Speaker: Bruce Martin
Weekend: July 31-Aug 1, 2010
Text: John 12:12-23

It was a textbook case of mob hysteria when Jesus rode into Jerusalem only 5 days before Passover.  Everyone was in a state of excitement or agitation— the pilgrims thrilled with anticipation, the disciples delirious for joy, the religious leaders furious to the point of murder, the Greek proselytes curious to know more.

Jesus was making a bold statement of who He was and why He had come.  But his offer that day was greatly misunderstood and soundly rejected.  He spoke cryptically about wheat which died and hating one’s life, which did not have general appeal.

Where do you stand in that crowd clamoring to make Jesus king?  What kind of King are you willing to follow?

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As we continue our study of the Gospel of John, we come to contrasting ways of worship. Mary is at the feet of Jesus anointing him with costly perfume. On the other hand, Judas and his disciples view this as wasteful.

What are some of the guidelines regarding extravagance and wastefulness when it comes to worship? Let’s look at this passage together for some help.

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All of us have or will go through a serious sickness or the death of a loved one. Where is Jesus during those hard and difficult times? Does He hear our prayers? How does He answer our cries for help?

Martha and Mary had a very sick brother. They told Jesus about it, but their brother died anyway. Disappointment? Pain? Anger? Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life…” Can they believe this? Can you?

Join us today to see how Jesus handles sickness, suffering and death.

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“He used to be a Christian, but he’s not anymore!”

Ever heard that? Ever said that? Can that be true?

The controversy surrounding Jesus was reaching the boiling point. The people were ready to pull off a public stoning! And in the middle of it Jesus gives us some promises that should bolster the faith of “sheep”–sheep who can identify the voice of the shepherd and who follow him.

Are you a sheep? Then you are in a good place!

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What is the full life? What does it look like? What does it sound like?

Is it an all-American idea? Is it different for every person, based on their own dreams and preferences?

On this holiday weekend, when we stop to celebrate the ideals of America, let’s listen to what Jesus has to say about the full life He came to give.

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Jesus is leaving the Temple grounds with his disciples when they come across a man who has been blind since birth. Isn’t it funny that the response of the disciples is not “We can help this man!”, but rather, “Wow, what sin was committed to cause this disability?”

The same can be true today. We get so focused on how a person got into a given predicament, we forget that we could help them out!

We all have the opportunity to help others, but will we?

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Tensions mount during the Feast of the Tabernacles as Jesus further reveals His true identity to the Jewish leadership. The conversation centers around who are the true children of Abraham and ends with a startling declaration!

But do WE accept these bold claims by Jesus? Our answer may just point us to who our real Father is too.

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All of life is not a straight line. For some of us that would be heaven! But it’s not–there are bobs and weaves and bumps and curves. And without them we would never learn the skills of navigation.

But corners are particularly treacherous. On police shows, corners are the places where guns are drawn!

Now don’t take that comparison too far. Yes, our work is a battle. And today we do want to peek around the corner. What’s on the horizon for Calvary? For our mission?

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The Rabbis used to say, “Every Jew must die before he will commit idolatry, murder or adultery.” Adultery was definitely one of the Big Three sins, and carried with it the shame of the scarlet letter as well as the death penalty.

The religious leaders threw the book at the woman in their attempt to bring Jesus down, publicly humiliating her. Jesus responded with grace and truth, giving her a second chance.

He then pointed out that the sins of righteousness are every bit as serious as the sins of the flesh.

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Just six months before Jesus makes the ultimate sacrifice, the crowds in Jerusalem are clearly taking sides regarding him. It isn’t time yet, but the atmosphere is getting heated.

Can you imagine the debates in the small groups of people milling about the city? Some people get loud, angry and huffy, while others are just quiet about him.

It is all a reminder of how polarizing and offensive it is to consider the claims of someone who said he was God! Many of us even adore and follow him! What was true then is still true today.