God is Forever | A Sermon on Psalm 115:8 & Revelation 21-22

Introduction
I feel like I have a tall order in my sermon today. Because, this weekend, we celebrated the 250th anniversary of the founding of our great nation–the land that I love. But, we are also working our way through the themes for our upcoming Vacation Bible School, which will be July 13-17 from 6:30-8:30. 

But God is good, and I believe He’s given me just the right Word to share this morning. But in order to make this work, I sensed God wanting me to skip ahead and preach on the Day 5 theme for VBS today and then do Day 4 next Sunday. So I flip-flopped my original plans, because I want to be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s direction. 

The title for Day 5 of VBS is God is Forever.  The Memory verse for the lesson is Psalm 115:8. But to give a broader context for this pass, lets read verses 1-9. 

Psalm 115:1-9
1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. 2 Why let the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes. 4 Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. 5 They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. 6 They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. 7 They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. 8 And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. 9 O Israel, trust the Lord! He is your helper and your shield.   

The Book of Revelation
In addition to the memory verse in Psalm, our VBS lesson teaches about John’s vision of Heaven in the Book of Revelation. That’s pretty bold! Revelation 7:17 - For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes. 

People often think the point of Revelation is to predict the future. But the purpose of Revelation’s more than that. (By the way, there is no “S” in Revelation) 

In Revelation, God shows John what’s really going on in his world–things we can’t see. Now, John (one of Jesus’ 12 Disciples) lives in a world dominated by the Roman empire. Rome is the superpower that controls John’s world (and all the Christians in it). It is a pagan world, unchristian to its core, and the Romans empire is anti-Christian. Christians are this tiny, persecuted minority, with no political power, seemingly at the mercy of Rome and everyone else. Because they believed in Jesus, Christians were often ostracized. Their businesses failed because often no one wanted to do business with "those Christians".  For the same reasons, they often can’t find work. They are kicked out of synagogues and they sometimes even lose their homes or are driven out of town. 

And Christians often became scapegoats who got the blame for any disaster that befell a town. When a terrible fire destroyed much of Rome, emperor Nero blamed Christians.  Many historians (even Roman ones) believe it was actually Nero who started the fire.  So Nero had to do something.  He had many arrested and doused in pitch, tied to stakes, and turned into human torches to light the streets of Rome--all in a effort to divert the blame from himself.  

And so these Christians were asking, “What’s the point of being a follower of Christ?” It is into this world of hurt that God gives the Apostle John his Revelation. And Revelation isn’t just a vision about what’s going to happen at the end of time (why would the hurting people reading Revelation in the 1st century care; tell me how this helps me NOW). 

Revelation Pulls Back the Curtain
God gave Revelation to pull back the curtain on their CURRENT events and show Christians: there is way more going on around you than what you can see. Everyone thinks Rome is a mighty empire, that it’s permanent, but it’s not. It will soon be gone. But the Kingdom of God is forever. And you are citizens in God’s Kingdom that will last forever. 

Think about all the things people back then thought were so important and would last forever. The Temple. Caesar. The Roman Empire. Their own suffering. But God pulls back the curtain in Revelation and says, “These things are temporary. But My Kingdom lasts forever. And ultimately, all the empires of this world will fall, and all the rulers of this world will cease, and every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of all.” 

And here’s the thing, God’s Kingdom isn’t just something we look forward to in the future. No. God’s Kingdom is now. It starts for us the moment we say YES to Jesus and it exists behind the curtain of what we can see. It’s not just coming; it’s here now. And when we follow Christ faithfully, we participate in God’s Kingdom. 

Many Things We Love Are Temporary
God’s Word also reminds us that many of the things we love are temporary. When I was a kid, I used to love swimming in pool.  I would hate it when my parents said, “It’s time to go!” As a parent myself, I tried to soften this with my own kids by giving them a 5 minute warning.  

But we all know that some things we really like don’t last forever. (Vacation ends. Summer break ends. Baseball season ends. Favorite toys break. Pets die.) We even know that houses deteriorate. Careers end. Health fades. Even church buildings don't last forever. And on a wider scale: nations rise and fall. Ancient Egypt lasted 3,000. Greece lasted 600 years. Rome lasted 2,000. But all faded away. 

This weekend we celebrate 250 years of our nation. I'm deeply thankful for America. I love this country. I'm grateful for the freedoms we've enjoyed. But Scripture reminds us that every earthly kingdom—even the greatest ones—are temporary. We can be thankful we live in a great nation, with a proud history. We should be grateful for the patriots who made tremendous sacrifices to build our country and preserve it for 250 years. And we should do our best to honor them by taking care of America the best we can. 

Where Is Your Hope?
Where is your hope? Since we’re in church, we would probably all answer “Jesus!” It sounds good and we know it’s probably the right answer. We should put our hope in Christ. But here’s what I’ve found about myself (and maybe it’s true for you too): Our reaction to world events can reveal where our hope is and, sometimes, how we may need to ask God to help us change our thinking.

