Let's say a friend of yours, no a hero of yours was leaving town. That hero was a great influence and mentor to your life. He calls you and few of his closest friends and asks you to come over for a bit the day that he is leaving. He says that he has something important to share with you before he leaves.
At the risk of being cheesy, this is what happened with Jesus. The gospels and the book of Acts record this conversation. The circumstances are as follows: Jesus has resurrected and shown himself to his followers and taught them. Then he gathered them to give them some last minute instructions.
He told them that they were his agents of the Kingdom. We can take that directive from Jesus as well. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are his agent of the Kingdom.
Let me explain what it means to be an agent of the Kingdom. When sin entered the world, all types of strife came with it. Pain, sickness, death, famine, disease, broken relationships, hate, natural disasters and all that brings pain to you and I in this world. Jesus did not come only to save us from our sins, but begin the process of reestablishing his Kingdom. All that strife will be gone one day. We are to be his agents of that Kingdom on this earth now.
The words of Jesus before he left at translated as, "go proclaim the gospel to the whole world." The word that is translated as proclaim is to make known with gravity and authority. The word that is translated as the gospel is the good news of what Jesus did for you. Included in that good news is this sense that he was here to bring the Kingdom.
I am not much on alliteration for the sake of alliteration, but on earth Jesus was about restoration, redemption and reconciliation. That is what he was talking about when he talked about establishing his kingdom.
Here is the kicker to it. Jesus came to do all of this, it was God's plan from the beginning to have Jesus come to this earth and live a perfect life to restore brokenness of this world, brokenness of relationship between man and man and the brokenness of the relationship between God and man. But that is not the end of the plan. Part of that plan is for you and I and other followers of Jesus to be agents of the Kingdom. To act on its behalf.
We all want to be a part of something that is bigger than ourselves. This is it! You are an agent of the Kingdom, that is way bigger than you and it is an adventure that you are called to.
Experience Easter:: Saturday
I am in the library and I am here to prepare for the sermon tomorrow. I cannot concentrate on the sermon. My mind is taken to the darkness that I had to be in the minds and spirits of those who followed Jesus the day after he died.
Many of you who might read this know about Megan Moss. She has a sick heart and she needs a transplant. Last night was a very difficult night for her and she had an emergency procedure to help her heart do it's job. The procedure went well.
There were many praying last night. Many different circles of people who do not know Megan or anyone in her family. I am not sure why the procedure succeeded, if the prayers that were lifted up changed anything or not.
But I do know this. Whatever happened last night and whatever happens today or in the coming days. If Megan gets a new heart and lives to be 100 years old with lots of kids and grand kids or if none of that happens, tragedy does not stay tragic. It turns to hope because of what we will celebrate tomorrow.
There is a song I know, its first lines are these...
All you ever do is change the old for new.
God is bigger than the air breathe, the world we'll leave.
And God will save the day, and I will say my Glorious.
The point that I am trying to make is that we know the end of the story. You may be in darkness, dealing with difficulty or tragedy. You may have hurt or pain. It might not all make sense. But let me say one word about this darkness. Before I do, stop and think about darkness that is or has been in your life. Maybe even write it down on a piece of paper or in your minds eye, write it on a piece of paper. There is one word that is written across that piece of paper. TEMPORARY.
That word is written by Jesus as a result of what we will celebrate tomorrow. Temporary is a beautiful word isn't it? Celebrate temporary today. Weeping may tarry for the the night but joy comes with the morning Psalm 30:5
Many of you who might read this know about Megan Moss. She has a sick heart and she needs a transplant. Last night was a very difficult night for her and she had an emergency procedure to help her heart do it's job. The procedure went well.
There were many praying last night. Many different circles of people who do not know Megan or anyone in her family. I am not sure why the procedure succeeded, if the prayers that were lifted up changed anything or not.
But I do know this. Whatever happened last night and whatever happens today or in the coming days. If Megan gets a new heart and lives to be 100 years old with lots of kids and grand kids or if none of that happens, tragedy does not stay tragic. It turns to hope because of what we will celebrate tomorrow.
There is a song I know, its first lines are these...
All you ever do is change the old for new.
God is bigger than the air breathe, the world we'll leave.
