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Apr 04
18

Tuesday, Jerusalem, The Temple and Environs

By | Look Again - Easter 2023 | No Comments
Tuesday, Jerusalem, The Temple and Environs
It is Passion Week. Tuesday finds Jesus continuing to teach and heal.
By Whose Authority?
When He had returned to the Temple and was teaching, the chief priests and other Jewish leaders came up to Him and demanded to know by whose authority He had thrown out the merchants the day before.
“I’ll tell you if you answer one question first,” Jesus replied. “Was John the Baptist sent from God or not?”
They talked it over among themselves. “If we say, ‘From God,’” they said, “then He will ask why we didn’t believe what John said. And if we deny that God sent Him, we’ll be mobbed, for the crowd all think He was a prophet.” So they finally replied, “We don’t know!” And Jesus said, “Then I won’t answer your question either.” Matthew 21:23-27  TLB
Of End Times, Deception, and Fig Trees
Later that day, Scripture records a conversation between Jesus and the Disciples (Matthew 24).    A lengthy discussion ensues regarding end times, persecution, the great tribulation, and fig trees.  Jesus speaks directly as the Messiah.  He warns of false prophets and phony messiahs. Jesus’s final word on His return:  “No one but the Father knows the day and the hour. Let every generation live as though I were returning tomorrow.”
Easter2023, 7/40
Apr 03
15

Things Are Heating Up

By | Look Again - Easter 2023 | No Comments
Things Are Heating Up
In this final week before Passover, Jesus went to the temple every day to teach and heal.  He knew that the time available for his earthly mission was running short.  And His human patience was also running short.  We witness an example of righteous anger.
On Monday “Jesus went straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop buying and selling.  He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants.  He quoted this text: ‘My house was designated a house of prayer; you have made it a hangout for thieves.’  Now there was room for the blind and crippled to get in.  They came to Jesus and He healed them.”  Matthew 21:12-14 MSG
At the same time, the chief priests and scribes were becoming increasingly agitated about this Rabbi and his teachings.  Even though it was Passover week, it was becoming more and more urgent that they find a way to kill Jesus.  They could see that He was a threat to their personal and political power.
Easter2023, 6/40
Apr 02
13

Palm Sunday: The Beginning of the End

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Palm Sunday: The Beginning Of The End
This, then, is Palm Sunday, the beginning of the final week of Jesus’s ministry on earth, and the day of His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. It was Passover week. Multitudes were arriving in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. The significance of the timing will become apparent as the Passion of Christ unfolds.
Herewith the description of that long ago Sunday from the Gospel of John:
The Passover, a Jewish holy day, was near, and many country people arrived in Jerusalem several days early so that they could go through the cleansing ceremony before the Passover began. They wanted to see Jesus, and as they gossiped in the Temple, they asked each other, “What do you think? Will he come for the Passover?” Meanwhile the chief priests and Pharisees had publicly announced that anyone seeing Jesus must report him immediately so that they could arrest him. John 11:55-57 TLB
Six days before the Passover ceremonies began, Jesus arrived in Bethany where Lazarus was—the man he had brought back to life. A banquet was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus sat at the table with him. Then Mary took a jar of costly perfume made from essence of nard, and anointed Jesus’ feet with it and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance. John 2:1-3 TLB
The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city, and a huge crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him, shouting, “The Savior! God bless the King of Israel! Hail to God’s Ambassador!”  Jesus rode along on a young donkey, fulfilling the prophecy (Note 1) that said: “Don’t be afraid of your King, people of Israel, for he will come to you meekly, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”  (His disciples didn’t realize at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy; but after Jesus returned to his glory in heaven, then they noticed how many prophecies of Scripture had come true before their eyes). John 2:12-16 TLB
Note 1: Zechariah 9:9
Easter2023, 5/40
Apr 02
3

Palm Sunday: The King Comes to Jerusalem

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Palm Sunday: The King Comes to Jerusalem
As Jesus approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, He sent two of the disciples and said, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’”  So those who were sent left and found it just as He had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” “The Lord needs it,” they said.  Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their clothes on the colt, they helped Jesus get on it. As he was going along, they were spreading their clothes on the road. (Note 1)
Now He came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the entire crowd began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!”  (Note 2)  Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”
As He approached and saw the city, He wept for it, saying, “If you knew this day what would bring peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days will come on you when your enemies will build a barricade around you, surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you and your children among you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone on another in your midst, because you did not recognize the time when God visited you.”  Luke 19:29-44  CSB
Note 1: This fulfilled the words of the prophet Zechariah of some 500 years earlier: “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey – riding on a donkey’s colt.”  Zechariah 9:9 NLT
Note 2:  The Gospel of John expands on the majesty of this procession. They “took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!  The King of Israel!”  John 12:13 NKJV
Easter2023, 4/40
Apr 01
15

Anointed

By | Look Again - Easter 2023 | 2 Comments
Anointed 
Saturday.  Jerusalem.  Circa 33 AD.
Passover was near and the Jewish people were on their annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  Jesus, too, neared the city.  But His Jerusalem was to be unlike any other.
Along the way Jesus and His apostles stop in Bethany to visit long time friends, including, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.   Events unfold that foreshadow Jesus’s coming Passover experience.
While sharing dinner with friends, Jesus is anointed with expensive perfume.  Some in the assembly think it an outrageous waste – 300 dinarii!  Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial.  You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” John 12:7-8 NLT
Jesus knew that His final journey to Jerusalem would begin the following day.  Cue the donkey:
Rejoice, O people of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious,
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey –
riding on a donkey’s colt. Zechariah 9:9 NLT
Easter2023, 3/42
Mar 18
18

3-18 The Greatest Love-Story of All Time: Prologue

By | Look Again - Easter 2023 | 4 Comments

The Greatest Love-Story Of All Time: Prologue

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT

Much is made in sports of the GOAT, the greatest of all time. This quarterback, this forward, that cyclist.  What about the GLOAT?  The greatest love-story of all time.  Anthony and Cleopatra?  Romeo and Juliette?

