3/31/2002

^{Let’s bow}

^{Father we thank you for that wonderful promise, we no longer fear death, we enjoy life and we look forward to that life that will be long, and long, and long, and longer. We thank you for that wonderful gift you gave us in Jesus Christ our Savior who resurrected from the dead is morning. We thank you so much for that. We celebrate it and we appreciate it. In Jesus Name, Amen.}

^{The shofar sounded the call the worship. The Rams horn proclaimed that the people of Israel were together once more. They would celebrate the Passover in the City where God had established his name. The Holy City of Jerusalem. It was a celebration of a people who were chosen. Called out among the nations, a people set apart for service to the one true God. They came from the surrounding country side and met together along the road and with each step climbed higher toward Zion confident that the Lord their God ordaining step of the journey they pressed on in faith assured of his presence along the way. Those who trust in the Lord are as Mt. Zion, which can not be moved but abides forever. When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouths was filled with laughter and our voices with joyful shouting. The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad. I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord. The Maker of heaven, heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip. He who watches over you will not slumber or sleep. As the mountains surround Jerusalem so the Lord surrounds his people. From this time forth and forever.}

^{How do you enter the presence of a Holy God? Jehovah had reveled himself to Moses on the mountain as one who requires holiness from his people. And so they gathered at the Feast of the Passover and partook of the unleavened bread, the symbol of the sinless life. They remembered their forefathers who came out of Egypt in hast and were led into a land of promise. They were called the turn from the leaven of malice and wickedness and receive the unleavened bread in sincerity and truth, in a symbolic act of obedience they removed the leaven from their houses and pledged again to remove all sin from their lives. Year after year they repeated the ritual and cried out to God to make them holy. Failing in their own strength they were unable to gain victory over sin. But there was one, one who walked with them to celebrate this feast, who came to give them the power to turn from sin. He journeyed beside them and heard their cries and came to make them holy.}

^{The Twelve Tribes of Israel enter the Holy City and the celebration began. The faithful believers gathered to worship the Lord and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’ Our feet are standing within your gates O Jerusalem for the sake of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good. May peace be within your walls. In prosperity in your palaces within your gates O Jerusalem we give thanks to the name of the Lord.}

^{In his time on earth the Lord Jesus walked from one city and village to another teaching and healing and proclaiming the kingdom but always proceeding on his way toward Jerusalem to the Holy City that the temple of his heavenly Father. He knew who he was, he knew why he was here and he knew where he was going. Every step took him closer. And every moment brought him nearer to the destiny that awaited him. He kept pressing on, he set his face for Jerusalem and he did not turn away from the purpose for which he came.}

^{The road he walked was a familiar one. He made this journey in the spring of the year, every year of his life. And each time it was a celebration, a time to worship and look to the future fulfillment of God’s promises to his children. In years past, he attended the feast as any other faithful Hebrew but this time he entered the city as the Promised Son of David. The people stood on either side waving palm branches and shouting their praise to God for all the miracles which they had seen. ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna to the Son of David. Hosanna in the highest.’}

^{As his journey continued the crowds of people and even his closest friends did not understand the purpose of this moment in time in this particular pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This time he came to fulfill the purpose of the celebration. At this Feast of the Passover he would not gather with his family and prepare a perfect lamb. This time he himself would become the perfect lamb. He climbed the hill towards Jerusalem walking toward one final hill where a cross stood ready. Those who had shouted his praises just one week before now lined the streets again, this time shouting for his death. And still he journeyed on. Each footstep with purpose. For the joys set before him he walked on toward the cross. He looked out upon the city and wept for it. Oh Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I wanted to gather your children together just as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you, you would not have it.}

^{There were some who walked with him on that road, a handful who did not deny him, one carried his cross. A few stood and watched and kept vigil in the final hours of this life. They had walked beside him for three years not understanding that each road took him closer to this moment. Not believing that it would end in a glorious victory. There thoughts were filled with grief and loss, was this the end? Would they ever see him again? Did all hope die with him? I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait and in his word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchman for the morning. If you Lord should mark iniquities who could stand? O Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is loving kindness and with him is abundant redemption. Weeping may endure for the night, but a shout of joy will come in the morning.}

^{The road he walked led to an empty tomb and by his power I now walk with him. My victory is assured for he will not allow my foot to slip. He kept his eye on the cross and I keep my eyes on him. The one who went before me into the presence of God makes my path secure. Looking straight ahead at the task before me, I walk in his footsteps on my own Calvary road. And as he died, I die daily and let him live through me. On this path he leads me out of sin and onto higher ground. O come let us go to the house of the Lord. Let us journey together and follow in the footsteps of our victorious Lord, for Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed for the sins of the world. In him is our victory.}

^{Let’s Pray:}

^{Lord God this morning as we have celebrated your resurrection, we pray that it is real in our hearts. Lord, I thank you so much for the fact that you are risen and you are a Savior who has overcome death and Lord we put our trust and our faith in you. We just thank you for that promise that we can hold onto and I pray that this week we will just know in our hearts that you are the risen one and we can put our trust in you. Be with us as we go. In Jesus Name, Amen}

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