Palm Passion Sunday Matthew 27 2023

Matthew 27; KJV Palm-Passion Sunday - a reading from the day of Jesus' execution.

Passion Sunday

Passion Sunday - Reading according to the Gospel of Luke. This is longer than my usual devotion as on Palm/Passion Sunday I read the entire Passion reading as way too many people do not have the opportunity (for many reasons) to attend worship the rest of the week including Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. If it were not for the events of this week there would be no Easter/Resurrection Sunday. Without his suffering and death there would be no resurrection! I am quite sure not many will listen through the length of this video; but, I present it anyway for if even one hears the Word it is worth it for I am convinced that the Holy Spirit will open their ears to hear what great thing God has done for us, for them, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Passion of Christ According to St Matthew

Following Jesus To Death And To Life

And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. (Matt 20:17-19 KJV)

Today, I am heading to my death. I'm going to walk right into the camp of those who want to kill me and you're coming with me. That's what Jesus told his disciples. And, they went. They followed him to Jerusalem. Only one, Judas, was not willing to participate as a possible victim. Once inside of Jerusalem, he went to the other camp. He regretted his actions and ended up in death before all of the others.

Sometimes, it is easier to take the other side. Sometimes, it might feel safer to ignore those who blaspheme the name of Jesus. Sometimes, we switch the subject and go another way instead of being willing to take up our cross and follow Jesus. 

But, is it really easier to go another way and stray from God's side? Is it really easier to lay down your cross and walk away? For the most part, the disciples did not see an option. They only knew that they wanted to follow their beloved Jesus. Yes, they all faltered at times in fear for their lives. But, in the end, all but one, picked their crosses back up and followed Jesus through the gateway of death into eternal life.

We all may get weary and afraid from time to time as we recognize that we might also become the persecuted. But, we must persevere in faithful witness to the life, death, and life of as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Fruits Of The Spirit

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,  faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Gal 5:22-25 NIV)

We all lose it once in awhile. There may come a time or times when none of the fruits of the spirit are evident in us. We are human and are liable to fall prey to human emotions like anger or fear or desperation and will react. Hopefully, it is only for a moment when it does happen. Hopefully, we will hear the reminder of the Spirit of Christ in us telling us that we belong to Jesus and that we must crucify our flesh; our ego with its negative and harmful desires must die in order to live more fully in him. We have to get a grip and let those harmful thoughts and emotions and acts die so that the Spirit of Christ might live more fully in us. 

There is so much negativity in the world that as Christians we must be careful not to promote that negative thinking and acting. As children of the heavenly Father, who have received the Holy Spirit, we might need to remind ourselves from time to time that this negativity; this futility, is not of God. Rather; love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are evidence of the Spirit of Christ that abides in us.

If we truly want to live in love, joy, and peace; then let us let us live in love, showing forbearance, kindness, and gentleness toward others.

May God help us to use the self-control that He has given us through the Spirit to live our lives more fully in Christ; to live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J