Jesus Took Your Place

Photo courtesy Pixabay

 

Sunday Morning, at Open Door Church,  I took notes and present here for you an edited sermon. 

 

Pastor Allan began his message by reminding us that today was Palm Sunday.  We celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus riding into Jerusalem - -  as a King, on the colt of a donkey. 

The crowd threw down their coats, flowers and palm branches as they shouted Hosanna, blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.

This was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See your king comes to you righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Isaiah 62:11 The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, See, your Savior comes, See his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.

Religious leaders in the crowd were upset and were threatened by all the singing and shouting and tried to quiet the people, but Jesus said if the people were silent, the rocks would cry out. 

They were stuck in their tradition and religious mind set and refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah.   The leaders had read the scriptures, and were expecting a Messiah, but they just didn’t think the Messiah would come this way.

We often try to figure out how we want God to work things out for us, and we miss the truth.  His ways and plans are best.

Jesus left the procession and entered the temple.  There He saw the money changers doing business inside the church. 

They were dishonest, raising prices and short changing the people who were purchasing animals to sacrifice for their sins.  Jesus knew their hearts were evil, and righteous indignation rose up in Him.  He began to upset their tables using a whip.  That didn’t go over very well with the Religious leaders.

Jesus died for the sins of the world, not just the Pharisees and Sadducees, but for you and for me.

Jesus said, the commandments say, “Do not murder, but if you call your brother a fool, you are in danger of hell fire.”  He also said, the commandment tells us not to commit adultery, but it is needful to guard your heart and your eyes not to look on a woman with lust.

People in the crowd were easily distracted; instead of listening to Jesus they were busy using their smart phone to text.

In the households of many they were still talking about Mary anointing Jesus feet with the expensive perfume, and Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.  Now they became fickle and were easily swayed by the mob, because in a few days they were shouting crucify him.

By tradition, Pilot could release one prisoner, and he wanted to set Jesus free.  However the crowd shouted to release Barabbas, a revolutionary who had committed murder.

Pilot yielded to the crowd and let Barabbas go, and his thug friends welcomed his release.  Barabbas was set free and Jesus took his place. - - -

Who is Barabbas really?  It is me. 

 

Barabbas could walk away free because Jesus took his place.  Jesus took your place.

God says, give me your shame, your sins, your brokenness, and stand free because Jesus was willing to go to the cross for you and for me.

We of our selves can never be good enough to earn salvation.  Jesus is enough.  Every-one of us should be facing eternal death, but Jesus took our place and our punishment.

Jesus gives us the power to resist the devil and he will live His LIFE in and through us.

When we stumble, He picks us up.  No matter how frustrated we get, God is able to change your focus and keep you from falling.

Use your freedom to serve Jesus and follow Him.

God the Father was pleased with the sacrifice that Jesus made, and he declares that all who believe on Jesus and confess Him as Lord shall be saved.  God has honored Jesus!

Philippians 2:9-11  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.