Palm Sunday 2023 - Which Group?

PRAYER

GREET EVERYONE-

If I have not had a chance to meet you; My name is Scott and I am a follower of Jesus and have the privilege of serving Him as the Lead Pastor among the people of Stonewater Fellowship.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

KAIROS

This is the last Sunday to get registered to go to the closing of the Kairos Weekend.

7 of us men are headed to Dilly Texas - To take Jesus with us into the Brisco Correctional unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

KIDS ON MISSION - Open House

INTERNATIONAL TEAM -

Romania -

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE -

CREED OF FAITH - UNITY AROUND WHAT WE BELIEVE

We believe in one God, the Almighty Father, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We Believe in one Lord, His Son, Jesus Christ eternally begotten of the Father.

Light of Light, - true God of true God - begotten not made, one in being with the

Father - by whom all things were made.

We Believe that Jesus, who, for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven,

and took on flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit, was born of a Virgin named Mary and became man.

We believe that Jesus was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and died

according to the scriptures and was buried.

We believe in the atonement of His sacrificial death that satisfied the wrath of God against sinful people and brought complete forgiveness for all people who believe.

We believe that on the third day He rose again from the dead, according to and in

fulfillment of the Scriptures;

We believe that the risen Jesus, ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father;

We believe that He shall come again one day in glory to judge the living and the dead; and His Kingdom shall have no end.

We Believe in God the Holy Spirit. the Lord, the Giver of Life: Who proceeds from the Father; who with the Father and the Son together, is to be worshipped and glorified; and who has spoke through the prophets.

We believe In one Holy, universal, and Apostolic Church.

We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and the indwelling of the

Spirit.

We believe and look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

LETS GRAB OUR BIBLES IF YOU HAVE ONE AND

Open it to the Gospel of John Chapter 12 - We will look at Vs 20-44 Today as we exposing the words of Jesus during around his Entering into Jerusalem for the very last time.

SUNDAY IS KNOW AS PALM SUNDAY

It is traditionally called Holy Palm Sunday - The Reason it is called Holy - Is because It is a Sunday that is held out special.

It is a Sunday Celebration that is Separated out from all the other 50 Sundays in the year.

That is what HOLY means - It means Separate -

This is a words that is commonly used to describe God that He is HOLY - In relationship To God the word has a very broad meaning but at the Root of it all it means that God is Separate - Separate from all of His creation - Separate from us - Separate from nature - Separate in Perfection - Separate in Every way -

So when it comes to Holy Palm Sunday - it means that on this day the church separates this Sunday from 50 of the other Sundays -

WHY? Why do we set this Sunday aside and Separate - Well it is becasue This is the Sunday that a little over 2000 years ago Jesus, entered Jerusalem for the Last time and in a little less than 5 days he would go fro Huge crowds cheering him as he entered the City -

like a rock star in a lemo

to under arrest and completely abandoned by everyone-

and ultimately would die with the words “my God my God why have you forsaken me” and It is Finished”

The 8 days that occur are called Holy Week - Because it is the One week of the year the church for the last 2000 years has stopped making disciples and advancing the kingdom and remembering all that Jesus went through to reconcile the world back to God.

DESIRE FOR THE MESSAGE

Is that we would hear all hear clearly the Call of Jesus - and know which of two groups as individuals we might find our self in -

and that Gospel awakening would happen and that Gospel renewal would happen -

That God would give eyes to see and ears to hear and the minds to understand and reveal to us by the Holy Spirit - 2 things - How much does God love us -

And the wonderful and amazing things that he has in store for those who love Him and serve him according to his divine purposes - This that he designed in advance for us.

TRUTH

John 12:20–50 (ESV)

20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,

and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40 “He has blinded their eyes

and hardened their heart,

lest they see with their eyes,

and understand with their heart, and turn,

and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

TENSION

Groups- We as human beings have and do often separate ourselves into groups.

And we do so as A result of our own human brokenness -

And probably as not seen in many many years here in america History we are seeing separation into Groups like never before -

Groups by Ethnicity - Group by Ethics/morality - Groups by Economics - Groups by Gender - and not only Gender but now Gender identity -

Group by Education - Affiliation and affliction -

It has gone way beyond the have and have nots -

But here is the interesting thing - in God’s view of the world there seemly are only Two Groups -

BACKGROUND -

This part of the Historical narrative of the Life of Jesus happens at the end of Jesus time on earth - He has about 5 days until the cross and 8 days until resurrection and then about 40 more days until assertion into heaven when He sends the Spirit.

