What a spot for a narrative. How did Mary the sister of Lazarus feel. What about the emotional roller coaster she was on? How about from the viewpoint of one of the Pharisees. The comment on the Matthew 21:1-11 about us crucifying Jesus brings to mind the contrasts between the passion and the triumph. Elwood in WI
Matthew 27:11-26, 54 Main Idea: The governor asked questions about Jesus and the centurion made a confession about Him. THESIS: The governor's questions and the centurion's confession challenge us to respond to Jesus' claims. TITLE: "From Questions to Confession"
This is the last Sunday before Easter, sometimes called the Sunday of the Passion. As I read the biblical record of that fateful Friday, I note the predominance of Jewish people. There were the Jewish religious leaders, the Jewish crowds, and the Jewish disciples of our Lord Jesus, who was also Jewish Himself. I also notice that most (if not all) of us here today are Gentiles. As we think about the Crucifixion of our Lord, let's look at what Matthew wrote about two Gentiles who had meaningful encounters with Jesus.
1. The questions Pilate asked: a. (11) Are You the king? Another king would have been a threat to Pilate, and to his bosses in Rome. Today, some people's image of Jesus as King of their lives is a threatening idea. Some people are reluctant to let Jesus be in control because they are afraid of what He may ask them to do. I invite such people to read Philippians 2:5-11. Jesus is the kind of King who always does what is best for His people. What about you? Are you afraid to let Jesus be your King? Who is in charge of your life? Are you your own decision-maker? Or is Jesus?
b. (12-14) Don't you hear the people? Pilate could not comprehend anyone who was so sure of Himself and of His mission that He would not be intimidated by the shouted accusations of a jealous and angry mob. Someone once said, The test of a person's greatness is what it takes to stop him. Jesus was truly great--nothing could stop Him from doing the right thing. When people start to speak against you, do you take time to answer them, or do you keep on doing what you know God sent you here to do? From time to time, we all fall short of the example of Jesus. But when we do, He invites us to confess and repent, and He promises to forgive us. Notice carefully that Jesus had no need to reply to the accusations because He was in the very center of God's will for His life. If you are out of God's will, then please do listen to godly counselors when they speak to you.
c. (15-19) Jesus or Barabbas? Pilate gave the people the choice between the most popular Rabbi in anyone's memory and the most notorious criminal in town. We, too, face a choice. Our choice is between having our lives and destinies controlled by the Lord Jesus or by our own decisions. I don't mean to call any of you a notorious criminal. But when even the best of us is compared to God's Son, our sinfulness is obvious. Isaiah 64:6. Pilate had the authority to release Jesus. Even his wife urged him to do the right thing. But instead of making up his own mind, instead of listening to good advice, Pilate tried to pass the buck. You cannot let anyone else decide for you about your relationship with God--this is one buck that cannot be passed. Whom will you choose? Who will control your life, Jesus or you?
d. (20-26) What shall I do with Jesus? Pilate's question is crucial. What will you do with Jesus? The words you use to answer that question are not as important as the actions you take in response to it. Pilate said he was innocent of the blood of Jesus. He even washed his hands to symbolize his lack of responsibility. But there is not enough soap and water in the universe to remove anyone's responsibility for his or her own actions. God gives every person freedom to choose what to do with Jesus, and God holds each of us responsible for our own decision. Pilate's actions tell us what he decided to do with Jesus. Don't follow Pilate's example. Don't reject Jesus. Instead, follow the example of the centurion.
2. The confession the centurion made: (54) Surely, He was the Son of God. This Roman military commander had witnessed thousands of men die, but none like this one. The centurion had been a participant in the events Matthew records in verses 27-53. He had seen and heard things that no one could understand completely. He may not have understood fully what he said about Jesus, but as much as he did understand, he believed. When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I did not know or understand nearly as much about Him as I do now. But as much as I understood, I believed. What about you? No one is asking you to have all the answers, just one: What will you do with Jesus? Who do you say He is?
Conclusion
Consider carefully Pilate's questions and the centurion's confession. Invitation: (1) Accept Jesus as your Savior. (2) Give control of your life to Lord Jesus. (3) Confess & repent of any sin in your life.
Behold, this is the Sunday that the preacher is silent. However, I usually give a short homily prior to the great procession to the church. Following the Traditional Reading of the Passion Gospel in parts, we sit in silence for about 6 minutes, giving us time to appropriate the power of God's Word. The liturgy continues with the Prayers of the People and Eucharistic Canon.
tom in ga
I am wondering what you are all planning to do with the split Palm/Passion Sunday emphasis. The lectionary and many commentaries would have us go to the Passion narrative because so many Sunday morning worshippers will not attend Holy Week services. Is that not giving into the apathy? Should we not call people to follow Jesus to the cross and not abandon him like thecrowd that welcomed him into Jerusalem? Or should we make sure that people do hear the narrative, instead of simply hearingreferences to Jesus' death and what kind of king he is etc. in our sermons? Should we have this Gospel as our primary Gospel with a sermon or should we use it in opening of the service and then read the Passion narrative instead of a sermon? I am stuck, especially since the church I am serving as intern has never used the Passion narrative for this Sunday and we do not have readers willing to read the narrative. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!--New at This
new, i thought that even this shorter version is too long for a single reader, especially followed by a sermon. so, i broke it into two readings, vv.11-31 (in the place of the second reading) and then as the gospel lesson, v32-56.
