. So. Brothers and sisters. The mind. Of Christ. Is what we have to cultivate. Not just in an abstract way. But here. As we see in Philippians. That it might manifest itself. In how we are. With each other. That's. What we need.

67. 29:21

    To do. We capture. Brothers and sisters. In our minds. A picture. Of the Lord. And as we share. The bread and wine. And pass it. Among ourselves. Maybe there'll be pictures. That might inspire us. And encourage us. The man who didn't fight back. The man who was. Silent. And didn't seek. Justice.

68. 29:50

    The man who was struck. By the harshest. And cruelest of men. When he was innocent. Leaving us. An example. Serving. As he was lifted up. High. Serving. When he was nailed. To the wood. How he. Loved his father. How. We love. Our master. And in the bread. And in the wine. May we have.

69. 30:25

    Evoked. Within us. Images. Of what he's done. That it. Inspires us. And is. There. Close. In our hearts. These things. I've spoken to you. That my joy. May remain. In you. And that your joy. May be full. This. Is my commandment.

70. 30:56

    That you love. One another. As I have loved you. Greater love. Has no one. Than this. Than to lay down. One's life. For his friends. You. Are. My friends. If you do. Whatever. I command you. No longer. Do I call you. Servants.

71. 31:31

    For a servant. Doesn't know. What his master. Is doing. But I have called you. Friends. For all things. That I heard. From my father. I have made known. To you.

72. 31:51

    That's. What he's done. Brothers and sisters. Behold. Behold. The man. Thank you.