Pastor's Weekly Musing
Hey everyone!
Well, it's Holy Week -- the time between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, the most intense and important week in history (so far). Think about all that happened during this week over 2000 years ago:
- On Sunday, Christ's Triumphal Entry: Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, knowing He would face His own death, with the crowds cheering and laying palm branches on the ground to welcome Him, shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9) The same crowd would be calling for His crucifixion in about five days.
- On Monday, Jesus cleanses the Temple: seeing that the Temple was being used by corrupt money-changers, Christ flips over tables and yells "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves" (Luke 19:46).
- On Tuesday, Jesus preaches at the Mount of Olives: Christ teaches prophetically about the end of the age, including His second-coming and the final judgement. Scripture also teaches that Tuesday is the day Judas Iscariot negotiated with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus. (Mathew 26:14-16)
- On Wednesday, Jesus spent the day resting in Bethany for the upcoming Passover, almost certainly staying at Lazarus' home, where just days earlier Lazarus' sister Mary had lovingly anointed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume. (John 12:1-8)
- Thursday was a HUGE DAY. The Passover feast, Jesus washed the disciple's feet, He outed Judas, took Communion with the boys, told Peter he'd betray Him, sweat droplets of blood while praying in Gethsemane, was arrested illegally, and tried secretly into the early hours of the morning. By Friday morning, Christ was hanging from a Roman cross.
Think of all that happened that Thursday before Easter -- today! It was the day before the worst day of Jesus' life, the day He knew He'd die a horrible sinner's death.
How would you spend your last day on Earth? I know what I'd do (especially if I knew my death wouldn't be pleasant): I'd make myself as comfortable as possible, I'd surround myself with family and friends that would support me and comfort me, and I'd definitely conserve my energy for the next day.
Not Jesus.
He spent those last few hours teaching. Washing feet. Praying over the disciples. Praying over His future followers -- us! Praying to the Father. Forgiving His betrayers. Facing a trial that wasn't legal. Taking punishment that didn't belong to Him. Quietly heading to the cross that would save the world.
As we prepare to celebrate Easter, may we always know that Christ really faced this, actually payed the ultimate price for you and for me. His death wasn't metaphoric, not simply a nice story of redemption and rebirth, and it definitely wasn't ethereal or a lofty idea.
He died a real death. For real sinners. He took our sin and shame to the cross, and all of our sins -- past, present and future -- were nailed to the cross with Him. He was buried, and on the third day, He rose in victory.
For you. For me. That we might be saved.
You serve a real Savior, who lived a real life, died a real death, really Resurrected, and is as real to you today as He was 2000 years ago. He's yours and He's mine.
He is Risen!
Well, it's Holy Week -- the time between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, the most intense and important week in history (so far). Think about all that happened during this week over 2000 years ago:
- On Sunday, Christ's Triumphal Entry: Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, knowing He would face His own death, with the crowds cheering and laying palm branches on the ground to welcome Him, shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9) The same crowd would be calling for His crucifixion in about five days.
- On Monday, Jesus cleanses the Temple: seeing that the Temple was being used by corrupt money-changers, Christ flips over tables and yells "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves" (Luke 19:46).
- On Tuesday, Jesus preaches at the Mount of Olives: Christ teaches prophetically about the end of the age, including His second-coming and the final judgement. Scripture also teaches that Tuesday is the day Judas Iscariot negotiated with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus. (Mathew 26:14-16)
- On Wednesday, Jesus spent the day resting in Bethany for the upcoming Passover, almost certainly staying at Lazarus' home, where just days earlier Lazarus' sister Mary had lovingly anointed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume. (John 12:1-8)
- Thursday was a HUGE DAY. The Passover feast, Jesus washed the disciple's feet, He outed Judas, took Communion with the boys, told Peter he'd betray Him, sweat droplets of blood while praying in Gethsemane, was arrested illegally, and tried secretly into the early hours of the morning. By Friday morning, Christ was hanging from a Roman cross.
Think of all that happened that Thursday before Easter -- today! It was the day before the worst day of Jesus' life, the day He knew He'd die a horrible sinner's death.
How would you spend your last day on Earth? I know what I'd do (especially if I knew my death wouldn't be pleasant): I'd make myself as comfortable as possible, I'd surround myself with family and friends that would support me and comfort me, and I'd definitely conserve my energy for the next day.
Not Jesus.
He spent those last few hours teaching. Washing feet. Praying over the disciples. Praying over His future followers -- us! Praying to the Father. Forgiving His betrayers. Facing a trial that wasn't legal. Taking punishment that didn't belong to Him. Quietly heading to the cross that would save the world.
As we prepare to celebrate Easter, may we always know that Christ really faced this, actually payed the ultimate price for you and for me. His death wasn't metaphoric, not simply a nice story of redemption and rebirth, and it definitely wasn't ethereal or a lofty idea.
He died a real death. For real sinners. He took our sin and shame to the cross, and all of our sins -- past, present and future -- were nailed to the cross with Him. He was buried, and on the third day, He rose in victory.
For you. For me. That we might be saved.
You serve a real Savior, who lived a real life, died a real death, really Resurrected, and is as real to you today as He was 2000 years ago. He's yours and He's mine.
He is Risen!
______________________________________________
This Sunday, we'll have FOUR EASTER services -- 8, 9:30, 11, and 12:30 PM.
As of today (April 1), our first three services are maxed out, but we still have seats available at our 12:30 PM service. Click HERE to get registered!
We have an AWESOME day planned, with Easter egg hunts for the kids at the 9:30, 11, and 12:30 services. We'll also be live online at all four of our services.
As of today (April 1), our first three services are maxed out, but we still have seats available at our 12:30 PM service. Click HERE to get registered!
We have an AWESOME day planned, with Easter egg hunts for the kids at the 9:30, 11, and 12:30 services. We'll also be live online at all four of our services.
______________________________________________
Our weekly Monday Prayer Gathering will be postponed until next Monday, April 12. No meeting this Monday.
______________________________________________
Saturday, April 10: Men's Breakfast!
Men of all ages are invited to join Pastor Ron and the Meadows men for a morning of food, fellowship, and the Word! Starts at 9 AM. Let us know you'll be there by registering HERE.
Men of all ages are invited to join Pastor Ron and the Meadows men for a morning of food, fellowship, and the Word! Starts at 9 AM. Let us know you'll be there by registering HERE.
______________________________________________
For Easter Sunday, we'll take one last look at a Question Jesus Asked, our recent series.
Upon His Resurrection, Jesus didn't look to make a big splash, didn't cause a scene, didn't bring attention to Himself. He simply found His closest friends and followers to comfort them.
In fact, the first words He shared upon resurrecting was a question. And this question, to Mary Magdalene, would re-shape her relationship with God forever. And it still does the same for us today.
Join us this weekend for the Resurrection Sunday question: "Whom do you seek?"
(Click HERE to get connected to our Sunday service online.)
Looking forward to seeing many of you on the walkway and the rest of you in the YouTube comments!
Pastor Ronnie
Upon His Resurrection, Jesus didn't look to make a big splash, didn't cause a scene, didn't bring attention to Himself. He simply found His closest friends and followers to comfort them.
In fact, the first words He shared upon resurrecting was a question. And this question, to Mary Magdalene, would re-shape her relationship with God forever. And it still does the same for us today.
Join us this weekend for the Resurrection Sunday question: "Whom do you seek?"
(Click HERE to get connected to our Sunday service online.)
Looking forward to seeing many of you on the walkway and the rest of you in the YouTube comments!
Pastor Ronnie
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