March 28, 2021
Morning Service

Today we begin to walk with Jesus in the final week of His time here on earth.  This week is the culmination of the greatest love story ever told that began at the foundation of the world and gained momentum in a manger in Bethlehem.  It is a love story written for all of mankind, but also specifically for you.  It is God’s story but also yours, mine and ours.  Along our journey this week, I would like you to focus on these four scriptures and the truth that lies within them.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Joh 15:13  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

Roman 5:8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:31-32  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  (32)  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

As we begin this week please keep in mind these scriptures and how they point to the fact of how much Jesus loves you.  He didn’t wait until you cleaned yourself up but while you were still in your sin He gave His all for you. This story is all about us; God’s chosen.  These are the great lengths that He has went to have a relationship with us; He desires that more than we do.  As we walk through this last week with Jesus, a wide variety of emotions will overtake us. This “Passion Week” begins with a celebration of joy, hope, victory and praise as Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem for the last time.  Expectations are high as the Jewish nation rallies together behind the One who has turned the world they know upside down.  They expect Him to lead them to freedom from the oppression of Rome, but His plans are much bigger than that.  He is bringing freedom to “whosoever believes in Him” not from government oppression but from sin and death.  The latter is a far bigger foe to overcome and the victory is for eternity.  As we begin this journey, seek to put yourself there with our Lord; feel the joy of today and the pain of later in the week.  By doing this we can get a better understanding of the truth behind our four scriptures and help us to realize the enormous cost that was paid upon Calvary’s cross.  (Reread 4 scriptures)

Mar 11:1-10 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; (2) and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it.  (3)  And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here."  (4)  So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it.  (5)  But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?"  (6)  And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go.  (7)  Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.  (8)  And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  (9)  Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna! 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'  (10)  Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

Jesus riding the colt into the city fulfilled yet another prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. It was a sign of humility on Jesus part.  A conquering military hero would be upon the back of an impressive white horse or pulled by a golden chariot; “but the meek shall inherit the earth.”  “Hosanna” is a Hebrew word that means “save us now;” or can be used in the form of praise as “Savior!”  They cried “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” referring to their recognition that He was the Messiah. (Psalms 118:26).  The gesture of placing their clothes down before Him (verse 8) was a symbolic act and as their clothes were under His feet they would pledge to submit to their King.  This is evidenced by their cry of Jesus coming as “The kingdom of David” their favorite conquering king.  The scene as a whole resembled a military victory celebration which would again make the Jews believe Jesus was about to conquer their greatest enemy, Rome and set up His kingdom right then.  Little did they know that Jesus had a bigger foe that He was fighting, sin and death.  It was a celebration of victory, but it did not end as everyone else thought it would.  God always has a different perspective than what the world has.  He is into “eternal moments” not living for this moment. 

            This is the one time that Jesus did not tell the crowd to be quiet with their open praises.  This was His time to openly shine as the One True Messiah and Savior of whosoever would believe in Him.  The disciples had to be overjoyed with this change hoping the culmination of His kingdom was near.  Little did they know how quickly the praise of the people would turn to anger.  It begins with the religious leaders stepping in.  In Luke’s account the Pharisees told Him to rebuke and quiet the crowd from crying out and He replied this:

             Luke 19:40  But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

            These followers and believers in Jesus could not help themselves but to be full of praise for what they had seen this Man do right before their eyes.  Today the stones would remain silent as His chosen people praised Him openly.  They unashamedly cried out praises for the One who had come as their promised Messiah.  They could not hold it in as it came bursting out in this moment of anticipated victory.  Paul said this to the Roman church:

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

            Too often we stay silent with our praises and allow the stones to speak for us robbing us of a blessing.  Do not be ashamed of your faith but boldly let your light shine out to this dark and dying world.  Is He worthy of our praise; He is!  If we don’t cry out in this time of confusion in our world who will?  We all need to unashamedly sing our praises to the One who died for our sins and gave us an unchangeable hope for the future.  As you sing and praise focus on the truth of our four scriptures. (Reread)  The world today needs to here our voices speaking these truths that are filled with hope, peace, joy, and love.  We are called to be “Salt and Light” to those around us.  Pray for boldness to speak the truth and to have an attitude of joy and rejoicing.  Paul commanded the Philippian church this:

Php. 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

The thing that makes this command strange was that Paul was writing this epistle while being imprisoned for his faith.  How can one rejoice while being persecuted?  It displays that Paul had a deep inner peace that was not dictated by his circumstances. Despite his horrible surroundings, Paul was still full of joy knowing that His Lord and Savior was there with him.  He had great confidence that God was in total control of his life and would not let him down.  He knew he was loved and cared for by a God who has big plans for him even while in prison.  Are you there yet?  Are you able to praise and trust God only when things are going well and according to plan or can you praise Him in the middle of storm as well?  In today’s world it is very easy to become discouraged with all the negative things happening around us.  Stand firmly upon the foundation of truth behind the four scriptures we highlighted at the beginning of this message.  God loves you, has plans for you, and has invested all He has in you.  In the end, we win!  The final score has already been tabulated and by faith we know the victory will be ours.  Rejoice in that even when the burdens of life seem too much to bear.  “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!”