April 9, 2022
Dear Road Church Friends,
Jesus compared his life’s work and goal to a kernel of wheat. On the day we call Palm Sunday, he said, “The hour of my glorification is here. Unless a kernel of wheat is buried in the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” Jesus spoke of his death as the hour of his glorification. Jesus’ finest hour began on Palm Sunday, but the way it played out took his opponents and even his closest disciples completely by surprise. Even though they lived through the drama of Holy Week, they only understood the meaning of what they experienced in hindsight. Before the cross nothing about Jesus made sense to them. After the cross everything made sense. The cross is proof that God’s sacrificial love for the world is infinite. It bears my much fruit because it is the most powerful transforming force in the world. Sunday’s message will be a survey of the cross and the difference a “cross-centered” outlook can make in our life.
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 21:1-9 and John 12:20-25, 32-33 MESSAGE: The Power of the Cross
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life will lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life…And, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
FAITH
There is no unbelief,
Whoever plants a seed beneath the sod, and waits to see it push away the clod,
He trusts in God.
Whoever says when clouds are in the sky, “be patient, light will break through bye and bye.”
Trusts in the Most High.
Whoever sees ‘neath fields of winter snow, the silent harvest of the future grow,
God’s power must know.
Whoever lies down on his couch to sleep, content to lock each sense in slumber deep,
Knows God will keep.
Whoever says, “Tomorrow,” “The Unknown,” or, “The Future,” trusts that power alone
He dares disown.
There is no unbelief,
And day by day and night, unconsciously, the heart lives by that faith the lips deny,
God knoweth why.
by Edward Bulwark- Lytton
Please make plans to attend our Maundy Thursday Service, April 14 at 5:00 pm.
Blessings to all,
Pastor Norm
Our service on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QaxXMRrmfcw