Video.... Easter Invite 2012
Slide #1
Welcome
Prayer
June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.”
More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end on June 6, the Allies had gained a foot- hold in Normandy.
The D-Day cost was high -more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded –
But as a result of that day... more than 100,000 Soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler.
Nothing in this life comes without cost...
I share with the Wednesday night Bible study group... that there will be more emphasis put on next week’s Easter service than any other holiday.
And I hate calling Easter Sunday a holiday but in the world’s eye...that’s really all it is.
The world does not know about all the hard work that Jesus put into His ministry before His final triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Slide #2
From the age of 30 to 33 Jesus had been very busy...doing what He did best...
-Investing in The disciples lives... -healing the sick... -helping the lame to walk again... -Praying and preparing with His Father -as well as investing in your future.
Every year...I do my best to explain to the church...what Easter is all about.
Easter is not just another Holiday filled with Easter egg hunts and perfectly cooked spiral Hams...
Something life changing happened years ago on that day...
And because of that...the truth about Jesus life must continue to be shared.
Video...It’s Friday...But Sunday’s a coming (YouTube)
Slide #3 Read Mark 10: 32-34
“32 They(Jesus & Disciples) were on the way, going up to Jerusalem.
Jesus was going ahead of them, and they were amazed, but those who followed were afraid.
He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was going to happen to him. (He was the greatest teacher)
33 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and experts in the law.
They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles.
34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog him severely, and kill him.
(The He leaves them with these Challenging words)
Yet after three days, he will rise again.”
This story of how the world see’s Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem...does not even come close to giving Him the credit that is due to Him....
Many times what is left out of Jesus life story is how He was always ministering to people....and teaching people truths about life...
And I believe most importantly what people fail to understand is He did these things...clear up to the time of His death.
I believe every Christian’s goal in life should be...what could be done to be more Christ like... (We wear...Bracelets WWJD) (Or cross necklaces)...
And in the big picture...many Christians do a pretty good job of attempting to duplicate Jesus’ mannerism’s into their life.
But here’s the problem...there will always be a group of People who try and make Jesus fit into their busy schedules...instead of scheduling their lives around Him.
These people need to be reminded about the reason that God sent Jesus to earth.
He lived so we might learn about...
-the importance of servant hood
-the importance of sacrifice
-the importance of forgiveness
-the importance of obedience
-the importance of God’s Love
-And the importance of what the cross stands for........
And I am so thankful today... that God loves each of us enough that He was willing to send us Jesus.
Because of Jesus we know the importance of the Easter Story....
If you have your Bible or your mobile apps...follow along as I read from the book of Matthew 21...as we find out more about this Easter Story.....
Slide #4 Jesus Triumphal Entry
Matthew 21:1-11
21 Now when they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,
2 telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.
3 If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:
5 “Tell the people of Zion,
‘Look, your king is coming to you,
unassuming and seated on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them, and He sat on them.
8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 The crowds that went ahead of Him and those following kept shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
10 As He entered Jerusalem the whole city was thrown into an uproar, saying, “Who is this?”
11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Slide #5
Finally...Jesus is being treated like the King He is...
His entire life was dedicated to teaching and serving others.
What I love about this story is how the people initially responded when Jesus first entered the city.
21:8...A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
The people were taking off their cloaks and laying palm branches down for Him to pass over.
“Spreading your garment on the street for someone to walk on was an ancient act of homage (respect) reserved only for highest of royalty.”
I believe at that very moment all who were present Jews and Gentiles alike...were suggesting that they recognized Jesus as the Messiah.
I try and picture in my mind this celebration as Jesus entered into the city.
I bet Jerusalem was like the Macy’s thanksgiving parade.
People were lining the streets just to get a glimpse of who was passing by.
Throughout the years people have celebrated important events...
-Time Square New Year’s Eve...confetti
-American Idol...Lights...streamers
-Super Bowl Champions return Home
Not forgetting all our nations’ war victory celebrations.
We love to throw victory parties....
But I am also ashamed of how we paid God back for His love that He has for us.
Mark 10:33-34...
They will condemn Him to death and will turn Him over to the Gentiles.
34 They will mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him severely, and kill Him.
Our ancestors (the gentiles) are the very people who...praised Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem on a Donkey
They took off their cloaks...laid them down in front of Him...so that He could enter Jerusalem as a King should...
But it breaks my heart to say these were also the people who were found guilty of shouting out to mock Him...to spit on Him...to flog him...and then finally to crucify Him.
Jesus knew His journey to the cross was inevitable...But He also knew His life had a purpose.
That Sunday morning that Jesus made the two mile journey from Bethany to Jerusalem.
He knew that life changing events for Him were beginning to unwind during the next week.
The last week of Jesus life...He slept in the town of Bethany... and daily would travel into Jerusalem.
Slide #6
Life Changing Events...
Sunday...(Palm Sunday as we know it today...) Jesus made the two mile journey from Bethany to Jerusalem...
It was on this day that He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as A King...
Monday...He entered the temple...drove out those who sold and bought within the temple...He turn over the money changers tables.
Letting them know that “The Fathers house shall be called a house of prayer” not a den of thieves....
Tuesday (The Third day of the week)... Was the day that Judas (one of the 12) went to the chief priests and asked what they were willing to give him if he would turn Jesus’ identity over to them?
All for...(30 pieces of silver) (Blood money)
On Wednesday... From Mount of Olives, Jesus mourns because of Jerusalem's rejection and pending destruction...
Thursday...Jesus takes Peter and the (two sons of Zebedee) to the Garden of Gethsemane and asks them to watch Him and learn (Prayer x2)...
The biggest night of His life and they were found sleeping...
Friday...Judas the betrayer and a great crowd of soldiers approach Jesus and the 3 disciples...as Jesus was identified and arrested.
(1:00 a.m.)
(3:00 p.m.) His death was final
Slide #7
Please Stand...
I would like to close today by asking each of you a question.
If you would have been in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday...how would you have reacted to Jesus as He entered the city?
Would you have recognized Him as your personal Savior...or would you like the crowd soon forget who He really was?
Easters all about life change...It’s about personal commitment.
Jesus wants you to understand the Holiday is more than colored eggs and family gatherings.
