5 April 2009
Sixth Sunday in Lent/PASSION Sunday
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Fortress Chapel
Contingency Operation Site (C.O.S.) Sykes
Tall-afar, Iraq
BIG IDEA: One of the common themes throughout the Bible is that God uses regular people to do His work.
REFERENCES: Jeremiah 29:11 ESV (For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope); Judges 11 ( Jephthah); Lukes 28:2 (ESV) So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it."; John 13-17; Acts 12:12 ESV When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying; Mark 12:37 ESV (Whose Son is the Christ?) David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng – crowd, common people - heard him gladly; Luke 22:8 ESV; Psalm 31:9-16 (RSV); Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1-15:47; Isaiah 50:4-9a RSV; The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (ESV) Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall;
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Mark 14:12-21 (ESV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Mark 14:12-21 (ESV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Mark 14:13-14 (ESV) And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’
IV. PURPOSE: To inspire the hearers to affirm to others that God uses regular people to do His work.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “Regular People”
VI. INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to all of our Contemporary Worship Service visitors.
Today is the Sixth Sunday in Lent which is also known as Palm Sunday and the commencement of Passion Week.
Passion Week in the theological community is also known as Holy Week and is so named because Jesus Christ truly revealed His passion for us in what He willingly went through on our behalf.
As you may recall, Passion Week is described in Matthew chapters 21-27; Mark chapters 11-15; Luke chapters 19-23; and John chapters 12-19.
It begins with Jesus’ triumphal entry, (on Palm Sunday) on the back of a colt as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 (ESV) which says: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Therefore, as we commemorate the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior – on this Communion Sunday – it’s my prayer that our Christian Light and attitude will shine the brightest today, and during this upcoming week …
as we passionately display our love, and appreciation for our Savior’s ultimate sacrifice through our attendance in Bible Study, Praise & Worship Rehearsals, Good Friday Service, and Resurrection Sunday Services.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 1: Now, in our text today, we find ourselves two days before the Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread.
a. At this point, Mark suddenly has a need to reflect upon how our Lord spent his previous Saturday evening in Jerusalem and its surrounding areas.
b. A deeper observation shows that Mark candidly points out one of the common themes throughout the Bible, which is God uses common people to do his work.
c. “Like an artist, Mark begins by drawing together two lines of truth, taking the line of thought which centers around hate, …
d. … and that which centers around love, and braids them together.”
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 2: For don’t you remember, in verses 1 and 2 we find Mark’s account of the hatred of the priests toward Jesus, followed by the story of the love displayed TOWARD Jesus by a REGULAR PERSON - Mary of Bethany.
a. Mary was the sister of Martha and Lazarus who Jesus had raised from the dead.
b. It was that Mary who – out of her gratitude for our Savior - broke the expensive perfume bottle and anointed our Savior for his burial (tell the story of Lazarus).
c. Likewise, when we think of the Goodness of Jesus in our lives – we too will share all we have with our Lord because, He’s been good!
d. Then in verses 10 through 11 we find the story of Judas’ greed and escalating hatred against Jesus and how he betrayed our Savior,
e. … Which is followed by our text and “The unnamed man carrying the Water Jug” which ultimately leads to Jesus’ love and appreciation for his disciples and REGULAR PEOPLE?
f. For it has been said that to do God’s work you don’t have to be rich, you don’t have to be famous, and you don’t have to be good looking.
g. None of the things that matter to the world, and are considered important in the world are necessary to do God’s work.
h. Because some of God’s greatest workers have been REGULAR PEOPLE!
******** TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 3: Who can ever forget Jeph-thah? For don’t you remember, Jephthah was a regular person (in Judges 11:1) who God used to deliver Israel from the Ammonites.
a. Before God used Jephthah, he was only known as being the son of a prostitute.
b. Jephthah’s father was Gilead who was married and had other sons; but Jephthah, …
c. … was a regular person, like you and I, who was not responsible for the deck of cards that he was dealt in life.
d. The Good Book says (in Jeremiah 29:11 ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
e. a Regular Person, like you and I, who wasn’t perfect; and who had not matriculated at the best of schools. He was just a Regular Person.
f. The Good Book says we all (in Romans 3:23) have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
g. Jephthah was just a Regular Person who was eventually driven away from his father’s house by his step-brothers.
****** TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 4: If we’re not careful; we will allow family members to drive us away from our mom or dad and the place we call home.
a. For Jephthah was a regular person, like you and I, who was constantly reminded of his mother’s past … until he was forced to run away from home to live the life of a gang banger …
b. … and worthless fellows were attracted to him like a magnet to iron –
c. Until one day the leaders of his countrymen found themselves in trouble (with the Ammonites) …
d. … And needed someone who had a tough upbringing and was brave enough to be a Soldier and had friends braved enough to fight alongside him in order to defeat the Ammonites.
e. So, they asked Jephthah if he WOULD BE THEIR LEADER. And he agreed to do so – only if he could remain their leader afterwards.
f. As a result, Jephthah (who was just a regular person); his wild friends; and his countrymen defeated the Ammonites …
g. … and Jephthah ruled as Judged in Israel for 6 years.
h. God sometime uses Regular People to accomplish extraordinary things.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 5: Now, my brothers and sisters, Jephthah was a just a regular person used by God to accomplish extraordinary exploits.
a. Likewise, in our text today, we find ourselves overhearing our Savior in one of the most crucial times in His earthly ministry,
b. Giving both GUIDANCE and a SIGN to two of his disciples (which according to Luke 22:8 ESV was Peter and John).
c. Jesus told Peter and John that they were to follow a man carrying a pitcher of water.
d. Now, my brothers and sisters, this man would be easily identified because ordinarily only women and girls carried jars of water on their heads.
e. For, in biblical times for a man to carry a water jar on top of his head is like a man carrying a purse on his shoulder today.
f. It didn’t look good!
g. And he would obviously draw lots of attention from every gender and every age group.
h. Sometimes we have to be willing to go through embarrassment for Jesus’ sake.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 6: However, it also means that recognition (of the man by the disciples) required no exchange of words – because the UNNAMED man could be identified by his actions ALONE.
a. You would know him because his actions would match-up with the words of Jesus.
b. Are you known because your actions line up with the word of Jesus?
c. The man carrying the water jug was just a regular person who was willingly to be used by Jesus in an extraordinary manner.
d. Likewise, my brothers and sisters, regular people are folk that are willing to do what Jesus says even if it means drawing unwanted attention to themselves.
e. There are some Regular People that are willing to stand-out for Jesus.
f. Are you willing to help the Lord confuse the Judas’ of life …
g. God uses Regular People, like you and I, to do extraordinary things for His Kingdom.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
CELEBRATION: Psalm 31:9-16 (RSV):
Just like Jesus used Mary of Bethany and Jephthah of Gilead, he wants to use you and me:
Regular people to sing in his choir;
Regular People to Carry the Water of His Word;
Regular People to tell somebody about a man who died on Calvary Cross –
God uses Regular People …. For don’t you remember, David said:
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.
For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.
I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.
For I hear the whispering of many-- terror all around!-- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.
But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.
