Sunday, March 29, 2020

John 12:1-19 New International Version (NIV)

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”

9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna![d]”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[e]

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;

see, your king is coming,

seated on a donkey’s colt.”[f]

16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Once again, I believe this is something we could use right now, in our current situation, as many people are facing very difficult and uncertain circumstances in their lives.

• Maybe you lost your job because of the shutdown
• Maybe you’ve tested positive for corona virus
• Maybe you have a loved one who is sick and, in the hospital, or worse yet, has died because of this virus
• Maybe you’ve been quarantined or self-quarantined and are feeling depressed because you can’t get out
• Maybe your worried about what’s going to happen next, how you’re going to pay your bills, bet food and supplies, homeschool your children
• Maybe your circumstances have nothing to do with this virus but we’re already difficult, uncertain and troublesome before all this began

From this position of worry and doubt, of question and concern, of fear and uncertainty, I want us to learn to Worship. Now, at first it may seem counterintuitive to say that the answer to all this is worship. Your response may be, “this is the last place I feel like worshiping.” But remember…

2 Corinthians 10:3-4
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

It may seem like The Road to The Cross is the least likely place we would find worship. But that’s exactly what we find

Key Text:  John 12:1-19

Here in a John 12 we see two beautiful acts of worship, two powerful acts of worship, at the apex of Jesus journey to the cross. Today I want us to Learn how to worship on the Road to The Cross and what happens when we do…

1. It’s Extravagant.
2. It Exalts.
3. It is NOT Entertainment
4. It Encourages
5. It Empowers
6. It Evangelizes