Hello Friends,
It is that week again...the week that changed everything in the life of Jesus. This Sunday, we enter Holy Week by exclaiming "Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" We celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on this Palm Sunday. Jesus was recognized that day as a king by all the common people in the city. He was their hope for overthrowing the Roman oppression. But just a few days later, those same people who praised Him said, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"An unbelievable turn of events in only four days.
Before we condemn their turncoat ways, perhaps we should examine our own lives. How many of us praise Jesus on Sunday, and then use foul language and rancorous speech against our neighbors the following week? How many of us proclaim Jesus as Lord on Sunday, but spend the rest of the week living for ourselves? If we were to be completely honest, we would have to admit that we would be one of "them." We would be those voices in the crowd proclaiming peace one minute, and condemnation the next. We would be the very ones who would turn on Jesus if we did not receive what we felt we were entitled to.
I say that to say this: We are forgiven. Though we fail miserably in our lives, we are forgiven not because of who we are, but because of who God is. In the midst of this betrayal not only by the townspeople, but ultimately of the Twelve, Jesus would look down on the people from the cross and say, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." What love that must be!
So this Sunday, I pray that you consider your place in the crowd. You and I will proudly proclaim Jesus' kingship, but then as we do every day of our lives, we will turn our backs on Him and say along with Peter, "I never knew Him." Make no mistake about it...this behavior is not right, but thank God, we are forgiven by God's love and grace.
I hope you recognize that God's love is amazing. I pray that you are humbled by what Jesus did for you, and I pray that you might live differently because of it.
Amen.
Sports Corner
Kentucky vs. Louisville
Kansas vs. Syracuse
Good games this week...Kentucky will win, and I am picking Kansas as the upset.
The championship will be on Monday April 9th...Kentucky should win, but this is the NCAA tournament...anything can happen. I say Kansas in the upset of the Year!
It is that week again...the week that changed everything in the life of Jesus. This Sunday, we enter Holy Week by exclaiming "Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" We celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on this Palm Sunday. Jesus was recognized that day as a king by all the common people in the city. He was their hope for overthrowing the Roman oppression. But just a few days later, those same people who praised Him said, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"An unbelievable turn of events in only four days.
Before we condemn their turncoat ways, perhaps we should examine our own lives. How many of us praise Jesus on Sunday, and then use foul language and rancorous speech against our neighbors the following week? How many of us proclaim Jesus as Lord on Sunday, but spend the rest of the week living for ourselves? If we were to be completely honest, we would have to admit that we would be one of "them." We would be those voices in the crowd proclaiming peace one minute, and condemnation the next. We would be the very ones who would turn on Jesus if we did not receive what we felt we were entitled to.
I say that to say this: We are forgiven. Though we fail miserably in our lives, we are forgiven not because of who we are, but because of who God is. In the midst of this betrayal not only by the townspeople, but ultimately of the Twelve, Jesus would look down on the people from the cross and say, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." What love that must be!
So this Sunday, I pray that you consider your place in the crowd. You and I will proudly proclaim Jesus' kingship, but then as we do every day of our lives, we will turn our backs on Him and say along with Peter, "I never knew Him." Make no mistake about it...this behavior is not right, but thank God, we are forgiven by God's love and grace.
I hope you recognize that God's love is amazing. I pray that you are humbled by what Jesus did for you, and I pray that you might live differently because of it.
Amen.
Sports Corner
Kentucky vs. Louisville
Kansas vs. Syracuse
Good games this week...Kentucky will win, and I am picking Kansas as the upset.
The championship will be on Monday April 9th...Kentucky should win, but this is the NCAA tournament...anything can happen. I say Kansas in the upset of the Year!
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