March 25, 2018 - Inscriptions From The Heart

March 25, 2018
Pastor Tonyvic Tira
 

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”  17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 
(ESV, John 12:12-13,17-18)
 
Do you remember when you first died?  For me, I was ten years old.  I had prayed before that when I was five to ‘accept Jesus in my heart as my Saviour’, but it wasn’t until I was ten years old that I made a public declaration before heaven and earth to commit to Jesus as not only my Saviour but make him my Lord as well.  It was in this commitment that I (and you who were baptized) participated with Christ at the cross and died (to sin).
 
Up to and even after Palm Sunday, Jesus ministry was a constant reminder not only of his relationship to the Father but also his power and authority over all creation, even over death.  Death having been introduced into the world at the tree in the garden, has always been the biggest obstacle to a life abundant in fellowship with God as originally intended.  Death prompts us to the frailty of life.  Death points out the unpredictability of life.  Death reminds us of our rejection of God, the consequences of our shame, and the penalty of sin.  Death through the experience, reminder, or fear of, gives us many reasons to hold our own life dear.  Jesus is the ultimate reminder and proclamation that God holds our lives even more dear (than we do), if we would only commit it him.  For your life, mine, and those of His people he came that we might overcome sin (and it’s penalty).
 
At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus once again demonstrated the glory of God that the people gathered would believe.  When sin attempts to remind me of it’s hold on me, it is with boldness and confidence that I can proclaim that ‘I have died to sin’ and at the cross, Jesus paid the penalty that set me free from sin and it’s penalty of (spiritual) death.  Are you overwhelmed by sin?  Be reminded that Jesus has overwhelmed sin!  We bear witness, for those who have accepted his love as their saviour and in response committed to his Lordship over every aspect of their lives (even death), we joyfully proclaim: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’