The Jesus Story (PT2)

John 1:29 NIV

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Introduction: Ushers Come Down

Now thankfully today is palm sunday and we all have palms, because yesterday most of us came out and had some chili….with lots of beans! So just take this into account as we see random people waving palms through the message!

Chili Cook off winner: Missy, Terry, Emanuel

No honestly, the winner is missions, yesterday we raised….$

New Newsletter just came out today! Scan this QR code!

Building Team has some questions for you, please scan this QR code or go to our website.

Sign up sheet for May 2nd Short Term missions trip to Belton, SC.

SERMON:

Palm sunday is interestingly enough a story that has so much in but also around it, yet we pay too much attention to the palm’s in our hands we miss the purpose of that moment.

See Historically speaking were celebrating a prophetic moment brought into reality on this day we celebrate as Palm Sunday.

But just like the title of this message. They Missed Jesus. “TITLE”

Someone tell your neighbor the title of Today’s Message which is….. “Don’t miss the message”

You see in Zech 9;9…

Zechariah 9:9 speaks to the hour of the messiah’s visitations. But notice what luke says. They missed there hour of visitation. Luke 19:44

Luke 19:41–44 NIV

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

It was Daniel (9) who received the prophetic timeline, to the day guys, of when the messiah would come. This is what were celebrating today. Palm Sunday.

What happens next, night comes and

Jesus goes down to bethany

monday morning comes and He goes back to the temple and overthrows the money changers. He proclaims that God’s people had

turned His Fathers house into a den of thieves while its suppose to be a house of prayer, a house of praise, a house that has purpose, this house is meant to bring people to the Father.

Then tuesday comes and brings teachings, these teachings we often passover.

So often traditionally when we open this passage on a sunday its Palm sunday, well may we throw out tradition today, because a message from The Lord is being given here! A message that we need to hear!

Tuesday’s Jesus teaches were about End time, Judgement, and finally Jesus gave His final public sermon.

I think we should listen carefully to what Jesus said here, because he did not present a last minute invitation to salvation!

You would think before the cross, one last plea to the religious, one last plea to the pharisee’s to come to the Truth!

But no you see Jesus brings a message that denounces condenmation!

Condemnation will bind you

What’s even deeper than that,

this day was 10 Nisan, this is on the jewish calendar, 10 Nisan, and inside of Exodus 12. on this day 10 nisan the israelites were suppose to choose there passover lamb!

That lamb was to be sacraficed symbolically as the lamb that would represent the lamb that was sacraficed that day the angel of death passed over there households, and all of this is pointing to the messiah, The sacaficially Lamb of whom will defeat death forever.

in those days God choose the lamb.

And on Monday and Tuesday the Israelites were choosing the lamb.

Just like of Old, they were to vet the lamb, ensure that it was without spot or blemish, and then present the lamb to the Lord.

What do you think the questions meant to trip up jesus did? They just proved that Jesus was without spot of blemish.

Those questions, about paying taxes, who do you pay taxes to then Lord?

The Question about Reurrection from the Sadducees

The question about marriage

the question about whats the greatest commandment..

These all took place on tuesday and turned out not that Jesus just had an answer, but He presented the purest heart, a Man without Spot or blemish.

And now, Jesus gives His final Sermon

Let me read to you how it ends.

Matthew 23:37–39 NIV

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

This is what they sang on Palm sunday, but this what’s so significant.

Jesus is saying, You missed who I was then, and you are missing who I am today.

It’s so important to notice, that as Jesus was coming in, as the Israelites were singing and laying down branches, coats, and blankets for jesus to walk over, the physical signs of submission to the King! Singing Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!

Hosanna, Lord save us, Lord Bless us with a King!

While this is happening, the savior is just crying.

Whats so significant here, is this cry comes from Jesus’s heart, It shows us the grieving heart of Jesus.

Jesus is not grieving over disease, over war, over politics as much as He; our King Jesus grieves over the hearts, the intent of the people.

let me give you this point…..

What makes God’s heart grieve, is people that make claims to Know God, but their lifes rejects God.

Anyone who calls out to God as Jehovah, as Lord, yet their life does not reflect Him.

Jesus says Woe to you!

Making a claim to Know God, yet leave the church on Sunday and our lives completely devalue God’s Character.

For that God gives 7 Denunciations, and these 7 Denunciations directly reflect the 8 Blessings from Jesus Sermon on the Mount.

And for the rest of this message, were going to connect these 8. Beacuse the message Jesus gave at first, connects to the 8 Blessings, the Final Sermon Jesus gives, connects to the 8 blessings.

SO its imperative that we see the connection between these!

And may we not be caught up on that day, living in correspondance with these woes, but rather the favor and blessings of our Lord and Savior, His name Is Jesus Christ, Jesus our Messiah!

The issue with the Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 23:13 NIV

13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

It’s bad enough they these teachers of the law, the Scribe and Pharisees are not going in, but now they are preventing others to go in.

These are people who know the law, they know the prophets messages, they know God’s word better than anyone! Yet they are not only denying it’s power and reach for themselves, but they are shutting the door to access for others.

Yet Jesus in John 10 10

John 10:9 NIV

9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Jesus is saying, you cant actually find the pasture you cant enter into the Kingdom, you can’t get to my father, unless you come through me, Jesus is the door.

The issue is so many make a claim on God whether in religion, denomination, or in a ministry yet completely keeps people away and Jesus says’ woe to you!

Maybe youre thinking how can someone shut the door to Jesus? for someone else.

You know how they shut the door.

They put burdens on people. Heavy burdens while making a name for themselves. Making themselves big and important while loading down the next person….It was about pride, complete pride on which is the opposite of blessing.

See the blessing comes from the Poor in Spirit theirs is the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 5:3 NIV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The comparisson

Those who are humble have access to the Door. Those who are totally dependant on God.

Compare it to those

Who are rich in their own spirit.

And that’s what religion makes you do, makes you feel like you’re rich in your own spirit, about your own accomplishments

Jesus know’s Blessed are those who are Spiritually bankrupt those who recognize they got nothing apart from Him,

Thats where humility begins.

Realizing you have nothing to give to God.

Let me ask you a question, Out of these two options, which one would you choose to do for the rest of your life?

1). Complete this list every day.

2). Be poor have nothing, and totally depend on God to even get out of bed in the morning.

The list can give me a way to feel accomplised. Maybe one day im lazy on it, the next I go above and beyond. The list will begin to get easier at some point, I know that’ ill have something to do.

All signs of pride in ones’ life.

WHile the living poor list, offers nothing, brings me down, doesnt make me feel good thats for sure.

Yet, its the place of humility.

( I got a feeling were not going to make it through all of these today)

Here’s my point.

If you’re always trying to achieve it, you’ll never learn to receive it.

Stop trying to earn, what has already been accomplished!

Remember the purpose Jesus comes in His First Sermon, he says

Luke 4:18 “18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

The issue with Satisfaction

Matthew 23:16–22 NIV

16 “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.

I know this is alot here, but essentialy Jesus is asking.

Which is greater The Gold or the Temple, and then he counteracts this with another argument, Which is greater The Gift or the Altar.?

Now this verse is different because prior to this Jesus says Woe to you teachers of the law(Scribes) & Pharisees, you Hypocrites, but here It says Woe to you, blind guides.

Now there are two things for us to see in this passage.

What you are being taught matters!

This term blind guides as expected would literally mean one that doesnt have the ability to see, but metaphorically its saying, the inability to comprehend the Truth.

This is found in Matthew 15:5, and a direct quote after that from Isaiah 29:13.

This passage shows us what the Jewish faith was like. People would swear by the temple, this term swear is to make an oath with the temple, and it says the people would not be bound to it. Yet if they were to swear by Gold, the people would remain bound by it!

This shows a heart posture of God’s people, that they would make oaths in the Name of God, in the Holy Temple and not blink twice about keeping it, while when it came to money, or things they wanted, they would keep and expect the word to be kept by another.

This passage echos the term maybe youve heard before, “The Blind leading the Blind”

Yet In Matthew 15, and here in vs 23, and even from Isaiah’s message, they were blind because of the teachings!

A teacher blindly taught, and that religion continued to grow.

Teachers here emphasizing that the Gold is greater than the Temple, and the Gift is greater than the Altar.

Thi follows this pattern of leaders essentially taking advantage of the poor. Which sounds like Eli & his sons had more impact than we may have thought.

Reminds me of a story I heard of a missionary over seas, who went to tell about Jesus but this village started worshiping Judas instead. The missionary asked why and they said, “Because Judas was able to outsmart God”

You and I can say what fools, Blind leading the Blind.

But I wonder as my son admires me and copies my behaviors, what is he really picking up on?

