Message
Palm Sunday: Anointed and Crowned King (of what?)
John 12:1-50

This week is Palm Sunday, beginning a roller coaster ride for Jesus and the disciples – bewildering, tragic, and wonderful, all in just seven days.  We begin our journey in John chapter 12.  Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus washes Jesus’ feet with an extravagant, expensive, pure nard mingled with tears. This is an important beginning to this passionate week.  Mary’s emotion of devotion and love for Jesus, having raised her brother Lazarus from the dead, is flowing like a mighty river.  Are her tears of joy or of sorrow?  Jesus has been saying with regularity now that he will be leaving them soon.  That he must die and rise 3 days later.  

The people witnessing this display of love are filled with mixed emotion as well.  Some condemn it, including Judas, Jesus’ own disciple.  Prominent leaders of the Jewish ruling class are disgusted by it, and deeply offended, further their plot to arrest and kill Jesus.   Others, join in a soon to be procession of Jesus into Jerusalem – an entry worthy of a King.  So much joy and sorrow mingled together.
 
During this passion week, Jesus fulfills his mission, faithful to the end, becoming the Savior of the World, our Savior. I cannot imagine what was going on for the disciples throughout the events of this week.  I for sure cannot imagine what Jesus went through during the events of this week.  But one thing I know and believe, my Savior died, and rose again, that I might have life.  

After all, John witnessed and recorded all of this for this reason, “That we may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing, we may have life.” (20:31)

See you Sunday, 
   Pastor Mark