Easter is all about grace – God’s grace to us. 
I’ve heard it described as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.  We have done nothing and can do nothing to earn God’s grace – it’s God’s free gift to us although it dearly cost Him.  That’s why we will never earn our way to heaven; or repay God for what He did for us.  All we can say is ‘thank you’ and receive the grace gift of salvation and through the Holy Spirit now living in us, to share the good news with others and live for Him in all that we do.  Because of what God has done for us, it’s the very least we can do - to live for Him: In fact we get the blessings when we do so - God’s grace doesn’t stop when we become Christians!

So that’s why it’s never about you, if you deserve forgiveness (because we don’t.)  It’s why it doesn’t matter what you have done in the past, however horrific it may have been, as all sin is covered on the cross.  It’s why it’s always all about Jesus. 

Beth Moore reminded me recently when I watched her video, that it’s not just about what you are saved FROM it’s about who you are being saved TO. 

That’s why it’s important to read and study your bible and to spend time with God in prayer getting to know Him.  As when you do, you see the character of God, you see how all powerful He is, you see how He keeps His promises.  You see that when God says “no one can snatch you out of my hand” John 10:28  that your salvation is secure – it doesn’t rely upon you but God.  You see why you can trust Him.

Isn’t it wonderful that it’s not about you or me but it’s about God?

If you liked the videos (Palm Sunday - all week through to today) they are by the skit guys

He was spat upon, struck, mocked, falsely accused, stripped, beaten, whipped; he was unrecognisable as a man.  The crowds that were just a week ago singing his praises, had turned and demanded his death, mocking him. 

When the centurion and others saw the way that Jesus behaved on the cross as well as how he died. (Luke 23:48) they knew what they did was wrong.  Death could not take Him until Jesus surrendered. 

Listen to or read the accounts of what happened -
Matthew 26:27 - chapter 27
Luke 22: 54 - chapter 23
Mark 14: 53 - chapter 15

He died at the same time that the lamb would be killed for the sacrifice of sins for the people of Israel.  Jesus death marked the end of the old covenant.  His sacrifice was the perfect sacrifice, once and for all time.  (1 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 9:28, Hebrews 10:12-14)

Jesus died in your place and mine so we wouldn’t have to!  Isaiah 53:5

The curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom.  From God to His people, we don’t need any priests or intercessors anymore as Jesus is our intercessor (Hebrews 7:25  Romans 8:26-27)

However good you think you are, however a good life you may have led it’s not good enough.

"...There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:10-12

But that’s why Jesus died so there was a way you could go to heaven. 
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

When someone knocks at your door, it takes an act of faith to open it and believe someone is there. As you don’t see the person yet but are aware by the sound that someone is outside your door.  If you are aware of God trying to get your attention and is speaking to you, open the door!

If you do then Ephesians 2:8 says: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."

This isn’t good news - it’s the greatest, most awesome, brilliant news there is!  Or, as I am Scottish I’d say this was “pure dead brilliant so it is!”  But not wanting to confuse anyone who doesn’t know that saying, we will see on Sunday, the ‘dead’ part changes!

missed yesterday's account of the last supper?
below is the video

Listen or read the accounts at the garden -
Matthew 26:36-56
Luke 22:39-53
Mark 14:26-50

Jesus and the disciples had just finished singing a hymn Matt 26:30 (probably psalm 118 as that was the traditional psalm that was sung at the end of the Passover meal. Psalms 113-118 were the psalms that were sung at Passover) when they left for the mount of olives.  It never struck me before, that traditionally Passover is a celebration of thanksgiving.  So even though Jesus knew what was ahead of Him the meal wasn’t a very sombre occasion! 

We looked at Psalm 118:24 a few days ago talking about however a bad day we are having, we still find something to rejoice in, giving praise to God for making this day.  Puts it into perspective doesn’t it, Jesus singing this knowing what was ahead of Him? What manner of love is this?

Did you notice that Jesus didn’t treat Judas any differently?  Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, and yet treated him the same as the others: The disciples didn’t even know who it was that Jesus was talking about!  Judas had plenty of time watching Jesus day after day to see who He is, but yet didn’t repent (he was stealing) and become a true follower.  No one made Judas do anything; it was in his heart to betray Jesus.

What manner of love is this, that Jesus didn’t treat Judas any differently even in that upper room and washed his feet knowing what he was about to do?

Have you ever been hurt by your friends, needed them but they let you down?  Jesus wanted them to keep watch and pray, but they kept falling asleep! 
If you knew that your friends were going to leave you at your darkest hour, could you still show love and concern for them?  Jesus knew all his disciples would flee from him that night, and he’d be alone. 
What manner of love is this?

A guard (servant of high priest) coming to capture Jesus, knowing that Jesus would more than likely die and was willing to fight to capture Jesus.  When he was wounded the man he was about to capture and lead to his death bothered to be concerned about his wound and healed him. 
What manner of love is this?

Jesus knew the guards would come to take him away.  Jesus knew His time had come to die and yet he didn’t run away!  He didn’t die because he was captured and had no other choice. He died because He was willing to.  We should have been on the cross, as we are sinners, but He willingly took our place so we wouldn’t have to.
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” 1 Peter 2:24

What manner of love is this that he didn’t run away and say no?