Not. Even. Close. The greatest love-story of all time is God sending His only Son, Jesus the Christ, to die for us on the cross.  That is the unmatched GLOAT.

Join is in our Easter 2023 series (GLOAT) as we follow Christ’s journey to the cross and back.  A journey of love. We begin tomorrow as Christ resolutely turns His face toward Jerusalem and His Passover. And then we continue on April 1 as Christ arrives in Jerusalem.

Easter2023, 1/42
Dec 24
55

Day 28 – December 24

By | Prepare 2022 | 3 Comments

Day 28 – December 24

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. [John 1:14 ESV]

I must admit, after 22 years in ministry, I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea of God sending His son Jesus to earth becoming a man.  Wow! The Eternal – Immortal One – taking on the temporal flesh of a mortal, for the sole purpose of demonstrating His love for us by suffering a painful death on a cross for our sins! Oh such love the Father has for us!   Such a love is too lofty for me to understand or even begin to comprehend. [Psalm 139:6]  Yet it was so!  He did come!  He came – full of Grace, Love, Mercy and Truth, and he came with me on His mind!  Thank you Lord for this extraordinary act of love!  

Tomorrow is Christmas Day, and while we know Jesus was not born on December 25th we still pause to honor Jesus and remember his birth just the same.   Tomorrow – everything in this pagan and lost world will stop its frenetic pace for a great majestic pause (from corporations to retail) while Christians all around this earth, that You created, sing of your Glorious Son’s birth and proclaim “Emmanuel – God With Us!” 

To You O Lord be glorified and exalted forever and ever. Amen!

Written by:  Pastor Steve Wells

Dec 23
50

Peace

By | Prepare 2022, Women's Ministry | One Comment

Day 27 – December 23

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  [Philippians 4:7 ESV]

Last minute shopping. Extended time with extended family. Office parties. School programs. Lights and sounds and busy schedules. Often at this point in the Christmas season, it feels everything but peaceful. 

Overwhelmed. Worried. Anxious. Stressed. Disappointed.  Whatever we name it, all of us know what it feels like. Whether we put it on ourselves, or we are going through a difficult season beyond our control, peace can be hard to find.  But, peace is what we long for, isn’t it? 

Peace. Rest. Tranquility. All is calm, all is bright.  We want that to describe us! 

As we prepare for Christmas in just TWO DAYS,  if it seems that peace is out of reach, give yourself permission to stop, rest, and pray. I know, that’s the easy “Sunday school answer,” right? But, don’t we try everything else and keep finding ourselves back at the same place? Don’t wait for “things to calm down” and don’t settle for how it’s always been. Don’t keep running on empty or pushing through the chaos or ignoring God’s pursuit of your heart and your mind in this season. Approach His throne with the boldness we have because of Jesus. Tell Him what you need. God doesn’t promise to change our circumstances, but He absolutely can and will extend His peace to us…right in the middle of our mess. When I can’t understand all that is swirling around me, I am thankful for this truth: I am not in control, but I am deeply loved by the One who is.

He will be your peace –  the peace that guards your heart and your mind.
That’s the peace you crave.
That’s the peace He promises.
We want to understand.
He peace is better.

God, I need Your peace. I am sorry for the way I try to fix things on my own and the times I want to understand when Your peace is what I really need. I have believed that peace in the midst of my chaos is not possible, but it is possible because You say so and You are the giver of peace! Help me remember this truth in the moments when it matters most. Help me turn to You first. Fill me, Holy Spirit with the peace that surpasses all understanding. Amen. 

Written By: Kylie McCracken 

Dec 22
44

Day 26 – December 22

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Day 26 – December 22

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. [Numbers 6:24-26 ESV]

Peace.  This word seems foreign in today’s world of constant turmoil and strife.  Indeed, Scripture teaches that there is no peace for the wicked, likening them to a troubled sea tossing to and fro.  We live in a world that seeks to strip us of our identity in Christ, pull us from God’s presence, and keep us at war within ourselves.  Instead, let us reflect on this ancient prayer specifically taught to Moses by God.

The LORD bless you and keep you – is personal and specific.  Like a shepherd knows and protects his sheep.

the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you – is like the sun shining on the face of the earth.  We sit basking in His presence and grace.

the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace – is like a proud father smiling at his child.  His reassuring love fills us with peace.

It may feel like we are surrounded by chaos but through His blessing, God is providing us with His protection, presence and peace.

Father, Your promise of grace and peace echo throughout Scripture but this ancient priestly prayer reminds us that this has been Your design from the beginning.  We are yours God.  We belong to You and in a world that seems to be plunging into darkness, YOU will be our light.  May we be filled with a peace that passes all understanding as we sit in Your presence today.  Amen.

Written by: Pastor Jason Mecum