if i were a little braver, i would have substituted a dramatic reading for the sermon. i really think that no sermon is the best choice for Passion Sunday, but..... sue
In the past, I have divided the readings by singing verses of the hymns, given a short sermon (last year on the specifics of crucifixion), always ending with "What Wondrous Love is This?". This year, I've decided to do something different. I plan to tell the story from the viewpoint of an 8-12 year old boy who went to Jerusalem for Passover for the first time, got involved in the Palm Sunday crowd, and watched the events of Holy Week from the sidelines -- as curious boys will do. We will break the telling by the same hymns. I like the idea of the dramatic readings, I simply haven't prepared by congregation for it.
Wish me luck. It's Tuesday, and I haven't started my storytelling outline yet!
RevJan
Fredrick Beuchner said that the choice of releasing Barabbas was the one Jesus would have made also. Which one of you should I let go? Barabbas. Let Barabbas go free. kbc in sc
I know this is the heart and soul of Pauline Christian theology but I hesitate to let this go by without remembering that this passage is also the heart of the theology that allows Christians to persecute and proselytize Jews. It seems to me that we need to remind the Christian in the pew that Barabbas is another name for Jesus. The first post in this list absolutely forces this knowledge front and center for me. Once again Roman guilt in the matter is passed over lightly and a Roman becomes the hero of the peace at the expense of Jesus's family community. We need to be very careful not to allow the drama and politics of this peace to contribute to our own bigotry and the bigotry of fellow Christians. Faithfully H. Warnock-Graham Toledo, Ohio
What is the truth?
As the bombing continues over Yugoslavia, the debate continues as well. Who is telling the truth? What is the truth?
In my state there are presently several election campaigns each of which desires you to focus on part of the truth, the part that will get the one person elected, or is some cases, make the other candidate unelectable. What is the truth?
Caiaphas has asked Jesus, "...tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so..." What is the truth?
Pilate asks Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so."
The gosple of John records the conversation this way: Pilate askes him, "So you are a king? Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
Pilate asked him, "What is truth?"
Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, "Truly this man was God's Son!"
What is the truth?
Too often, truth gets twisted to meet our own ends. Truth gets polluted or corrupted to justify our attitudes and behaviors. We deceive ourselves seeing only part of the truth and allow that part to represent the whole of truth and thereby warrant whatever action or attitude we want at the moment.
Satan asked Jesus, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." Jesus could have focused on part of the truth, that bread was good and needed by many, and thereby yeilded to the temptation to use his power for the wrong motive.
But Jesus knew the truth, the bigger truth. Or as John might say, "Jesus was the truth."
The crusifixion of Jesus was the ultimate twisting of the truth. As they mockingly squeezed the crown of thorns on Jesus' head, they crowned self deception as their Lord and liberator.
What is the truth? Clearly, truth transcends what we can see, what we have been taught, whatever we can put together with facts. Truth resides with God and is revealed to those who have faith.
I think I will go with the question: "What should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" That is the choice before us all. This choice comes before us on a daily basis. Andrew in Canada
Dear friend,
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. My name is Kevin W. Strausbaugh and I am writing to introduce you to myself and our sing quartet Redemption. We are a men's Southern Gospel Quartet based out of Lexington, Ky. Our group was formed in the spring of 1995 and we have been serving the Lord through music ever since. Our group is made up of born again believers, who faithfully serve in their home churches everyday week. Jon Baker, our tenor, serves as a youth minister in his home church in Owen Co. David Dingus, baritone, serves as the Minister of Music in his home church in Paris, Ky. Lanny Harney, bass, serves as David's assistant. I am currently enrolled in Independent study program at the Moody Bible College and also at the University of Kentucky. I serve now as an evangelist after serving 1998 as a pastor. We all work full time jobs and travel as the Lord opens doors of opportunity. Our main goal in our ministry is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ through song and personal testimonies. We have an upbeat and fun style of music but still with the serious attitude and recognition that there are lives who need to be transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ. In 1996 We had the opportunity to travel to Nashville, TN. To record with Daywind Music Group. We are currently working on our next project with Jordan Recording Studio, in Covington, KY. We feel that this has been done only through the bountiful blessing of God and therefore we do not charge for our ministry to come and share, neither do we put a price on our tapes. It is our desire to reach as many people as possible this year. Our ministry is available to you and your congregation for both singing and/or preaching. It is our pray that you would give prayerful consideration to allowing Redemption to share the gospel and experience that each one of us has experience with you and your congregation. If you feel that this ministry can benefit you church feel free to contact me at the following number: Rev. Kevin W. Strausbaugh 606-273-6238 We would gladly provide you with a demo tape and any other information you would need. May God bless you as you and your congregation serve him faithfully, Kevin W. Strausbaugh "Redemption"