​“Palm Sunday,” is the day of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem one week prior to his crucifixion and death. In case some of you are wondering why this is called “Palm Sunday,” it is because according to the Gospel of John the crowds in Jerusalem came out to greet Jesus carrying palm branches, which they either waved or strewed in his path. The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and victory in Jewish tradition and is treated in other parts of the Bible as such (Leviticus 23:40 and Revelation 7:9 NIV). Because of this, the scene of the crowd greeting Jesus by waving palms and carpeting his path looked like a victory! What does this mean?

​Millions and millions of Christians around the world celebrate Easter every year. But for far too many of us the story has become boring and rotten. We have the basic facts down. Jesus was arrested! He was crucified! And three days later, God raised him from the dead.

​The event that we are going to read today is of a woman who was forced into Jesus' presence. I can tell there are some people here who identify with being forced in front of someone. Some of you were forced to go to church growing up.

You are married to a spouse who forces you; you feel forced to be here. Some of you are younger; you are living with your parents, and they force you to come. Those of you that are dating someone. You were not coming to church until this relationship started when she said, “Do you go to church?” and you looked at her and said, “I do now.” So, if you feel forced, you will be able to really identify with the woman in this event.

If you come today willingly and have been before, I ask you if you can listen to this as if you were hearing it for the first time. 

It is found in the gospel of John, the eighth chapter, starting with verse one: “Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives but early the next morning He was back again at the temple. A crowd soon gathered and He sat down and taught them.” 

The Bible tells us that everywhere Jesus went there was a crowd. People wanted to hear Him teach; people wanted to be around Him; they wanted to see Him. This crowd adds to the drama of everything that is happening here. With this event, the more people that are around, the juicier it gets.

They were so concerned about the external, and Jesus was concerned about the internal. There was often tension. 

Now, two thousand years ago, things have not changed all that much. When it comes to adultery, there must be two involved. Right? She is by herself. Where is the guy in this story? Sleeping in? Reading the paper?

Did he slip out of the back when the intruders scared the camels and they barked? Why is he not there? It really does not matter. Because the religious leaders who brought this woman really were not concerned about justice at all. 

This happens in today’s church…They did this; do not look at me. Because if they were concerned about justice, it would have been man and woman. That was the Law. They were not concerned about that at all. In fact, this woman was meaningless. She was an object; she was a pawn.

She was the bait to catch a bigger fish. And she was well chosen bait too because Jesus had a reputation among the Pharisees of being the champion of women. I must imagine these religious leaders were smug and prideful at this point. “We have got Him!” They are high fiving each other.

Surprise! Notice it would have been quite easy for Jesus to move into the role of judge, but He does not. He avoids that role. I do not think the religious leaders and the Pharisees counted on the fact that Jesus was putting people before practices. They had not gotten their arms around His central message yet, which was to love one another, not to law one another. His brilliant response broke the dilemma. Are you not glad that Jesus sees what we cannot?

Make Every Day Count!

Easter is the most important day on the Christian calendar because the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, from the dead is the most important event in the history of this world and the entire universe. To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, “It’s what the whole story has been about…” He was placed in a borrowed tomb and resurrected on the third day. He walked among the people for 40 days and ascended into heaven, and He will come back for those who trust Him as Savior and Lord of their lives. Now that is some great news!

This coming Sunday we are starting a new sermon series. It is called “Extra, Extra Read all about it”! Extra! Extra! Read all about it! A cliché stock phrase from the 1890s through the 1940s used to denote breaking news! I have great news for you today. Jesus died on the cross of Calvary for our sins. The cross was the goal of Jesus from the very beginning. His birth was so there would be His death. The incarnation was for our atonement. He was born to die so that we might live. And when He had accomplished the purpose He had come to fulfill, He summed it up with a single word: “finished.”

In Matthew we see the life-transforming power of faith in Jesus Christ. True faith leaves all to follow the Savior. The question from Matthew to you is,  “Have you heard Jesus’ call?”  Will you follow?

Do not be afraid to follow Jesus. You will never regret starting down the “Jesus Road.”  You will only regret that you waited so long to do it.

Make Every Day Count!