Easter Series: “Amazed?”
Palm Sunday: Amazing Savior
Good Friday: Amazing Grace
Easter: Amazing Love
Opening Video Clip right after worship: Are You Amazed? - To introduce the sermon series “Amazed?”
Question: “Are you Amazed at Jesus?”
Sermon Palm Sunday: Amazing Savior:
Highlight - Scripture verses from video:
Luke 5:9-10: (NASB) 9For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”
Luke 2:47: (NIV) 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Matthew 12:23: (NASB) 23All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” (after he sets free a demon possessed person)
Mark 1:22: (NIV) 22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
Luke 4:36: (NIV) 36All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!”
Matthew 15:31: (NIV) 31The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
Matthew 21:20: (NIV) 20When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
Mark 9:15: (NASB) 15Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him (They had seen the miracles, the raising of people from the dead, the miraculous feeding of the crowds).
Matthew 22:22: (NIV) 22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (When Jesus said “Give to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s and to God what id God’s – when he was addressed about paying taxes).
Introduction:
After watching this video and reading these passages of Scripture we see the word amazed popping up all over the place – the people were amazed!
So I looked up this word in the dictionary and discovered its meaning – “Amazed” – is defined as - to fill with wonder - to ASTOUND - to show or cause astonishment.
The Scriptures and our movie clip repeatedly told us that people were amazed at Jesus! They were amazed by what He did, by what He said, by His teachings, by His miracles, by His actions, and by His conduct. Jesus astounded the people of his day and that is why we are all still talking about him today 1,000 of years later. This is why movies are made about Him, His life – and His death. This is why over time millions of books have been written about Him and also why billions of people have declared to follow Him.
This is also why millions call Him their Savior!
Savior there is another word I was interested in looking up in the dictionary - what does that name mean?
Savior – is defined as – “ONE WHO SAVES FROM ANY FORM OR DEGREE OF EVIL. IN ITS HIGHEST SENSE THE WORD INDICATES THE RELATION SUSTAINED BY OUR LORD TO HIS REDEEMED ONES, HE IS THEIR SAVIOR. THE GREAT MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL IS ABOUT SALVATION AND THE SAVIOR. IT IS THE “GOSPEL OF SALVATION.” FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST SECURES TO THE SINNER A PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE WORK OF REDEMPTION. SALVATION IS REDEMPTION MADE EFFECTUAL TO THE INDIVIDUAL BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” (From Parsons Bible Dictionary).
T.S. – Let’s take a moment this morning to discuss what it means to be a Savior: A life –saver!
I. Life – saver - saviors – (Stories – the real life saver Jesus)
a. A savior according to the dictionary is one who saves another from evil or death – history is filled with story upon story of one person saving another person in a life threatening moment in time.
i. I could have shared millions of stories with you this morning, stories of people being saved in battle by another soldier, stories of people being saved from drowning, stories of people going to distant lands to save people from starvation and disease, I could share stories from the Mercy Ship which does great work in Africa and abroad. I could share stories of one person coming along side another person in a dark moment of time and helping save another from disaster. There are many stories I could have pulled from history today to share with you – but I am going just pick two true stories:
ii. Story 1: The sad story of the Titanic and people drowning:
1. Survivor Eva Hart remembers the night, April 15, 1912, on which the Titanic plunged 12,000 feet to the Atlantic floor, some two hours and forty minutes after an iceberg tore a 300-foot gash in the starboard side: "I saw all the horror of its sinking, and I heard, even more dreadful, the cries of drowning people."
Although twenty life-boats and rafts were launched-too few and only partly filled-most of the passengers ended up struggling in the icy seas while those in the boats waited a safe distance away.
Lifeboat No. 14 did row back to the scene after the unsinkable ship slipped from sight at 2:20 A.m. Alone, it chased cries in the darkness, seeking and saving a precious few. Incredibly, no other boat joined it.
Some were already overloaded, but in virtually every other boat, those already saved rowed their half-filled boats aimlessly in the night, listening to the cries of the lost. Each feared a crush of unknown swimmers would cling to their craft, eventually swamping it.