HE has entered Jerusalem - on the back of a borrowed donkey - Fulfilling scripture - to probably the largest crowd that had ever assembled to see and hear Jesus -

WHY? Because the communication method of the day “tela Benjamin” has spread the fame of Jesus for raising a man named Lazarus from the dead after he had been in the crave for 4 days -

You see back then - They dint have the Telephone - They didn't have the Telegraph - They only has the Tela Benjamin.

So if news was going to get around you used Tele - Benjamin -

It was a free service - Tela Benjamin - who would tela - Martha - who would tala Sarah - who would tela Abraham - and so on an so on -

You get it?

So this reputation of Jesus was imminence - Huge crowed followed Him and when the season of passover came and people had gathered to Jerusalem for the Passover

and Jesus walk in - Jesus who was to be the savior of Israel - who now raised people form the dead after 4 days -

You stayed in line early to get tickets to that one -

this was a big deal -

There were thousands of People and they were cheering “blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord and of David - Hosanna in the highest.

and so our narrative come as Jesus is riding in.

UNPACKING

Let’s unpack this…

VS 20 - Among the people who came to Jerusalem for the passover feast there were Greeks -

The reality of this season in The city during passover is there were a lot of Jewish people from all over who made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for passover becasue that is where the temple was.

Now Greeks had an interesting pass time - They were some of the most educated people on the planet at the time and what they would do is philosophy -

They would sit and talk of new things - According to them - And this was the way that they thought them selves as being more intelligent than most everyone else.

Greeks, at this time in history, we very very well thought out people.

AND - they were varied in what they believed - Some were prselitites Jewish and some were from tribes of Israel, in other words Hebrew - and some were Parthenon believers - meaning they were in the Greek god theology of multiple gods

and they were all intelligent, hyper intelligent people

and when they got to the city - They heard about this Jesus guy, this person that the crowds were cheering that He was coming in the name of YHWH and this caused a curiosity in their hearts -

This curiosity caused them to Seek Jesus out.

So when they found on of Jesus disciples - Specifically Phillip - They asked for an audience. They wanted to set an appointment with Jesus.

The answer Jesus gives is so very interesting -

Philip goes and tells His bother Andrew - Andrew these realty smart people who have traveled a really long way are asking for time with Jesus.

Andrew and Phillip go to Jesus and say - Hey Jesus - listen - right over there are some guys who have traveled all the way from Greece to come to the passover and you know about those Greeks - They want time with you.

What do you want us to tell them?

Here is what Jesus responds with - Jesus responds with an open door Gospel -

Here is what that is - An open door Gospel tells anyone seeking Jesus -

Here is how you get to see jesus -

You want an appointment - This is how knowing and meeting and having time and relationship with Jesus happens and ANYONE can have time.

Jesus Begins with - “it time for me die” and he explained why that by his death he bear much fruit -

In other words - the father has a plan and it will be a powerful one -

Here we are 2000 years later and the fruit of Jesus is still very active to this very day

In vs 25 Jesus then lays out how to get an appointment with Him - How to spend time with Him - How to get to know Him - How to have relationship with Him.

Loose this life and gain eternal life -

Serve Jesus this includes Following Him - becoming like him and conformed to His image -

and when those things are in place then a couple of things - We will be together and the father will honor -

These are people who seek Jesus -

Which is good -

and the Call of Jesus is COME FOLLOW ME - Die to self and follow me -

vs 27-34 Jesus then gives the framework by which God does the work of Saving people -

Jesus begin with the reason He came - To Glorify the Father -

Another word for Glorify - Reveal the father -

When Jesus says this a voice from heaven speaks and there are two responses - ONE response “thunder”

the Other - “Angel Spoke”

But here is the interesting thing - Everyone heard it.

But two different responses.

But here is what Jesus says -

This message was for everyone to hear no for me -

and Here is Why - victory is here - the Ruler of this world is about to be defeated and here is how victory happens - When I am lifted up

Jesus was talking about his crusifiction.

But here is how some people respond -

“This doesn't make sense” we know this and we know that”

How can you say those things -

Jesus says in vs 36 “Trust” - I am the light - In hear for a bit more - Walk in me so darkness does not over take you - When you walk in darkness you do not know where you are going -

Trust the Light and you will be my family - My brothers - Adopted by my father - Sons of Light.

What God then tells us through John - is the reason that some do not believe.

and in vs 42 John reveals a group of people in the world that many today are -

People who believed in Jesus - But did not confess it - Confess it means to openly agree - They did not openly make a statement - for fear -

Fear they would be put out of the Synagog -

John tells us why - Because they loved the life they had -

they loved the glory of man more than the gloty of god -

VS 44 jesu then cries to this crowd - becasue of those oin the crowd that sought him out and did not believe or did note love him and desire to serve him

Who ever believes in me believes in GOD -

Here is what Jesus has just said -

Who ever trust in me - Trusts in God.

