It is once again time for the Weekend Sermon, and I am thankful for the Lord allowing me to post these sermons. I hope that all of you are having a good week.
This past week has been very busy. I've had a lot of hours at my job, and I've been busy writing. I have an interview for another job on Monday, so please pray that all goes well with this.
In prayer this week, please continue to pray for those in the Midwestern part of the United States who have experienced the terrible flooding. There are still many people suffering as a result of the terrible weather that we've had in the area this season.
Please continue to pray that aid will reach those who have been affected by bad storms. The people of Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique need our prayers.
Ebola is still affecting the Congo. Pray for those who are sick that they will recover, and pray for those helping to bring assistance that they will be safe from harm.
We need to keep praying for peace in the world. Please pray for peace in Libya, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Syria.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those who live in China and Kuwait. Pray that many will hear the good news of the love of Jesus.
This week is Palm Sunday. For today's message, I want to focus on Palm Sunday, but I also want to focus on something that happened on the day after that.
Mark 11:1-11 is one of the passages that tells us of the events on what we now call Palm Sunday. Jesus came into the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey. As He was riding into the city, people were spreading their garments and palm branches in front of Jesus. The people were calling out, "Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David. Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
In one of the Gospel accounts, the religious leaders demanded that Jesus stop the people from praising Him. Jesus responded that if the people did not praise Him, the very rocks would cry out in praise.
There are three things that I think of when I read the Palm Sunday account. First of all, I always remember that this is the beginning of Holy Week. Before the week is over, the people would be shouting "crucify him". On Good Friday, Jesus would go to the cross and die for the sins of the world.
The events of Palm Sunday also remind me of my obligation to bring praise to the Lord Jesus. He is worthy of praise and adoration because of who He is and because of what He has done. Jesus is God come in human form. He is the creator and sustainer of all things in the entire universe. Jesus has come to take away the sins of the world. He has come to restore all things. He has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.
Palm Sunday also reminds me that Jesus will come again in a different way. One day, Jesus will return in power and great glory. He will come to this earth to rule and reign in righteousness, and His kingdom will have no end. When Jesus returns to this earth, He will restore all to the way that it existed prior to sin entering into the universe.
In addition to the events of Palm Sunday, I want us to focus in on one of the events that occurred the day after. The Gospel of Mark states that Jesus rode into Jerusalem and entered the Temple. He looked around, and then He left Jerusalem and went and stayed in Bethany with the disciples.
The next day, Jesus returned to Jerusalem. He entered the Temple again, but this time, He didn't just look around. Jesus drove out those who were buying and selling in the Temple. He overturned the money changers tables, and He overturned the tables of those who were selling doves. Jesus would not allow anyone to bring merchandise through the Temple courts. Jesus said in Mark 11:17, "Is it not written: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of robbers."
This action of Jesus when He cleansed the Temple infuriated the religious authorities. Now they wanted Jesus dead, and they set about to accomplish their task.
This cleansing of the Temple by Jesus has applications for us today. It makes me think about what Jesus would think about the church which claims to worship Him.
For one thing, I believe that Jesus would be very upset if He were to return and see how focused the church has become on money. On many radio and television programs of a religious nature, the focus is almost entirely on money. There is also much focus on buildings and entertainment. So much money is spent on these things instead of the funds being used for the primary ministries of the church.
Our churches should be centers and houses of prayer. We should be asking the Lord Jesus to move in the lives of people and that His will be accomplished in the nations of the world.
Our churches should be places where there is ministry to the poor and the hurting in this world. So many people are in poverty and face hunger. The church should be at the forefront of helping those who need assistance.
The church also must place a renewed emphasis on evangelization. People need to hear that Jesus loves them. They need to know that Jesus welcomes anyone who wants to come to Him.
I hope that you will reflect on Palm Sunday and the day after. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you and show you how you can praise the name of Jesus and do His work in the world.
This week, we will have a different schedule here on the blog. I will post the verses on Monday as usual. There will be no review on Wednesday. Since it is Holy Week, I will have a post on Maundy Thursday and on Good Friday. The Weekend Sermon about Easter will be posted on Saturday. May God bless you all. Amen.
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