And God will save the day, and I will say my Glorious.
The point that I am trying to make is that we know the end of the story. You may be in darkness, dealing with difficulty or tragedy. You may have hurt or pain. It might not all make sense. But let me say one word about this darkness. Before I do, stop and think about darkness that is or has been in your life. Maybe even write it down on a piece of paper or in your minds eye, write it on a piece of paper. There is one word that is written across that piece of paper. TEMPORARY.
That word is written by Jesus as a result of what we will celebrate tomorrow. Temporary is a beautiful word isn't it? Celebrate temporary today. Weeping may tarry for the the night but joy comes with the morning Psalm 30:5
Experience Easter Part 5
Today is a day of immense sorrow and injustice, as the perfect Son of God is treated unfairly and brutally murdered. While you were sleeping last night, Jesus was betrayed by Judas, arrested and tried against the law.
Today's reading:
A. Christ stands before Annas (Jn. 18:13-14, 19-23)
B. Christ stands before Caiaphas (Mt. 26:57, 59-68)
C. Christ stands before the entire Sanhedrin (Mt. 27:1)
(two-fold tragedy during those trials)
(1) The denials by Peter (Mt. 26:33-35, 69-73, 75)
(2) The death of Judas (Mt. 27:3-10)
2. The Roman political trials
A. Christ stands before Pilate—for the first time—(Mt. 27:2, 11, 12-14)
B. Christ stands before Herod Antipas (Lk. 23:6-12)
C. Christ stands before Pilate—for the final time—(Mt. 27:15-26)
3. The military mockery trial
A. Christ stands before the soldiers (Mt. 27:27-31)
Today's reading:
- Christ’s final prediction of His death and resurrection (Matthew 26:31-35)
- Christ’s great high priestly prayer (John. 17:1-26):
- En route to Gethsemane (Luke 22:35-38)
- In Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-56)
- Christ’s Unfair Trials
A. Christ stands before Annas (Jn. 18:13-14, 19-23)
B. Christ stands before Caiaphas (Mt. 26:57, 59-68)
C. Christ stands before the entire Sanhedrin (Mt. 27:1)
(two-fold tragedy during those trials)
(1) The denials by Peter (Mt. 26:33-35, 69-73, 75)
(2) The death of Judas (Mt. 27:3-10)
2. The Roman political trials
A. Christ stands before Pilate—for the first time—(Mt. 27:2, 11, 12-14)
B. Christ stands before Herod Antipas (Lk. 23:6-12)
C. Christ stands before Pilate—for the final time—(Mt. 27:15-26)
3. The military mockery trial
A. Christ stands before the soldiers (Mt. 27:27-31)
- Crucifixion - approx. 9am-3pm (Mt. 27:32-56)
- Burial - evening (Mt. 27:57-61)
Experience Easter Part 4
Today's reading is about The Passover. For the followers of Jesus, The Passover was a huge deal. It was the day the people celebrated the freedom from the slavery they endured under the Egyptians. It is Christmas and Independence Day today rolled into one. It is a week long celebration of the freedom from oppression. It is significant, because at the time what you read today was written they were being oppressed, this time by the Romans.
The reading is Matthew 26:17-30.
As you go through this day today, understand that this day in the holy week is the last day that is somewhat normal for Jesus. It is the last time that Jesus will spend a full day with his disciples. It is the last time Jesus will lay his head down to sleep. It is the last day of his life, he will be dead tomorrow.
The reading is Matthew 26:17-30.
As you go through this day today, understand that this day in the holy week is the last day that is somewhat normal for Jesus. It is the last time that Jesus will spend a full day with his disciples. It is the last time Jesus will lay his head down to sleep. It is the last day of his life, he will be dead tomorrow.
Experience Easter Part 3
Our reading today is very short, but vital to the ultimate course of events. The only event is Judas agreeing to betray Jesus it comes from Matthew 26:14-15.
As you read this, think about how matter of fact Judas is. It was his idea to go to the leaders. We know from previous places in scripture that Judas had a lust for money. It was an idol of his. Here he sells out his friend for 30 pieces of silver. He sacrifices Jesus at the altar of his idol.