One boat chose to go save the drowning while 19 others hovered at a distance watching and listening to people drown and take their last gasps of air. History has told this story over and over and made movies about this horrible disaster and the choices which were made that night.
a. Lesson to be learned from history here: Lifeboat 14 was filled with Saviors – people willing to risk – no willing to offer their lives on behalf of those who were dying so that they could be saved from certain death. 1-20 choose to save others and be called life-savers – heroes! The other 19 were crippled by fear and selfishness and more concerned about themselves than those dying around them.
i. So what would you have done that night on the icy sea?
b. Jesus is the Life-Savior of billions and He said - "I came to seek and to save the lost.” And he commissioned us to do the same. But we face a large obstacle: fear. While people drown in the treacherous waters around us, we are tempted to stay dry and make certain no one rocks our boat.
i. Jesus told us that we have to be willing to die to ourselves and be willing to lay our lives down for others because in doing so we actually gain life.
iii. Story 2: A DROWNING MAN in China:
1. Watchman Nee tells the story of his stay in China with twenty other Christians. The bathing accommodations were inadequate in the home where they were lodging, so they went for a daily dip in the river.
On one occasion, one of the men got a cramp in his leg and began sinking fast. Mr. Nee motioned to one of the other men, who was an excellent swimmer, about the drowning man. To his astonishment, however, the man did not move. He just stood there and watched the drowning man.
Mr. Nee was agitated, but the swimmer was calm and collected. Meanwhile, the voice of the drowning man grew fainter and more desperate. Mr. Nee hated the swimmer who just stood and watched on the shore when he could have jumped into the river and rescued the drowning man. As the drowning man went under for what looked like the last time, the swimmer was there in a moment, and both were soon safely on shore.
After the rescue, Mr. Nee chewed out the swimmer, accusing him of loving his life too much and being selfish. The response of the swimmer revealed, however, he knew what he was doing. He told Watchman that if he had gone too soon, the drowning man would have put a death grip on him and they would have both drowned in the river, and he was right. He told Mr. Nee that a drowning man cannot be saved until he is utterly exhausted and ceases to make the slightest effort to save himself.
a. Lesson to be learned: Such is the case with our salvation. When we stop trying to save ourselves, then the Lord can step in and save us when we yield to Him. When you see the final struggle that is a sign that you’re now sensitive and willing to be saved and that is where God can then step in and help you.
(From a sermon by Daniel Darling, The Monster Inside - Saying No To Yourself, 2/1/2011)
T.S. - These two stories illustrate what it means to be a Life-Savior of others and so this leads me into addressing why today “Palm Sunday” which kicks of Holy Week – or Easter Week is called Palm Sunday: So let’s read today from the Bible today the story of The Palm Sunday 1, 980 years ago.
II. Matthew 21 (The Message) – The Story of Jesus’ “The Amazing Savior’s” arrival in Jerusalem!
a. The Royal Welcome
1When they neared Jerusalem, having arrived at Bethphage on Mount Olives, Jesus sent two disciples
2with these instructions: “Go over to the village across from you. You’ll find a donkey tethered there, her colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me.
3If anyone asks what you’re doing, say, ‘The Master needs them!’ He will send them with you.”
4This is the full story of what was sketched earlier by the prophet:
5Tell Zion’s daughter, “Look, your king’s on his way, poised and ready, mounted On a donkey, on a colt, foal of a pack animal.”
6The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do.
7They led the donkey and colt out, laid some of their clothes on them, and Jesus mounted.
8Nearly all the people in the crowd threw their garments down on the road, giving him a royal welcome. Others cut branches from the trees and threw them down as a welcome mat.
9Crowds went ahead and crowds followed, all of them calling out, “Hosanna to David’s son!” “Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!” “Hosanna in highest heaven!”
10As he made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken. Unnerved, people were asking, “What’s going on here? Who is this?”
