April 16, 2000
Palm/Passion Sunday
(Please note, this is an entire Worship Service, not just a Sermon. The Service is one of Music and Meditation, through which the events of Holy Week are retold and experienced.)
ANNOUNCEMENTS & RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP
REGISTRATION OF ATTENDANCE
(The Ushers will distribute registration forms)
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and Your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what You say to us today. Amen.
Luke 19:29-40
29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,
30 saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it.' "
32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them.
33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
34 They said, "The Lord needs it."
35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.
36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.
37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen,
38 saying,
"Blessed is the kingwho comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!"
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop."
40 He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."
Hosanna to the son of David!Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!
"Hosanna, Loud Hosanna" No. 278
Philippians 2:5-11
5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form,
8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
O Sacred Head Now Wounded" No. 286
Jesus serves the Passover
Luke 22:14-20
14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him.
15 He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves;
18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
"Jesus Prays In The Garden"
Luke 22:39-42
39 He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him.
40 When he reached the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial." 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed,
42 "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done."
"See Him In The Garden Alone" The Choir
(Following the Children's Sermon at the 11:00 a.m. service, children ages 3 through first grade are dismissed for Children's Church.)
"Jesus is betrayed"
Luke 22:21-23
21 But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table.
22 For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!"
23 Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this.
Luke 22:47-48
47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him;
48 but Jesus said to him, "Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?"
Although the pain must have been excruciating beyond compare, for Jesus it wasn't the nails that hurt the most or that cut the deepest. IT WAS THE KISS. The kiss of betrayal. The kiss that knowingly set into motion the events leading up to His crucifixion and death.
There have been times when we have all knowingly betrayed Jesus just as easily as Judas. There have been times when we've left the warmth of worship, feeling a sense of love and compassion for all of God's children. We've resolved to live like Christ only to have one of God's children cut us off in traffic or totally mess up our lunch order and the next thing you know we're thinking evil thoughts and maybe even saying unkind words.
Maybe after our morning devotion we catch ourselves secretly plotting how to get that promotion. Or how to get even with the colleague who took all the credit for the project you did most of the work on. It's then that we realize that we really aren't acting or living like Christ. It's then that we realize, that just like Judas, we too, have kissed him on the cheek.
We hang our head a little in shame and say, "I'm sorry, Lord!"
And although Scripture doesn't record it, I'm sure that's what Judas said to Jesus just before he kissed him and they lead him away to be crucified. "Sorry, Lord!"
Just remember: it wasn't the nails that broke Jesus' heart, it was the kiss.
"Peter denies Jesus"
Luke 22:31-34
31 "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat,
32 but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
33And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!"
34 Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me."
Luke 22:54-62
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance.
55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.
56 Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, "This man also was with him."
57 But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him."
58 A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"
59 Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, "Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean."
60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!" At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed.
61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times."
62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
The Gospel of John says that when this confrontation took place, Peter was warming his hands over a charcoal fire. It was easy to tell he wasn't from around that area. He fit in like a man in a clown costume and make up at a black tie affair for the Queen of England. His clothing and his accent gave him away. Peter stood out like a West Texas cattle rancher asking for directions in the Bronx.
Peter was the disciple with the heart of gold and the feet of clay. Peter, the disciple with perpetual foot in mouth disease. Someone said that the only time Peter took his foot out of his mouth was to change feet.
And here he goes doing it again. When confronted about his association with Jesus, Peter not only denied that he knew Jesus, he cursed and swore an oath saying, "I don't know the man." Not once but three times.
In my mind the scene plays out like this. No sooner had Peter uttered the third denial than he looked up, looked across that charcoal fire and into the loving eyes of Jesus. It was at that very moment the cock crowed. That was when Peter remembered the words of Jesus' prediction concerning his denial. The smell and the smoke of the charcoal fire hung heavy in the air.
Peter looked into the loving eyes of his Savior and friend. And then he ran. He saved himself but the smell of the smoke still lingered. From that day on, every time he smelled a charcoal fire he remembered.
Have you ever smelled the charcoal smoke and looked across the fire into the loving eyes of Jesus? Have you ever denied you knew him and heard the rooster crow?
The smell of the smoke still lingers.
"The Trial of Jesus"
Luke 22:66-23:11
66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council.
67 They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us." He replied, "If I tell you, you will not believe;
68 and if I question you, you will not answer.
69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God."
70 All of them asked, "Are you, then, the Son of God?" He said to them, "You say that I am."
71 Then they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!"
23:1 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate.
2 They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king."
3 Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so."
4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man."
5 But they were insistent and said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place."
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.
7 And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign.
9 He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer.
10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.
11 Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate.
"Man From Galilee" Solo
"The Condemnation of Jesus"
Luke 23:13-26
13 Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,
14 and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.
15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death.
16 I will therefore have him flogged and release him."
18 Then they all shouted out together, "Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!"
19 (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again;
21 but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!"
22 A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him."
23 But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed.
24 So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted.
25 He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.
26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.
Luke 23:32-38
32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing.
35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!"
36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine,
37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
38 There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
SPECIAL MUSIC
"You Are The Bread" The Choir
It wasn't pretty, or antiseptic. It was ugly and brutal. It showed the worst side of humanity's fall.
It was a brutal day. Thirty-nine lashes with the whip. Mocked and ridiculed by both the Roman soldiers and the crowd. The same crowd that not long before had sung His praises. A crown of thorns pushed down upon his brow. A massive cross drug through the crowd which jeered and taunted him every agonizing step of the way. And then . . . the nails.
The Son of God who knew no sin. The Gentle Shepherd who invited children to sit on his lap. The Great Physician, who healed and comforted others. Christ Jesus, the Son of God, our Lord and Savior, was stretched out upon a cross and hung out to die between two thieves.
And there, in the most ignoble position in the world, filled with agony, his throat dry and parched and his lips cracked, the Son of God looked to heaven and with outstretched arms whispered, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do..."
They hung Him out to die, but with a heart as big as the universe and outstretched arms that encircled all time and all of humanity, the Son of God cried out, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do..."
And then He died, for me and for you.
"Jesus yields up his spirit"
Luke 23:44-46
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,
45 while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last.
"Behold The Lamb" The Choir
"Jesus is laid in the tomb"
Luke 23:50-56
50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, 51 had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid.
54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning.
55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid.
56 Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
"Were You There?"No. 288
(Stanzas 1-3, 5)
Make today a day of new beginnings! During the singing of this hymn, you are invited to accept Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, and to join the family of the First United Methodist Church of Joshua. Please fill out the information in the "How to Join" pamphlet in your pew, then come to the front of the Church to be welcomed by the Pastor and your new Church family.
"Commendation And Welcome" No. 38
"Go Now and Pass It On"