Amazing Savior Series

Easter Series: “Amazed?”

Palm Sunday: Amazing Savior

Good Friday: Amazing Grace

Easter: Amazing Love

Opening Video Clip right after worship: Are You Amazed? - To introduce the sermon series “Amazed?”

Question: “Are you Amazed at Jesus?”

Sermon Palm Sunday: Amazing Savior:

Highlight - Scripture verses from video:

Luke 5:9-10: (NASB) 9For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”

Luke 2:47: (NIV) 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Matthew 12:23: (NASB) 23All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” (after he sets free a demon possessed person)

Mark 1:22: (NIV) 22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

Luke 4:36: (NIV) 36All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!”

Matthew 15:31: (NIV) 31The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

Matthew 21:20: (NIV) 20When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

Mark 9:15: (NASB) 15Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him (They had seen the miracles, the raising of people from the dead, the miraculous feeding of the crowds).

Matthew 22:22: (NIV) 22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (When Jesus said “Give to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s and to God what id God’s – when he was addressed about paying taxes).

Introduction:

After watching this video and reading these passages of Scripture we see the word amazed popping up all over the place – the people were amazed!

So I looked up this word in the dictionary and discovered its meaning – “Amazed” – is defined as - to fill with wonder - to ASTOUND - to show or cause astonishment.

The Scriptures and our movie clip repeatedly told us that people were amazed at Jesus! They were amazed by what He did, by what He said, by His teachings, by His miracles, by His actions, and by His conduct. Jesus astounded the people of his day and that is why we are all still talking about him today 1,000 of years later. This is why movies are made about Him, His life – and His death. This is why over time millions of books have been written about Him and also why billions of people have declared to follow Him.

This is also why millions call Him their Savior!

Savior there is another word I was interested in looking up in the dictionary - what does that name mean?

Savior – is defined as – “ONE WHO SAVES FROM ANY FORM OR DEGREE OF EVIL. IN ITS HIGHEST SENSE THE WORD INDICATES THE RELATION SUSTAINED BY OUR LORD TO HIS REDEEMED ONES, HE IS THEIR SAVIOR. THE GREAT MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL IS ABOUT SALVATION AND THE SAVIOR. IT IS THE “GOSPEL OF SALVATION.” FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST SECURES TO THE SINNER A PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE WORK OF REDEMPTION. SALVATION IS REDEMPTION MADE EFFECTUAL TO THE INDIVIDUAL BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” (From Parsons Bible Dictionary).

T.S. – Let’s take a moment this morning to discuss what it means to be a Savior: A life –saver!

I. Life – saver - saviors – (Stories – the real life saver Jesus)

a. A savior according to the dictionary is one who saves another from evil or death – history is filled with story upon story of one person saving another person in a life threatening moment in time.

i. I could have shared millions of stories with you this morning, stories of people being saved in battle by another soldier, stories of people being saved from drowning, stories of people going to distant lands to save people from starvation and disease, I could share stories from the Mercy Ship which does great work in Africa and abroad. I could share stories of one person coming along side another person in a dark moment of time and helping save another from disaster. There are many stories I could have pulled from history today to share with you – but I am going just pick two true stories:

ii. Story 1: The sad story of the Titanic and people drowning: