April 5, 2020 Morning Worship

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Lewis Creek Baptist Church Bar Palm Sunday celebration. Hope that you're finding ways to make worship special in your homes. And it's very unique time and ourselves and we're going to join together and make the best of this situation and celebrate the goodness of our God in the coming of our King. Jesus Christ is

Angela

Jesus

Will you come together this morning to sing to our lord Jesus our King? We cry out has account did that day Hosanna save us? Lord truly we need you in every hour of our lives in every day every moment every season. Lord we are in great need of you. So we cry out to you this morning. Come Lord, Jesus.

Kunta Kinte

Einstein by Red with you I ball of your little one.

Lauren

Brazilian run your grace is more. What grade is is is where you are?

Holiness is Christ in me.

Lauren

every

it's a toast to you.

Play in Temptation comes my way.

Miami

jesness

It was time for our children's moment. And this morning in recognition of Palm Sunday, as you can gather the kids around. I've got a homework assignment for you this morning, you know on that Sunday on that day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem the people they were so excited and they knew something special was going to happen, but it wasn't really the something special they thought was going to happen, but the people had just raised Lazarus from the miracle and copy attention to palm branches around and shouting out Hosanna, which means save us but they wait their palm branches and they celebrated at Jesus coming into Jerusalem. So here's what I want you to do. I want you to have your golf to find you on the internet. Picture of Palm leaves are palm branches that off your own way tape it to a straw or a popsicle stick or something. And then I want you to have them either take your picture or a short little video of you waving your palm branches and shouting Hosanna to the king and then post it in the comments section to this video tour worship video this morning and you know what the things we normally do Miranda Church sanctuaries, we have the kids and I'll bring them up and laying down on the Altar and so we want to give the kids a way to participate this morning in our Palm Sunday celebration. And and remember Jesus is the one who saves us he saves us from our sins from our own Doodles. And so we did this morning we celebrate that. Jesus came in through Knowing that you would give us that's how much Jesus loves you and wants Among Us the young ones in our homes the ones who are watching. As adults has weed navigate these interesting and strange times that were in Lord. I pray that we are setting for them an example of faith. And that the Lord they will all learn from our trust in you not to be able to trust you as they face trying times in their lives. or keep them Carter Hart in Jesus name amen

Well this morning for our offering devotion on I would remind you that we have set up online giving on our website at www.lewistree.com. And that says security giving that you can click on and set your amounts on there and that it's kind of like PayPal they are going to charge you a like a 1% fee or something like that. But but the conveniences are the opportunities they are course, you can always mail in a check attention Financial sacred secretary or use your Bank's phone bill pay system to have a check sent to the church. Just put in the memo line. Where it's going to general fund the building fund wherever your offering this to go to so with this morning as we think about Ecclesiastes 4, 9-10 says two are better than one because they have a good return to their labor. If either of them falls down one can help the other up the pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Know any unique times that we find ourselves then we have the opportunity to live into these verses for one another to remember that we are not in this alone and that we shouldn't allow anyone around us to go through this alone and part of that giving of ourselves that stewardship involves being that someone help pick someone else up. Maybe you had times in your life when someone's done that for you and now's the time for us to return that generosity. Jesus said let there be no doubt standing except the death of love. And this is a time when we can display the love and grace of God in great and wonderful ways. And I pray that you find the opportunities to do that with your neighbors or co-workers whoever it is and however, you're able to do it and let's pray this morning. Call the guide you have been generous to us. You've given us every good gift you provided for us that you've watched over us at Lord you love us. And Lord, I pray that we now as your people would be known by Your Love by the sacrificial giving of ourselves of all that we are all that we have Lord every skill and ability to your kingdom Into Your Glory that others might come to know the knowledge of saving faith in Jesus Christ to have the relationship of love with you that can restore and renew and redeem. We ask it in Jesus name. Amen.

So quick reminders many of you I'm sure are watching the news and so you're fully aware of the governors update to the stay-at-home order through the first Sunday in May. So it does look like we're going to continue to worship online for the rest of this month in the first Sunday in May. We'll just have to see how the news unfold I pray that your finding ways. To staysafe. I hope you're staying home and and staying away from all the chaos that's out there and I'm if you have and need be sure to give us a call or send an email and let us know what's going on. But that's where we are right now is a church is we're just we're waiting. I do want to make you aware though that this week is Holy Week and I I had you have some plans in the works to do some special things this week. Normally we would celebrate communion on this Sunday is the first Sunday of the month, but I'm going to hold off and I'm going to wait and do that Thursday night at 7. I'm going to go Facebook live and we're going to do we're going to celebrate communion together as a people. And so do you have from now until Thursday at 7 to get your grape juice or grape soda? You know your big red whatever it is that you've got available or that you can get ahold of and the bread that you're going to use and have it ready and had your family gathered so that we can celebrate together on officiating online with you and we will celebrate what Jesus has done for us. And then I'm hoping to have some things put together even for Good Friday. So Good Friday evening. I'll post a video and have a special meditation for Good Friday and then I coordinated at what some people from the church and we'll have some music put together for a sunrise service and it'll just it'll be a background with instrumental music Easter hymns time of meditation of worship for for a sunrise service that will also be posted up early Sunday morning and then our regular worship. Service will be posted up Sunday morning as well. I have for Easter celebration. So we're doing all that we can to make this time special to to really focus and you know, what a unique opportunity we have in this Holy Week to be fully focused on what the Lord has done for us, but we have extra time for meditation extra time for devotion extra time for prayer for searching out in our hearts. What you need time to celebrate into worshipping to remember what God has done for herself. Anyway, that's what I have for you. Remember Thursday at 7 we go live if you want to do it, you know all together at the same time course that video will stay up there so you can you can't get to it until 9 or 10. That's fine too. But if you want to do it with us that's going to be at 7 and then also the Friday devotional be posted just a video. at your leisure on Friday, so

We're going to pray together as God's people this morning in our family of God prayer time. I'm not announcing names and things that are videos because you know, it's the internet and the whole world literally can watch our videos. In fact, I saw on our analytics some hits that were overseas where people picked up the YouTube video it came up in their feed and they clicked on it and so to protect privacy, I'm not naming names during our prayer time, but I will tell you we we do have families who have members who had to be tested. We have folks that have transitioned into nursing home care with you. The struggles of life go on even though we're locked in our homes. And so be checking up on one another be in prayer. The Lord knows the details of all those situations and he knows what it is that were lifting up before him. And so, you know, I hope that you're able to focus in on your prayer time for one another even though we're not naming names here on our video, but there is a lot going on in the life of our church and in the life of our community people are anxious and Afraid confused and really struggling there's a lot of financial struggle going on different things. And so we want to lift all those things up to God he sees and he has not forgotten or protecting its people. Let's prepare our hearts this morning.

Lord God we recognize you ask the Sovereign one. Seated on the throne Lord, you see all you know all Lord, you know the big picture. The work that you're doing to redeem the world Lord. I pray that in the face of difficult circumstances. We will not lose sight of your love for us. Of your son Jesus Christ on the cross for us to redeem us from sin and death to free us from the power of sin. Taurus Taurus to you to give us an eternal hope in the future. In your kingdom as your people as your children.

So God in these times, let us focus in on your goodness. Your love your mercy your grace. Lord you do not leave or forsake your people you're with us. The Lord let us draw near unto you Lord as you draw near unto us. Let us rely on your strength. Lord that you would instill in us your peace Lord I looked up to you this morning the circumstances in the life of our church, the people that we know that are closest to us that have had transitions take place in angels in their health and just all the stress that that brings Lord. I just pray for your spirit to be the comfort and peace that they need. That Lord that we would be faithful in prayer and lifting one another up and supporting one another in this time to display your love and grace but that's the people you called us to be ambassadors of Grace. That representative in the world who you are and what it is you desire. In your love relationship with your people.

So far we pray for your hand of healing. We pray for wisdom for leaders. Lord that you would just give an extra measure of strength and Grace to medical professionals and spend those essential people who are taking the extra risks to make sure that were fed and that we have what we need and Lord that we are taking care of when sickness, the Lord watch over and protect them Lord brick bring an abundance of supply. Lord for all that will be needed for the work that lay ahead of them and that God we know that you are able Lord. We trust your timing and your plan. Lord may we as a nation return our hearts to you?

And hear us as we pray together as your son taught us to pray using debts and debtors Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation. But Deliver Us from Evil for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever. Amen.

We continue our series through John we skipped way ahead so that we would be reading through The Narrative of Jesus's sacrifice during Lent and holy week and last week. We saw Jesus arrested in the garden and the initial trial with the the high priest with the Sanhedrin and then also his initial interactions with that Pontius Pilate this week as we transition into chapter 19. We're really getting into a passage of scripture. That's probably more Good Friday oriented. This this is that final piece of the trial with pilot. This is Jesus on the cross for us and I his burial in the Tomb and that's just where we are in the story because you know, what's coming in the next chapter, right? Do you read your Bible? If you've been a Christian very long, you know what it is that we celebrate on Easter Sunday, but this week we get into this passage. Not a traditional Palm Sunday passage. Typically, we read the passage of Jesus coming into Jerusalem riding on the donkey that symbol of a peaceful King riding in him and we talked about the transition in the hearts of the people when Jesus didn't fulfill their expectations and how they went from shouting sabis to crucify him, but we're going to look this morning in chapter 19 and and look at Maps. What happened how it happened? But also take some time to reflect on what it might mean for us as we watch the story of what Jesus does Presque unfolding Skechers this morning, and we're going to get started here with the first four verses of chapter 19. It says Dim pilot took Jesus and had him flogged the soldiers Twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They closed them in a purple robe and then and again saying hail the Jews and they slapped him in the face. Once more pilot came out and said to the Jews scattered their look I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.

You know in these opening versus now we see pilot for the second time. I say look at I don't see a reason to execute Jesus. I don't see the charge against him. He goes ahead and has Jesus flogged in an effort to appease the crown and I think in a lot of ways and commentators they have different opinions on this but I really think it was kind of hoping that if he flogged Jesus and and and did these things that that would be good enough In This Crowd would disperse and go away and this whole thing would be over and And so there's quite an injustice in this not that this is the first Injustice that Jesus has endured in all of this leading up to the Cross. But here we have the very person on Earth 2 is in a position of authority saying I think he's innocent bumblebee team anyway. And what an injustice that is that that pilot has done this and you know is I read up on this passage something that we can ponder is there in the Roman tradition in their punitive system. There were there really three types of flogging the first type was just a shame more of a warning beating, you know, they would give him a warning don't do this again or it'll be worse and they would set the prisoner free that second type of flogging was a more severe flogging and And so jealous much more harsh, but it was not an execution. And so they would stop short of killing the recipient of the of the punishment in that second former of flogging and but it but it was still quite severe and then that third type of flogging that was a preparation for death. In fact many people that type of flogging this third type of flogging they wouldn't survive it. And so, you know, whether that person died there on the whipping post really depended on the soldier in charge with that third type of flogging it didn't really matter to them because the goal was execution. Anyway, you know, if they survived the flogging at often times that they didn't survive the flag flogging they still would hang their dead body on the cross as a warning sign to the people and so they were kind of 3 Types of floggings they're the thing that they used in and those biblical Scholars kind of arguing back and forth about which one of those floggings Jesus received and what was pilots intentions here.

John doesn't really tell us. Which one of these forms of punishment that Jesus received in this moment and that's because John emphasis In this passage is not on the brutality in the details necessarily of Jesus's dad more on the meaning and purpose John's focuses on the resurrection and the life. I think sometimes for us as Christians we get a little Caught up in the details. I think sometimes overly focused on the brutality of Jesus's sacrifice on on how he was punished, you know, sometimes pastors get into just some really gruesome details almost to the point that I fear that we weave worshipped the form of execution more than the one who was executed for us. We get so engrossed in it. And and I don't think that's the point. I don't think it matters just lie and don't give me to take my words out of context there. If it was Roman tradition to burn people at the stake for treason, then the profits with a Ford told Jesus being burned to the stake. Jesus would have told his disciples I will burn and then he would have burned and I'm so don't don't get confused and think that your salvation Lion Inn. That mode of its execution of how Jesus was whipped and how he carried his own cross and he was nailed to the cross for us. That's not the point. The point is that he was innocent and he gave himself willingly for us and that's where John focuses his attention will see that as the passage continues to unfold John purpose here isn't to give a chronological accounting of every detail of how Jesus was treated. But to show us that Jesus gave himself willingly and freely for us and that it was God's purpose and plan that he do that. Jonas first passage of scripture we see in Pilot this Injustice and and not just in Pilot. But in the the chief priests in the people, you know as they cry out for Jesus to be crucified. We get into the Nets versus of this passage this morning versus 5 to 11. It says when Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns in the Purple Rose said to them here is the man As soon as the chief priests and their official saw him, they shouted crucify crucify but pilot answered you take him and crucify him as for me. No basis for a charge against him. The Jewish leaders insisted we have a law and according to that law. He must die because he claimed to be the son of God. When pilate heard this he was even more afraid and he went back inside the palace. Where do you come from? He asked Jesus what Jesus gave him? No answer. Do you refuse to speak to me pilot said don't you realize I have the power either to free you or to crucify you. Jesus answered you would have no power over me. If it were not given to you from above there for the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.

as we look at these verses we wonder what is going on in this part of the passage. Why is it so afraid? Why is he nervous? Well, the singing Romans were pretty superstitious. They worshipped many gods. They had superstitious beliefs that that the gods would take different 4in visit humankind in different ways. And so when the chief priests said he claims to be the Son of God that got Pilots attention. And I think that's an idea and I think that's why he asked him. Where do you come from? I don't think he was looking for Galilee or Nazareth or or any of those kind of answers. I think he was really asking Jesus if he was a God in his presence. And so this made you know, this made him pretty nervous.

But we see in this passage pilot, you know leaning back on his authority his power and his authority in Jesus says you said you wouldn't have any authority over me if it wasn't given to you from above meaning from God damn time. Can we see in this passage then then? Pilot Superstition starts to get the best of him. But but he dismisses the authority of God.

And leans on his own thinking and his own power and authority in this situation.

Superstition is not godly we can read all throughout the Old Testament about the The Magicians and The Sorcerer's and and all those kinds of things. The Lord said do not consult them do not get involved with that kind of evil and wickedness and sold it here. Jesus is

facing the brunt of sin by the hands of those around him if we all experience that sin has its consequences not only for The Sinner but for the ones around them and that's exactly what's happening. Jesus is suffering in the hands of Simple Man. As we've keep reading in our passage this morning versus 12 to 16. It says from then on pilot tried to set Jesus free. Okay. So at least three times now pilot has tried to set Jesus free but the Jewish leaders kept shouting if you let this man go you are no friend of Caesar who claims to be a teen opposes Caesar. When pilate heard this he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the stone pavement, which in Aramaic is cabasa. It was the day of preparation of the Passover. It was about noon here is your king pilot said to the Jews but they shouted take him away take him away crucify him. Shall I crucify your king pilot as we have no King, but Caesar the chief priests answered. The finally pilot handed them over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.

At these events unfold we have the the Injustice of Jesus being flogged. We had this dismissive Superstition that dismisses that Divine Authority that was standing right before him and now we see some selfish manipulation. The Jewish leaders knew full well rum and customs in Roman law and in one of the ways that a person in in Authority in Roman government would lose their position or even lose their head was to fail to put down Caesar's enemies people who were in opposition to Caesar's throne. And so now the Jewish people say will hold on pilot. He claimed to be a king. He's in a position to Caesar. You let him go and you're no friend of Caesar. In other words. We're all going to get together and let Caesar know how you live this opposition leader free.

Now Pilots being manipulated by the very governmental establishment by his own Customs these Chief priests and leaders. They are manipulating pilot to achieve their own selfish intentions.

You see the priests were more interested in attaining their goal than they were achieving Justice. We're doing what we were right.

And so now we see pilot give in to this request all all this time. He's tried to set Jesus free didn't want to have any part of it didn't want there to be a problem. But he's going to dismiss himself and responsibility. He says will you take him and crucifying then? I'm not going to be responsible for executing someone I think is innocent. But then pilot gives in to this pressure this political pressure that's applied to him. And then we see Pilots it where only God should be seated the judgement seat. Pilot is sitting on what was known as the judgment-seat. He was going to pass final judgment on Jesus. He handed them over. to be crucified

as we keep reading as this continues to unfold all of this humans simple Behavior unfolding right before our eyes.

It says carrying his own cross. He went out to the place of the skull which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There They Crucified him and with him to others one on each side in Jesus in the middle pilot had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross at Reds Jesus of Nazareth the king of the Jews. Many of the Jews read this sign for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city and the sign was written in Aramaic Latin and Greek. The chief Priests of the Jews protest at the pilot do not write the king of the Jews but that this man claimed to be a king of the Jews. Pilot answered I have written what I have written or what I have written. I have written.

well Pilots The Jews having gotten the best of him in this circumstance. He decides to post bacc. He knows that this note is he's fastening is going to be expensive to the Jewish people that it would be offensive to the chief priests that have manipulated him. And so now we see pilot retaliating by putting this notice on it. And this was a common practice for a criminal who was being crucified for their charges to be posted for all to see, you know, the scripture John tells us it was posted in three different languages and those different languages popularity two different social classes in the in the Roman structure of society there and so it was it was posted for all to know. That Jesus was being crucified as the king of the Jews. And even after the chief priests announced that they had no king but Caesar what a what a betrayal that is, you know, if you go all the way back to the Old Testament and look at God's the desire to be Israel's King and that they had rejected that for an Earthly King. And now we see that Harry rejection repeated right here as they reject Jesus is the king in here Pilots pride gets the best of him. And he retaliates with this offensive posting for Jesus's cross it and suddenly he's feeling his governmental Wheaties. So to speak and exercise. I I have written what I've written and and stands up to them finally but in all of these things

faced with the full brunt of human sinful Behavior Jesus goes to the cross for mankind. We've seen Injustice and dismiss that the dismissing of divine Authority we've seen manipulation out of selfishness in and pride and retaliation. and yet as we keep reading Jesus goes to the Cross verse 23 when the soldiers crucified Jesus. They took his clothes dividing them into four shares one for each of them with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless woven in one piece from top to bottom. What's not carrot? They said to one another let's decide by law who will get it this happened. So that the scriptures might be fulfilled that said they divided my clothes among them and Cass. What's for my Garmin? So this is what the soldiers did. Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother his mother Sister Mary the wife of clopas and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his feathered the air and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby. You said to her woman here is your son. And to the disciple here is your mother from that time on this disciple took her into his home. Later, knowing that everything had now been finished and so that scripture would be fulfilled. Jesus said I am thirsty. A jar of wine vinegar was there so they soak the sponge in it put the sponge on a stock of the hyssop plant and lifted it to Jesus's lips. When he had received the drink Jesus said it is finished with that. He bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

