We are just one week away from Easter! Next Sunday we share the excitement and joy of the resurrected Christ. What a glorious celebration it will be! Jesus died for our sin! But He did more than die; He was resurrected, letting us know that death, hell and the grave have been conquered!

Today we remembered the Triumphal Entry – Palm Sunday. We joined the excited crowd by waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna! Will we keep the joy all week or will we reject Christ by the way we live this week? It is a sobering thought!

In The Grace of Giving, Stephen Olford tells of a Baptist pastor during the American Revolution, Peter Miller, who lived in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. He and George Washington were personal friends.

Michael Wittman also lived in Ephrata. Wittman was an evil-minded man that did all he could to oppose and humiliate the pastor. Because of other evil things Wittman did he was arrested for treason and sentenced to die.

The Baptist pastor traveled seventy miles on foot to Philadelphia to plead for the life of the traitor.

"No, Peter," General Washington said. "I cannot grant you the life of your friend."

"My friend!" exclaimed the old preacher. "He's the bitterest enemy I have."

"What?" cried Washington; "You've walked seventy miles to save the life of an enemy? That puts the matter in different light. I'll grant your pardon." And he did.

            Peter Miller took Michael Wittman back home to Ephrata--no longer an enemy but a friend.                                                          By Lynn Jost. Found at www.sermonillustrations.com

     What are we willing to do for our friends – and for our enemies?  Let’s consider what Jesus did!

Think about it! The God of the Universe paid the price – the penalty for our sins!

Jesus had devoted friends and bitter enemies. Everything came to a head during Holy Week, and the hero of Palm Sunday was denied by His friends and put to death on Friday – which we call “Good Friday.”

Why would we call that “Good Friday?” Those who were there considered it the worst day of their lives!

The difference is, we know how the story ends!  For 3 years Jesus had told His mother and His friends, “My hour has not yet come.” His “hour” came on Good Friday – when He died – but it ended gloriously when He was resurrected on Easter Sunday, the 3^rd day.

          Jesus knew the scriptures. He knew what an awful death He was facing. Yet with an amazing sense of determination and a powerful love for each one of us, Jesus took on His responsibility with amazing self-discipline!

Acts 2:22-24: "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a Man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him."

          In the amazing sermon that Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, Peter explained that God sent Jesus to earth specifically to die for our sins.

When Jesus was born He knew nothing more than any baby knows. As He matured as a human the Holy Spirit began to help Him understand exactly who He was.

          By the time Jesus entered His ministry, He fully understood who He was and was able to say, “I saw Satan fall from heaven.” (Luke 10:18)

          God will never ask us to love more or give more than He gave for us through Jesus Christ.

          We know the story of Holy Week. Jesus was a hero to everyone except His devout enemies on Sunday. By Friday evening He was dead–the crowds had been enticed to shout “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

          After Jesus was beaten to within moments of death, a crown of thorns was placed on His head, then He attempted to carry the cross to Golgotha. Because He was so weak He was unable to carry the cross all the way. An African was enlisted to carry it the rest of the way.

          Think back to a time when you messed up and felt crushed under the load of guilt and despair. That will give us a small understanding of how Jesus felt when the sin of the world was dumped on Him. Think of it!   Jesus became sin for us!

He also bore our sicknesses and sorrow. Some scholars believe that He felt the symptoms of our sicknesses. Up to that point He had never had a sick day in His life!

Certainly Jesus felt the deep sorrow that some of us have experienced. In addition to that Jesus was abandoned by God Himself! As Jesus hung on the cross awaiting death He cried out, “My God! My God! Why have You forsaken Me?”

            What would drive a man to do that?

  What would drive our God to do that?

  Absolute, total and complete love!

This is the love that Jesus had in mind when He said, “This is My commandment – that you love one another.” The Greeks called it “Agape Love” or “God’s love.”

As you read that, don’t get hung up on the word "perfect."  We all know that we are not perfect – we tell ourselves and each other that all the time!

Focus on the word LOVE. I know – we won’t be perfect there either, but it never hurts to shoot for perfection. Love is Christ in action!

Let me make a small disclaimer here. In my entire life I have never experienced love and acceptance as I have lately. Love in this church, love from my family and love from my co-workers. It is a marvelous, humbling experience.

          The purpose of this message is not to inspire us to follow scripture, but to fine-tune our love so we can reach a higher level! Most of us still have a few people that irritate us sometimes.

God wants and expects us to love them too! We may even irritate others ourselves!

        Jesus was talking to people that understood "neighbor" to mean only those who were from their own country, nation, and religion. It was easy to look upon them as their friends. 

However, Jesus set a new standard! The Lord Jesus taught us to consider everybody their neighbor!  He wants us to bless (strengthen) everyone. He wants us to pray loving prayers for everyone – enemies included.

Many people will return good for good, but Jesus expects us to return good for evil!

It is an easy task to love those who love you – to enjoy the people who have the same opinions we do. However, we are to love everyone.

Love is an amazing thing! During my years as a pastor and a nurse, I have seen love shown in many, many ways. When a couple stands at an altar pledging their wedding vows they usually have no idea what the future holds. But they do it with joy in their hearts because the future is bright.

We have all seen what happens to people because of accidents or major illnesses. And we have seen the man and wife remain faithful. I have seen wives and husbands give a kidney to their spouse so they will not have to be on dialysis. I have seen one spouse love another when one is totally disfigured by disease or injury.  Their love is a heavenly one.

You have that kind of love – I see it constantly in your lives.

The first step in this journey of love is to receive God’s love for us. God loves us totally and completely. There is nothing we can do to increase God’s love for us – or for anyone else in the world.

Second, we must love ourselves. Not be in love with ourselves – that is not helpful! But just accept who you are, acknowledge your gifts and talents, then commit them to God and set about representing God in everything we do.

Third, let people know you care about them. I work with a nurse that has listening down to a fine art. When you talk to her you have her total attention. She does nothing but listen to you… her responses lets you know she has heard you. She looks you straight in the eye. She tunes out everything else.  

That’s a good illustration of the saying, “Listening is loving with your ears.”

In the gracious love of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Pastor Leon