What manner of love is this that he suffered greatly before he died, and was willing and died a brutal death for me when He didn’t have to do anything?

What manner of love is this?

“I pray… that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith...  being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge…” Ephesians 3: 16-19

                                                                                                                                                    

(Now till Easter these will be non dog posts)

What happened leading up to Easter? 

I am starting today with the “last supper” as quite a few different things took place, so I wanted to give us time to understand and reflect on each of them.
Here is the eye witness accounts told here in a 'fresh' way.

 to be continued tomorrow

Some background -

These events took place over Passover.  Passover is a time when Jews commemorates the time that the Israelites were rescued by God from slavery in Egypt and how it gave birth to a Jewish nation.  

Pharaoh, the Egyptian ruler refused to listen to God’s message through Moses to free the Israelites.  So God told each Hebrew family (Israelites) to take the blood of a lamb and put it on their door frames, and then death would pass over them and they would be spared and wouldn’t lose their first born.  Passover was then kept from generation to generation as God commanded it, as it was important to remember God’s deliverance and goodness to them.

Jesus knew that he was going to become the Passover lamb for us. He turned the Passover meal in that upper room into what we know as communion.  As God has delivered us from the consequence of sin (eternal death) if we have faith in Him just like those Israelities had faith in God and believed He would spare their first born.

So when we as Christians take communion we remember God’s deliverance and wonderful, amazing love to us, by His perfect sacrifice for us – dying for us so we can live forever with Him. 

We can see in these passages the account of the “last supper.”
Luke 22:3-38
Mark 14:10-26
Matthew 26:17-31
John 13:1-17

 

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
James 1: 22-25

Hamish hurt his paw by playing ball last week. 
It was a rather tame session of ball compared to others but it resulted in him drawing the paw up close, hobbling along on the remainder of his 3 legs.  You see we hadn’t been playing ball for a few days before it, so his muscles had begun to forget what it felt like being stretched like that and it hurt.

Our spiritual muscles can hurt when we start using them as we aren’t used to it.  Something may seem strange at first.  It could be finding time to have a quiet time as you never had time before.  This week my spiritual paw hurt.  I am doing a bible study with a friend on ‘James.’  My paw is hurting all over the place.  Last week it was all about ‘putting a bridle around that tongue,’ and 'slow to speak' – ouch that hurt.

It’s not about hearing it and agreeing it’s a good thing to try and do, it’s about doing it. 

My paw also hurt in a different way as Beth Moore is encouraging us in the study to memorise the WHOLE book of James.  Did I take a huge gulp when I read that! 

My friend has already memorised the first 3 chapters (and we are only in the 3rd week in!) and I’m struggling with the first 5 verses!  Thankfully she puts no pressure on me but instead is the good encouraging friend that by example is spurring me on.  I am finishing the fun stage, like someone who is motivated to go to the gym and goes out and buys new trainers (sneakers) and a new outfit but hasn’t actually started the hard part; I went and bought a laminator.  I had fun in 'publisher' putting flowers around the verses and printing them out and then laminating.  So I can stick them everywhere around the house and memorise them while in the restroom, driving etc. 

It’s been a long while since I made a concerted effort to memorise verses and it hurts. But what hurts the most is living it. 

At different times God places on our hearts different things we need to work on in our lives. He convicts us either of things we are doing that aren’t helpful in our life or things we aren’t doing or practicing as well as we should be.  I don’t know what and how it is with you but when I start doing things I’m not used to or feel that I should be stopping something, it can be hard at first.  But by doing it, and repeating it over and over, it won’t hurt as much; you will get used to it and be more mature in that area as God helps and encourages us. (Isaiah 40:29-31)   If you are doing a daily quiet time for the first time, it might be initially hard making time for it, but very soon you will find as you are growing closer with God, you can’t do without spending that special alone time with Him.

As Beth Moore points out in the study we can underline verses in our bible in lovely colours, or feel convicted reading something or ‘that’s a good word today pastor.’  But as James says if we don’t actually do it, it’s not going to benefit us or bless us.  Just like me if I stay at the stage of making the verses look pretty and not memorise it or the person who buys the clothes for the gym to look the part but doesn’t go to the gym, how is that beneficial?

But when we do continue growing up and maturing in God, obeying Him, then we will reap the benefits.  It will bless us as we genuine love those who are unlovable. Or whatever it is that God is challenging you on today.  At the beginning you may feel like the ‘I can’t catch my breath walking up one flight of stairs’ person. But wouldn’t you love the equivalent  feeling of running with ease and standing at the top of a mountain looking at an amazing vista?
God gives us the help and strength to do it.

Come back tomorrow and the next few days and bring a friend who is maybe seeking and doesn't know what Easter is all about.  We will be looking at videos done in a 'seeker friendly' way - the eye-witness accounts of what happened.

Hamish has sprained his paw playing ball so we are laying low at the moment, he is eager to say 'hi' next time!

I'm into skits it seems at the moment!  Below is an explanation of what Palm Sunday is all about.

Come back on Wednesday for some more videos.