In the face of all this simpleness, we see the Divine love of God as Jesus is crucified there. We see his loving care for his mother Mary as he asked the disciple whom he loved in and we suspect that that was John to take care of his mother that would have been one of Jesus's responsibilities for his mother as a widow is to take care of her. He asked John to take that responsibility. And so here we see that love playing out even in the Earthly details for his mother, but also we see that scripture is fulfilled as we get a few more fulfillments of scripture here. Remember that's John's purpose for us to know that Jesus is the Christ. Now we might believe in him and live and so he points out the Fulfillment of scripture in this process in these unfolding events. We get into the clothing where the soldiers are casting lots for Jesus's garment. And in that that Harkens back to Psalm 22 when you go and read through their that's what John's were most likely referring to with the drink of wine vinegar off of filming also at Psalm 22 or perhaps even Psalm 29:2 different places where that is mentioned in and alluded to in here is being fulfilled scripture fulfilled God's plan unfolding according to his word. And for his purposes his Divine love for us this plan to redeem and restore his people unfolding even in the face of such a greed you send against them. Is it no wonder that in the New Testament or cold? We're reminded that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. You often times when we receive communion, we we include in our liturgy on the 9th that Jesus was betrayed and we remember that in the face of these Injustice has the Betrayal and all of the sins. Jesus is is giving to us the greatest gift of love that is ever been given his life for us. Then even in the face of these brutal since being committed against him. That is not here in John's near death, but I do remember one of the other things Jesus said on the cross forgive them for they know not what they do. All of this sin culminating as Jesus goes to the Cross breast in full before filming of God's word in plan. Jesus was obedient even unto death on a cross for us.

As we look at the last few verses for this morning verses 31 to 37. It says now it was the day of preparation and the next day was to be a special Sabbath because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath. They asked pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. the soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who have been crucified with Jesus and then those of the other but when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead. They did not break his legs.

Instead one of the soldiers pierced Jesus's side with a spear bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth and he testifies so that you also maybe These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled. Not one of his bones will be broken. And as another scripture says they will look on the one they have pierced.

John is pointing to some Old Testament scriptures that and there's no doubt. There's been a theme and John's riding a Jesus being the Lamb of God. And if you go back and you read an exodus 12 or or even in Numbers chapter 9, you'll see that part of the preparation of the Lamb when they're slaughtered for the offering. That they were not to break the bones of the Lamb that was part of the preparation process. And in John is pointing this out this certain these circumstances to help us see to help his audience. See that Jesus has that sacrificial lamb that was given for the people. And also Psalm 34 when we read through that passage also regarded as a prophetic passage of scripture that the bones of the righteous one but not be broken. And so dumb points us to these fulfillments of scripture and then he says, you know, his bones are not broken if that's according to scripture and then one more scripture John gives us he's he's leading us back to Zakaria 13in in Zakaria 13. It says they will look upon the one they have. And in that passage of scripture in Jacobin and Zachariah is all about God's cleansing for the people to cleanse the people and so John is is really showing us that Jesus is the Lamb of God that cleanses us from our sins that this is the final and complete cleansing that it comes through Jesus is the Lamb of God sacrifice for us on the cross.

What a beautiful saying that God has done for us to cleanse us from our sins and all of our and righteousness.

in the face of Aryan justices and our dismissal zip his authority in our own selfish living and prideful Behavior.

While we were yet sinners. Christ died for us Give me the ultimate sacrifice for us. In a moment when we didn't deserve it, we never have deserved it. And yet Jesus willingly goes and gives his life.

I'm going to ask you this morning. How have you struggled? With what you know is right and what others think of you that was part of what I was facing. He was kind of concerned with his image. He knew what was right, but just couldn't bring himself to do it. How do you struggle? With doing what you know is Ryan what others think of you? In what ways do you continue to be dismissive of God's Divine Authority in your life. Or allow humans superstitions to direct your decisions.

How far would you allow yourself to indulge simple means to accomplish your own selfish agenda?

And how have you been guilty? That's fueling animosity between us?

You see we're no different than pilot. The chief priests the crowd that day that crucified Jesus. We have the same symbol heart.

But this morning in light of the world that Jesus does will you surrender to Jesus not only for the Forgiveness, but for the cleansing of your sins so that you could now go and sin no more. Jesus died to set us free. purify a savall in righteousness if we will confess our sins. he is faithful and just God loves us that question was answered on the cross. Have you accepted? Is gift of Grace?

I got this morning search our hearts to show us the Wicked Ways that are in US. Lori Lynn and power us that to lay it down to be fully cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. To embrace your grace in our lives. And live a life set free. I like that honors you. Lord Heal our hearts our minds our soul we ask in Jesus name.