As their forefathers taught them, leaves u to ask, are you training your kids to be covetous?

2. Without Holiness nothing pleases God.

Which is greater, the gift or that altar that makes the gift sacred?

Matthew 23:19 NIV

19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

The temple is a sanctified Holy Place.

Its not about how nice the building is, its not about the squrefootage, its not about the stain glass windows. Its about The representation of Holiness in the room! Its about people of FAITH coming together to worship the God of Creation, The God of Life! His name is Jesus! We worship Yeshua because He is our God!

If it is the pallet church in haiti, or the cathedral in england, or the steel building in south carolina! Its about the temple, the resting place for God’s presence!

And when you meet in this sancturary, this is a temple for the Lord!

And nothing happens in this temple, without the presence of God!

And lets take this deeper!

Nothing is transformed in your life until it meets the Altar!

Nothing is transformed in your life until it meets the Altar!!!

Yeah, your prayers, without the Altar are heard, not answered!

Yeah your worship, without the Altar is heard, but not received, without the Altar!

This is why Jesus says In Matthew 5 6

Matthew 5:6 NIV

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

I want to remind you that it wasnt a coal from a fire that touched Isaiah’s lips.

No, Isaiah was in the presence of God. With a Coal from the Altar!

Because the

The Altar is where alteration happens, its where presence meets power! And surrender takes place!

The coal from the Altar touched Isaiah’s Lips, cleanesed him, transformed Him, Purified him, and Sent him! It was at the Fire that falls from heaven upon the altar!

And before you say, hold up, I am that emanuel. It says.

The Altar is a place of being santified and renewal.

Noah built an altar after the flood,

Abraham built an altar where God Appeared to him.

Even today in Rev 8, an angel stands at the heavenly altar with incense for the Lord!

And what is happening in heaven will be happening on earth!

Jesus says, Loose from heaven

Matthew 16:19 NIV

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Key’s unlock something!

Loose means to release!

Matthew 23:22 NIV

22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.

Prayers without the altar, are wishful thinking!

Prayers at the Altar are faith building, enemy defeating, heavenly released, which bring forth your faith, and increase His Kingdom!

When the Altars are being lit, heaven is rejoicing!

Dont get stuck in your seat with prayers and dreams, Come to the Altar and find freedom, and alignment with Kingdom plans!

Third thing.

The issue with outward Holiness

Matthew 23:25–28 NIV

25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. 27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

The pharasiees were more so worried about the vessel being cleaned on the apperance, than what went on inside the vessel.

This is two seperate Woes but I put them together because they are simitaniously the same..

Whats the difference?

1). well the first woe, has to do with being a spiritual counterfeit. Oh look at me,

2). The second one is having to do with a being a spiritual contaminate.

One picture, is oh well look at me, I’m spiritual.

The second picture is to bring someone into that false work you are doing.

He calls them a white washed tomb, whats a white washed tomb?

This term white washed tombs, comes from once a year the Temple would send people out to was tomb stones, in order that everyone coming to celebrate passover would not accidentally step on a tomb, therefore defiling themselves.

Jesus says they are like whitewased tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside oare full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.

Jesus says the religious are on the outside appearing to be righteous because of their ‘religious’ behavior, but inwardly their hearts were full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Jesus tells them they were very much dead, they were dead spiritually and morally.

Application.

A white washed tomb declares, come do this and do that, Jesus says stir clear of these types of people.

But those who are washed Pure White by the Blood of the Lamb, draw near to them.

Matthew 5:9 NIV

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

It is only God who can purify and wash clean the People! Only God!

You should steer clear of a promise that is disguised inside of religion…….which is covered by the Gospel.

When you hear teachings, about being wealthy, about being healthy…and there promises from your own utterances….what happens when you dont get wealthy, when you dont get healthy, when you dont have a happy life….you begin to turn to God and question him…

Blessed are those who introduce people to the Prince of Peace.

Blessed are those who say, I can’t do anything for you, but I’ll introduce you to the One who Can do everything, immeerably more than man can hope for or imagine!

The beatitudes, the woes, neither are a prescription.

Both are simply the facts.

A wicked person will deal with the woes.

Righteous person will see the blessings.

The difference?

Jesus.

Like that man on the cross with Jesus.

No altar call, he had his hands nailed to a cross just like Jesus, he couldnt raise them to ask for prayer from a pastor, nobody could go near him to get him to utter words affirming His believe.

Luke 23:42–43 NIV

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”