John 8:34-36 (TPT)
“I speak eternal truth,” Jesus said. “When you sin you are not free. You’ve become a slave in bondage to your sin. And slaves have no permanent standing in a family, like a son does, for a son is a part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free from sin, then become a true son and be unquestionably free!”
John 12:37-50 New International Version (NIV)
Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
…The joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10 (NASB)
[Taken from the latter part.]
This portion reminds us that God’s joy is what gives us our strength. This link takes you to a wonderful study where you can understand more about God’s joy.
https://www.christian-faith.com/what-does-the-joy-of-the-lord-is-our-strength-mean/
John 12:20-36 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Predicts His Death
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[a] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Father, anoint us with your courage to speak the truth and your peace to endure this broken world. Amen
This Holy Week, we will be posting Scripture during our morning Reflections… a Scripture verse and inspiration for daily living time slot. The passages selected will guide us scripturally through the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. On Good Friday, beginning a half an hour after our morning Reflections post, we will begin posting, every 30 minutes until completed, the Scripture related to the fourteen Stations of the Cross. We hope and pray everyone will have a blessed Holy Week, drawing closer to the Lord with each day that passes.
Today’s Passage: Luke 19:28-40
Opening Prayer: Sometimes it is hard to rejoice when you know what is going to happen in the very near future. Sometimes the joy is lost just by worrying about what might be around the next corner. Father God, I pray you would help us to rejoice in the here and now and not worry so much about tomorrow. Help us to appreciate what we have when we have it and not fear the day when whatever it is will be lost. Help us to not be crippled by what has happened in the past; the things which we cannot change or fix because they are done and that time has passed. Instead of focusing on the negative things in the past or our worries about the future, let us rejoice in the future hope we have through our belief in your Son, Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
Opening Song: TobyMac – I just need U.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wNpOeakhEM
Message [used with permission from A Sermon for Every Sunday]: “The Lord Needs It” – Palm/Passion Sunday by Jim Somerville, Pastor, First Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia.
Easter rolls around once every year, but so does Palm Sunday. How does a preacher keep those stories fresh and relevant for his or her congregation? By combing through familiar texts in search of something that stands out in a new way. For Jim Somerville, Pastor of Richmond’s First Baptist Church, the thing that stood out in this year’s perusal of the Palm Sunday story from Luke 19:28-40 was the idea that Jesus needed a donkey. When Jesus sends the disciples to fetch one he says, “If anyone asks tell them that the Lord needs it.” But why would the Lord need a donkey? And what else might the Lord need that we haven’t considered? Click the “play” button and find out.
Or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyZcfKpTNMU
Closing Song: We Rejoice | Live | Elevation Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1cL-XcNXzc
Closing Prayer: Our King has come. He is in the city, the town, the country… wherever believers can be found. He has walked beside us through our journey. Will we walk a similar walk to the one He walked? Will we stay faithful? Are we thankful for what He has made possible for us to be and do? Father God, may we stand firm in our desire to follow Your son, Jesus. May we stand firm in the teachings found in the Scriptures. May the Holy Spirit guide us into a greater knowledge of and understanding of You! May we appreciate the hope we have through Christ. May we be forever grateful. Amen.
Epilogue: Grateful | Live | Elevation Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh2goMABFPc
Today is Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday traditionally marks the beginning of Holy Week. Zechariah prophesies of the triumphal entry of Jesus, our King, into Jerusalem in Zechariah 9:9.
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, many were gathering for the beginning of a weeklong celebration called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. In John 12:13, it tells us that the crowd took palm branches and went out to meet him [Jesus], shouting,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
In addition, Palm Sunday is also referred to as Passion Sunday. When we think of the word passion, we often think of an intense desire for, or love of, something. However, when used in connection to Jesus and His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, passion has a much more somber meaning. The word comes from a Latin word, passio, meaning to suffer. We should be reminded of the period of suffering endured by Jesus in between the Last Supper and His death on the cross. While we may celebrate a triumphant entry of our King into Jerusalem, let us not forget the suffering that He endured for us.
Passage: John 12:12-19 (NIV)
Romans 8:11 (NCV)
God raised Jesus from the dead, and if God’s Spirit is living in you, he will also give life to your bodies that die. God is the One who raised Christ from the dead, and he will give life through his Spirit that lives in you.
Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:2-3 (NIV)
Passage: John 12:1-11
We saw most of this passage in one of River Run’s recent online services. However, with each new day it seems there is something new that a passage of the Scriptures can show us. This time, reading this passage made me ask a question. How do we show our appreciation of someone? Maybe we take them out to eat, buy them a gift, send them on a vacation, or arrange for them to have a spa treatment? In this passage, Judas questioned if Mary was spending too much on Jesus. While we could look at this from an earthly perspective and say yes, let’s step back and consider eternity. How can we show Jesus how grateful we are for what He has done for us? What kind of gift would be enough? Maybe we should consider following Him more closely and living our lives for Him? May we discover a new way to serve and appreciate Jesus. Giving Him our lives and doing His will is our reasonable service.
Faithfully Yours Forever 