11The parade crowd answered, “This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee.”
b. We see from our historical account a city set ablaze with rejoicing, partying, celebrating and cheering for their hero – their Savior - Jesus:
i. This day reminds me of the day when I was in High School in Pittsburgh in the 1970’s when the Pittsburgh Steelers won their 4 Super Bowls – Each time the city went fanatical and frantic – they went crazy in celebration of these wins. Each year it happened the celebration got bigger and bigger!
ii. There was the big parades in downtown Pittsburgh were we had huge crowd. Then there was the marching through the streets of our neighborhoods - people going door to door celebrating at each house – there were Steelers shirts being sold and worn proudly, there was screaming, clapping, yelling, partying, dancing and crazy behavior going on all over the city. The city each time dumped tons of graffiti on the Steelers as they rode in the parade and down through the city streets– the city was a buzz for the Steelers and the Super bowl wins– they were dominant in the 70’s – they had the steel curtain defense and a great offense to start their Super Bowl run in the 70’s and it all started with the play of plays – the greatest play in NFL history the year was 1972:
1. Play video clip - http://www.nfl.com/videos/pittsburgh-steelers/09000d5d81d278eb/The-Immaculate-Reception
2. The Immaculate Reception is the nickname given to one of the most famous plays in the history of American football. It occurred in the AFC divisional playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on December 23, 1972.
3. NFL Films has chosen it as the greatest play of all time, as well as the most controversial. The play was a turning point for the Steelers, who reversed four decades of futility with their first playoff win ever, and went on to win four Super Bowls by the end of the decade.
a. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Reception
iii. And no one in Pittsburgh had forgotten about this miraculous play in the 1972 playoffs which launched them into the Super Bowl run for 4 rings, they had Franco Harris, Rocky Blier (a war hero –with ½ a foot as a running back), they had mean Joe Green, LC Greenwood, Jack Lambert, Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swan.
1. The city was on fire and juiced with excitement every time they won a Super Bowl!
a. Amazing – When they won their 4th Super Bowl the fans went even crazier because no team had ever done that before!
iv. The scenario back then reminds me of what it was like when Jesus entered Jerusalem – people had seen a miraculous move of God– Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead – the city was in jubilation – ecstasy – they were astounded and amazed at what had been happening through Jesus ministry!
1. We have a similar city set ablaze because of the miraculous miracles Jesus has been doing.
c. I sat and wondered who was in the crowd that day? If they had a video camera who would be seen standing by the roadside, laying branches down and their coats down on the road in front of Jesus?
i. Who was in the crowd that day?
1. I wonder who were part of crowd was there those who had been fed miraculously by Jesus there? – If you recall - He did this two times-what were they saying and doing?
ii. Who was in the crowd that day?
1. Was the little girl who Jesus raised from the dead standing there with her father and mother– was she on her father’s shoulders waving a palm branch to the one who raised her from the dead? Was the dad in tears as she was sitting on his shoulders cheering for Jesus?
iii. Who was in the crowd that day?
1. Was the women who had been healed of the issue of blood standing their waving a branch or laying in front of Jesus?
iv. Was Lazarus with the crowd who Jesus had just raised from the dead walking beside Him as He entered?
v. Was the paralytic who Jesus healed walking beside him and cheering on Jesus?
vi. Were the two men and the boy who were delivered from evil spirits in the crowd cheering at Jesus entry?
vii. I wonder if the ones who had been healed of leprosy were in the crowd that day shouting and jumping and waving the palm branches?
viii. Was the centurion there whose servant was healed?
ix. Was the Canaanite woman there with her daughter who was healed, cheering for Jesus?
x. I wonder if the rich young man was there looking from afar?
1. Thinking I could be a part of this great processional of victory!
xi. I wonder if the blind man that Jesus healed was there looking at the crowd their cheering and hooting – and he was rejoicing because he could see all of what was going on?
xii. I wonder how many people who had been healed, fed miraculously, were amazed at the miracles where in the crowd that day?
1. Fans of Jesus! Rooting for the home team the hero who would deliver their nation from the Romans! The one who would hand them their Super Bowl victory for Israel?
xiii. I have also wondered? If I was alive in that day where would I have been?
1. Looking from afar with the religious leaders of the day – with skepticism?
2. Walking along side of Jesus?
3. Standing and cheering from the sidelines?
4. Taking my coat off and laying it in front of him?
5. Waving palm branches – rejoicing that my Savior – the Amazing Savior had come to Jerusalem to deliver me – to die for me so that I could have an intimate relationship with God the Father? So that I could be forgiven and be given the privilege of being a son of God?
6. What would I have done? Where would I have been standing? What would be going through my mind?
xiv. But why were all these people there?
