We may be preoccupied in...
Illustration
We may be preoccupied in this text with the Palm Sunday story. But let's pay attention to the role of Lazarus here. Chapter 11 of John gives us the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Now, in the 12th chapter there are many who are coming to see Jesus, and also to see this man Lazarus who had come out of his grave. The chief priests were miffed to say the least, and they planned how they might put Lazarus to death and dispose of at least one of the things that attracted people to Jesus.
What do you think of this scene? Is it rather uncouth for people to be flocking around Jesus because they want to see a man he had raised from the dead? The chief priests must have seen this as some kind of circus. No wonder they didn't like Jesus. He was always doing something that was not traditional and not in keeping with the ways of practicing religion that pleased their finer sensitivities.
What attracts people to Jesus through your church today? What are the "open doors" that allow people to come in? Are there ways for people to engage the ministry of the gospel other than the Sunday morning service? Could your church be a place for meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous or other support groups? Might people come to know about a gracious God through non-traditional means?
"The Pharisees then said to one another, 'You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!' " Hurray!
What do you think of this scene? Is it rather uncouth for people to be flocking around Jesus because they want to see a man he had raised from the dead? The chief priests must have seen this as some kind of circus. No wonder they didn't like Jesus. He was always doing something that was not traditional and not in keeping with the ways of practicing religion that pleased their finer sensitivities.
What attracts people to Jesus through your church today? What are the "open doors" that allow people to come in? Are there ways for people to engage the ministry of the gospel other than the Sunday morning service? Could your church be a place for meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous or other support groups? Might people come to know about a gracious God through non-traditional means?
"The Pharisees then said to one another, 'You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!' " Hurray!
