Sunday Message (1st service) - Pastor Brad Neuschwander (February 1, 2026) | Life Bible Church

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

John 13 · chapter mention

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

Luke 23:8–11

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

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