Hey! Let's Go Stone Jesus!! (Palm Sunday)

So, as most of you know, I'm an idiot when it comes to church days and customs and stuff. Well, today is Palm Sunday and we celebrate the ride that Jesus took on a donkey into Jerusalem...thus fulfilling the ancient prophecies told centuries before. I like the story and I enjoyed reading it as I read through the New Testament a few months ago...but as I am re-reading it now in preparation for Easter, this story hits deep!!

Here is Jesus, riding a donkey that had never been ridden through the gates of Jerusalem! People are shouting and cheering for Him!! They are excited!! They love Him!! They are praising Him as they lay Palm branches before Him...a sign of great royal honor!! It was truly an exciting time...for the people.

You see...I have to stop and imagine how Jesus was feeling at this moment. He hadn't come back to be part of some grand parade in His honor!! He knew the facts...He knew the future...He knew that He had come back to die an absolutely horrifying death on a cross after being beaten within an inch of His life and taunted mercilessly!!

The people were quite confused as well...they thought Jesus had come to save them...liberate them...empower them...and elevate them!! They called Him king...but they were not aware of what was about to happen.

Flash forward a few days and suddenly we see these same massive crowds that had been cheering and praising Jesus only days before...now they are cursing Him as He carries His own cross...they are spitting on Him as He passes by...these very same people who so loved Him are now throwing stones at Him as He falls under the weight of the cross He is carrying.

For many of us, every single Sunday is like Palm Sunday!! You see...we go to church. We sit in our pew. We listen to the preacher. We sing praises. We talk about what Jesus has done in our lives. We mention prayers we need asked on our behalf. We say amen from time to time. We communicate to everyone around us through actions and words that we LOVE Jesus and that we are so happy He came into our presence.

Then...a few days later...after the Sunday meals have been eaten and the nice suits and dresses have been changed out of...maybe we are at work...or with friends...or by ourselves. A few days later, we curse Jesus through our actions! We spit in His face through our thoughts and deeds! We throw stones at Him through our countless sins we refuse to correct in our lives.

Yes...many of us are EXACTLY like the crowd on Palm Sunday back then...sad but true.

Oh...by the way...the absolutely AMAZING thing about back then and today??? Jesus is ALIVE and Jesus is still willing to suffer the beatings...endure the curses...carry the cross...and forgive you and I of our sins!! He did it that very day for the crowds and He has done it every day since!!

You see, when Jesus died on the cross, it wasn't for a few sins!! It wasn't for some sins!! It wasn't for most sins!!

It was for ALL of our sins!!! I ask you today: DO YOU KNOW HIM?? Do you?? Have you had that radical meeting with Jesus that changes who you are from the inside out?? Do you know Him?? Do you??

If you don't...I beg you to take a moment and seek Him out. As you read this, the small voice tugged at you a little bit. I know...it freaks me out too!! But that is God asking you to let Him in!! You don't have to change...The change will occur through His undeniable love and grace!! You will WANT to change once you meet Him and His glory!!

I know you walked an aisle when you were younger...or got christened as a baby...or told some man in a collar behind a screen all your sins...or said three hail Mary's...or got dunked in a swimming pool back when all the other kids were doing it...or grew up in a church going family and was told that would get you in...

But unless the change is evident...Unless the change is radical...Unless the change is apparent...Unless the change is supernatural...Then I have four words: Do You Know Him??

You don't need a church....you don't need a Bible...you don't need a preacher...you don't need a life coach. You need a savior!!! Thank God we all have one just waiting for us all to invite Him into our hearts!!

Woooooooooooooo!!!

I love you guys!!

"Love one another." -Jesus