1. Quote: “Was it Jesus they wanted, or were they only interested in what he could do for them?” Idleman, Kyle (2011-05-24). Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus (p. 12). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
xv. Now let me ask you were would you been? What would you have been doing? Cheering? Taking your coat off to lay it at the feet of Jesus? Laying palm branches down on the road in front of him? Walking beside him? Running ahead of Him telling others that He is coming? Telling others of His miraculous signs and wonders?
1. Where would you be in the crowd? What would you have been doing?
d. So we have the story of Palm Sunday the time frame is 1,980 years ago and the image of that day resonates in our minds:
i. We hear the excitement of the crowd, the cheers are echoing across Jerusalem “Jesus our hero – our deliverer – our blessed one – our miracle worker – our feeder of thousands – our dead raiser – our healer – Our King is here!”-
ii. Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem fulfilling Old Testament Scripture and the people welcome him with welcome mats of palm branches, and coats which was a sign of honor and respect.
1. But the questions linger --- Did they truly believe in the mission of Jesus and the methodology of their salvation, designed and orchestrated from God above?
2. Where the people really amazed with Jesus and His message or with Jesus and what He could do for them personally?
3. Where they looking for someone to give them power over the Romans?
4. Looking for that person which could give them a free and better life, give them liberty or more freedom and help them pursuit a life of happiness?
5. A life were they were in control of calling all the shots – kings of their own castles – living the good life - making the money and choosing what and how they would rule their own mini kingdom?
e. But this prophet, this King, this blessed one, this Savior was actually coming to save every person’s life and He knew it!
i. Yes, He had chosen to come to Jerusalem to die – to offer His life for every person in that city and every person who would ever or would ever be born on the earth.
ii. Matthew 16: 21-28: 21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.
28I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
iii. Jesus choose to come to save the people of the world – yes even the religious leaders, the Romans – Yes, even us Americans!
iv. Yes, He choose to enter Jerusalem that day knowing that He would have to give up His life for each person who would celebrate Him today on Palm Sunday but by Friday would reject Him.
v. He knew these followers were only fair whether fans - not really genuine disciples but he was okay with that because His mission was to save them from themselves and from the evil one.
vi. No wonder they call Him the Savior!
1. You see Jesus was not concerned about the crowd, the applause, the following, the praise, the gifts, the hugs, the hoop la- he was concerned about the peoples level of commitment to the mission of God - the great Commission – the call to make disciples not followers – or fans but real disciples who too would lay their lives down for the sake of others – He was concerned about commitment – life changers – life savers – committed disciple makers – willing to lay down their lives for the Kingdom of God!
2. This is why upon arrival at the Temple He cleans out the money changers and market place for profit on the worship of God.
a. He wants commitment not marketing!
b. He wants prayer warriors not business style Christianity!
c. He wants disciples not fair whether fans!
d. He wants commitment to the mission – not easy Christianity!
f. (Worship team comes back up)
i. God knew what the world needed at this point in time – A Savior– and by the way what you and I need in our lives at this moment in time is “An Amazing Savior”: Chuck Swindoll in his book "The Grace Awakening" wrote this:
1. If our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our greatest need was forgiveness,
So God sent us a Savior!
a. For more from Chuck, visit http://www.insight.org
Conclusion:
Amazed? Are you amazed by our Savior by what He did that day and that last week of His life?
Challenge to the crowd: How about let’s be amazed by Jesus this Easter Week?
How about we let the light of Jesus Christ shine through our school, through the teachers and the teachings, through the chapel and the Bible studies, through the love for one another and through acts of service? How about let’s see people amazed by Jesus when we help out at Southside Christian Center mission and hand out blankets coats and boots. When we come from work and help prepare a meal or do a Bible study down in that rough part of the city with people who want something real and tangible. How about we love our neighbors as ourselves and in the process cause amazement in them for Jesus? How about we go on a mission trip and represent Jesus and let the people we help be amazed at this Savior Jesus! A Savior who sent me or you to them to meet their needs? How about we become amazed at what God is doing in our church and in people’s lives this next week?
It’s time to be amazed and be amazing for Jesus! It’s time the church be astonished at what Jesus is doing through us!
Let’s be amazed at how Jesus continues to pursue a love relationship with us even when we run the other way – listen to this song today and once again be amazed by an Amazing Savior!
Close with song: “You won’t relent!”