We know that later Judas throws the money away and commits suicide. Our idols and the things we sacrifice for that are not Jesus, leave us as they left Judas. They become worthless and leave us empty.
Think today about your idols and what idols you sacrifice for. Ask God, as I am today, to expose your idols and shine a light on their lack of value.
As you read this, think about how matter of fact Judas is. It was his idea to go to the leaders. We know from previous places in scripture that Judas had a lust for money. It was an idol of his. Here he sells out his friend for 30 pieces of silver. He sacrifices Jesus at the altar of his idol.
We know that later Judas throws the money away and commits suicide. Our idols and the things we sacrifice for that are not Jesus, leave us as they left Judas. They become worthless and leave us empty.
Think today about your idols and what idols you sacrifice for. Ask God, as I am today, to expose your idols and shine a light on their lack of value.
Experience Easter Part 2
There is a lot to read today. But stay with us and read it all. Today is the day that Jesus is very active and setting up the rest of the week. He is actively picking a fight with five separate confrontations with the over religious Pharisees. Then he is preaching a long sermon and then the ball is rolling to the crucifixion. It is an exhausting day for him filled with harsh confrontation and preaching.
5 Confrontations::
1. Over His authority (Mt. 21:23-27)
2. Over paying tribute to Caesar (Mt. 22:15-22)
3. Over the doctrine of the resurrection (Mt. 22:23-33)
4. Over the greatest commandment (Mt. 22:34-40)
5. Over the Messiah (Mt. 22:41-46)
Jesus then preaches what is referred to as the Olivette Discourse. This the last sermon that he preaches. Give it that special attention because it is his last. His audience is not just the 12 disciples but also those who have been following him and those who have come as curious on lookers. The Olivette Discourse is Matthew 24-25.
The last thing to read today is Jesus predicting his death and the Pharisees resolving to plot to kill him. (Matthew 26:1-5)
Thanks for reading. We are praying that we all Experience Easter deeply this year. May God bless you with an encounter with Himself today.
5 Confrontations::
1. Over His authority (Mt. 21:23-27)
2. Over paying tribute to Caesar (Mt. 22:15-22)
3. Over the doctrine of the resurrection (Mt. 22:23-33)
4. Over the greatest commandment (Mt. 22:34-40)
5. Over the Messiah (Mt. 22:41-46)
Jesus then preaches what is referred to as the Olivette Discourse. This the last sermon that he preaches. Give it that special attention because it is his last. His audience is not just the 12 disciples but also those who have been following him and those who have come as curious on lookers. The Olivette Discourse is Matthew 24-25.
The last thing to read today is Jesus predicting his death and the Pharisees resolving to plot to kill him. (Matthew 26:1-5)
Thanks for reading. We are praying that we all Experience Easter deeply this year. May God bless you with an encounter with Himself today.
Experience Easter:: Monday
Each day this week we will offer a reading from scripture that chronicles the events of Jesus during that day of the Holy Week. The beginning of the week there is not much that is intense that is going on, but Jesus is setting up the end of the week. He is preparing his disciples, picking fights with religious people and teaching with symbolism.
Make sure to check this blog every day as we Experience Easter together and join us this Sunday at 11:00 AM at NCCS for our Easter service.
It might do you some good to listen to the podcast from the sermon yesterday if you missed it. You can also stream it here. This sermon sets up the events of Palm Sunday which was yesterday.
The reading for today is John 12:20-50. There is a lot of set up here. Those around Jesus are confused as to exactly who he is, but he is making claims the he is God here. We can relate to that. Many times we are confused as to what God is doing, but he is always at work doing things to bring us into a deeper relationship with him.
Make sure to check this blog every day as we Experience Easter together and join us this Sunday at 11:00 AM at NCCS for our Easter service.
It might do you some good to listen to the podcast from the sermon yesterday if you missed it. You can also stream it here. This sermon sets up the events of Palm Sunday which was yesterday.
The reading for today is John 12:20-50. There is a lot of set up here. Those around Jesus are confused as to exactly who he is, but he is making claims the he is God here. We can relate to that. Many times we are confused as to what God is doing, but he is always at work doing things to bring us into a deeper relationship with him.