STICKY POINT MALLORY

Ont this Holy Palm Sunday here is what we see in this historical narrative as Jesus has entered into Jerusalem for the last time.

WE see Jesus through this narrative speak of two groups of people - The group that is in the light - that loves him, serves him, knows him and there for knows the father and everyone else.

Everyone else includes - those who seek jesus and see what jesus does and still don’t believe - It also includes those who believe in what he did but don't confess it.

Why do they not admit openly and declarative - Well becasue they love the glory that comes from men rather than the glory that comes form God.

Here is what that means - The value what men think about them rather than what God thinks about them

Jesus says - That is not comparable with being his disciple and following him.

He says it here - in vs 25 Who ever loves his life losses -

Jesus will also say - Who ever confesses me before men I will confess before the father - Who ever denyes me before men I will deny before the father.

You see the world is really only divided into two groups.

Those that have lost their life, those that have been crucified with Christ - in this world and have eternal life with Jesus

Here is the question that we are all left with...

WHICH Group are you in

- Have you heard the call of Jesus to repent and turn to him - To trust him in all things and follow him in service to the Father - loosing this life and finding life with HIm, Life abundant and life eternal?

if this is you let the Gospel, the passionate love of God in Christ Jesus be renewed in your life.

OR - Are you in the other group - You deny him out right - You know too much and you just want time with Him - Your seeking and curious - Or you agree with the facts of Jesus - You believe that He did what He did and Who He said He was - BUT you love this life too much to let go - You do not openly confess Him before men - You love more what people think and say about you more than what God thinks and says about you -

If this is you - Let the Gospel over take you today!

Let the Gospel Awaken in your mind, in your heart, in your spirit and in your strength - Let the Gospel, the Love of Jesus in God the Father call you to turn your life to him in all ways and come to Jesus - For the very words of Jesus are whosoever trusts me has life, abundant life and life eternal with Him

THE TABLE OF JESUS

Acknowledgement of our need for Jesus to prepare for the table of Jesus–

The Scriptures tell us that when we come to the table of Jesus it is a time of remembrance – A time of thinking about what Jesus has done and accomplished on the cross – A time of remembering why Jesus did what He did. And So as the people who have been called out of darkness, we take time to contemplate and to repent –

Repentance is a turning to Jesus again and again and again – In the life of a follower of Jesus it is never a once and done thing. The Bible tells us that if we agree with God “we confess” in the ways we have rebelled against God “our sin” He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and clean us from all unrighteousness.

So, to prepare our hearts to come to the table of Jesus, as a community, we spend time in prayerful contemplation, agreeing with God trough confession, the areas of our life where we have rebelled against Him, where Jesus still needs to do some work and touch us and heal us.

When we do this we encourage you to take a posture of Humility, as we spend the next minute or so in silent contemplation.

A posture of humility to you might be to stay in your seat with your eyes closed and your head bowed, you might stand with your eyes lifted to heaven and your arms and hands raised as Solomon did when he prayed, you might come and kneel here at the front or there Where you are seated – whatever that is to you, let us take a posture of humility, agreeing with God through prayerful confession the way where we have rebelled against Him as we prepare our hearts to participate in the table of Jesus.

Pause for 60 seconds in prayerful contemplation

Assurance of our forgiveness through the table.

As we come to the table of Jesus together, we are reminded of the assurance of our forgiveness. Because we openly and actively declare the Gospel as we participate in communion together. The poured out blood of Jesus and the death of His body as he joyfully took upon Him self the wrath of God that was due us.

Unity of the Table

When we come to the table of Jesus, we are spiritually united together. Paul says in this letter to the Corinthians “that Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.”

So as we come to the table of Jesus we are spiritually united together as brothers and sisters in Christ. We are also united with Jesus in his death and resurrection at His table.

Participation at the Table

BREAD: On the night He was betrayed, He gathered His disciples for a Passover meal. While they were eating Jesus took some bread; after He blessed it and gave thanks to the Father: He broke it, gave it to His disciples and said: “Take this all of you and eat of it, for This is My body, which is for you; when you do this, do this in remembrance of Me.”

Eat the Bread with Everyone

CUP: After the meal, in the same way He took the cup, again gave thanks to the Father. He took the Cup and gave it to His disciples saying, “Take this all of you and drink of this cup. This cup is the cup of my blood. The blood of the New and Everlasting covenant. My blood which will be poured out for the forgiveness of sins for many; when you do this, as often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of Me.”

Drink the Cup with Everyone