JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM

John 23:12-13 "The crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet Him shouting, 'Hosanna!' 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord' 'Blessed is the King of Israel."

TELL ME THE STORIES OF JESUS
Tell me the stories of Jesus, I love to hear;
Things I would ask Him to tell me, if He were here
Scenes by the way-side, tales of the seas
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

Into the city I'd follow, there take my stand,
Waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand
One of His heralds, Yes, I would sing
Loudest hosannas, "Jesus is King."
(W.H. Parker)

I stood on the streets of Jerusalem that Sunday, waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna, "Save us, Save us!" "Freedom, Freedom!" Our king, our Messiah--the Promised One is coming--the one who can free us from these hated Romans is here!! Hosanna!!
I had heard about Him. I had heard that He could heal the sick, that He could feed thousands with very little food. Everyone was talking about His miracles. Some said that He could raise the dead. Oh! The Wonder! And here He is--we can now see Him.
The crowds are all wild with excitement. People put their coats on the ground for Him, but, He doesn't seem to notice. He seems....sad.
He enters the city and comes straight to me. I am in awe--of all the people there, He came to me. He just stands there looking at me. He doesn't say a word. Then He turned around and left me. Why??
Because He was looking at the REAL me. I was caught up with the excitement of the crowd--shouting praises that were selfish. I was thinking about myself--what He was going to do for me.
Those songs of praise were not for Him. I wasn't worshipping Him, and He knew it. So, he Just stood there looking at me, and I was exposed for what I had done. And He left me without saying a word. I am so ashamed. I will never forget how he looked at me--those eyes.
Jesus, please forgive me. Yes, I thought you came to free us from the Romans. I didn't realize you came to free us from sin--from myself. Please come back. Please cleanse me.


The crowds waved palm branches and shouted "Hosanna" that day, and before the week was over, crowds would be yelling, "Crucify Him". They wanted Jesus to be their King and free them from Roman Oppression. But that wasn't His mission. He came to free them, not from the Romans, but from the bondage of their sins. Because He didn't meet their demands and fulfill their desires and dreams, they crucified Him.

THINGS TO PONDER:

1. Have I allowed Jesus to free me from sin, and is he my King of Kings?

2. Do I worship and sing praises to Jesus on Sunday, and betray Him the rest of the week?

3. Is my worship as fickle as the crowd's on the streets of Jerusalem?

4. Are my interests so selfish that I am blind to the interests of God?

5. Do I understand the mission of Jesus and my part in that mission?
-jl

The Journey

As we journey with Jesus the last week He lived, we want to feel His passion, hurt when He hurt, experience His emotions and suffer His pain.

We have traveled the road to Jerusalem with Him to celebrate the Passover. We didn't realize that this road would lead us to the Cross. We all must face the cross. We must force ourselves to hear Jesus cry out in pain. We must stay there and watch the horror of His death. We must stand at the foot of the Cross and watch His blood drop to the ground.

Why? Because the Bible says that we are all sinners, and without the shedding of His blood, there can be no cleansing and forgiveness for our sins.

Also, without the cross there would be no Resurrection. Without the Resurrection, there would be no hope of eternal life.

As we walk in the footprints of our Savior these last days of His life, we will get a glimpse of ourselves. Will we find ourselves in the fickle crowd waving palm branches, shouting praises to Him--only to betray Him and deny Him before the week is over? Will we feel shame as He reveals the dirty things He sees in or lives and allow Him to cleanse us as He cleansed the temple? Will we grieve as He prays for us in the Garden? Will we know the fellowship of sharing His sufferings? -jl

EASTER OUTREACH 2008

A Few Thousand Eggs... A Few Hundreds Kids... One Life Changing Story... and a Whole Lot of Fun!

EASTER OUTREACH 08 | SATURDAY, MARCH 15TH | HANCOCK PARK on IDA ST.
It's the greatest story ever told and we're sharing it in a special way on a special day. On Saturday, March 15th we will roll out several thousand eggs for the kids of Trace Crossing and Ida Street to find together. And after the eggs have all been found, we're going to sit down and talk about the one thing in life we are all looking for - a new life, a new chance, a new hope. So come watch a few hundred kids search for a few thousand eggs. Then sit back and listen to the greatest story ever told... and find what you've been looking for.

Have Questions?
Email us (vanessa@tracecrossing.org) or call our church office (662.791.7858)
for more information.

"My Help" - Psalms 121

My prayer is that this will minister to all who watch and listen........

If You Can Use Anything, You Can Use Me

I cannot tell you how many times the Lord has used the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir to minister to me when I have been in the deepest of valleys and the darkest of nights. If you knew the history of the choir, it makes since. This choir was formed with people who have been down roads you and I can only imagine.

This song, spoke to me years ago and is a testimony that I still need to be reminded of today. "If you can use anything Lord, you can use me." The pictures on the video are reminders to all of us that God has put us in a paticular position that He has created for us for the purpose of being used for His glory. Yes, even the deep dark valleys. The comfort is, He is with us. May the words to this song be our prayer today. Enjoy and be blessed!! -jl