Consider: 

If we lose hope because our candidate doesn’t win, it could reveal that we have placed too much hope in a candidate instead of in God. 

If we give up because we see our community or our nation changing in ways we don’t agree with, it might reveal our priorities are misaligned. 

What happens inside you if: The stock market crashes… If your health changes… If life doesn't go the way you hoped… 

If our hope dies because of these things, it is a clue that maybe we’ve put too much hope in the things of this world instead of God. We might not want to hear that, but that’s what God wants us to know. 

By all means, Christians should be actively involved in trying to shape the world around us to match the values of God’s Kingdom. Our prayer is always with Jesus’ in the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven…” Yet we don’t put our ultimate hope in the systems, people, governments, or kingdoms of this world. Our hope is in the Lord and our eternity is the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Revelation 21:3-4
Revelation 21 gives the grand vision of God’s heavenly Kingdom. Verse 3-4 says: “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 

God’s love never runs out, never changes, never leaves. God’s love is permanent, His promises are unbreakable, and His home is waiting for all who trust Him. That means we don’t need to be afraid of the future. It means we don’t have to lose hope in the present–even if things don’t go our way. We can live with hope, confidence, and joy–because no matter what happens, our “forever” is safe in God’s hands! 

Jesus Ascended (Why That's A Good Thing) | A Sermon on Acts 1:6-11

Introduction
We’ve been looking at stories where the resurrected Christ appeared to His followers.  We have not studied them all of them; only some.  Here is a full listing is in your sermon notes.  

Post-Resurrection Appearances of Jesus
Mary Magdalene – John 20:11-18

The Other Women – Matthew 28:8-10
Peter – Luke 24:34
Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus – Luke 24:13-35
The Disciples (Thomas Absent) – John 20:19-23
The Disciples Including Thomas – John 20:24-29
Seven Disciples at the Sea of Galilee – John 21:1-14
The Eleven in Galilee (Great Commission) – Matthew 28:16-20
More Than 500 Believers at Once – 1 Corinthians 15:6
The Apostles at the Ascension – Acts 1:6-11

We have one more story to look at today–the day the resurrected Jesus appeared to His disciples and then ascended to heaven.  And I want to consider why His ascension is a good thing.

Acts 1:6-11
⁶ So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

⁷ He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

⁹ After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. ¹⁰ As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Parallel Emotions
It is fitting that this year Ascension Sunday coincides with Graduation Sunday, because there may be some ways the emotions of both events intersect.  Graduation is often a time of tearful emotions for many reasons.  Graduation is both an end and a beginning.  It is the end of many years of striving and learning; it is the culmination of much hard work, many successes, and possibly a few failures.  It is saying goodbye to one era of life, but also welcoming the beginning of a new adventure and new ways to learn, grow, and mature.  Graduation is the natural progression of a healthy child turning into a young adult and “putting away childish things” in order to walk bravely into the future clothed in wisdom, purpose, and responsibility. 

As a parent whose last child graduated just one year ago–making Kelly and I empty nesters–I am keenly aware of the bittersweet joy that comes for parents when a child graduates.

The Disciples may have had similar emotions as they watched Jesus ascend into Heaven.  Here was a man they followed faithfully for 3 years–dedicating their lives to Him and the Kingdom they hoped He would establish.  They saw Him brutally executed on a cross, buried in a tomb, and remarkably rise to life again on the third day.

All of this–especially the last part with the resurrected Jesus appearing many times over 40 days–was joyful and overwhelming.  And now, Jesus ascends to Heaven to sit on the right hand of the throne of God.  Just as graduation is the natural progression of a child growing into adulthood, Jesus' ascension to sit on the throne in Heaven is the natural progression of the Lord of all now that He has fulfilled His earthly purposes.

When you think of a graduating son or daughter, part of you (as a parent) wants them to stay a “child” forever.  But that would be as unnatural as an infant that never graduates from drinking milk to eating solid food.  And thus it is for Jesus Christ.  He is Lord of all the universe—King of kings and Lord of lords, the Son of the Living God.  It would be unnatural for Jesus to not be sitting on the throne up in the Kingdom of Heaven.

So as much as the Disciples may have wanted Jesus to remain with them on earth forever, perhaps their hearts also swelled with pride to see their Lord ascend into heaven to take His rightful place on the throne.

“Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
While Jesus was with them, the disciples kept asking, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”  This wording reveals a subtle error in their thinking–one that often creeps into our own thoughts in this life.  The Disciples were Jews from Israel–a proud people who wanted independence for their nation.  They wanted Jesus to “free Israel and restore their Kingdom.”  

As for us, we may not be so concerned with the restoration of Israel, we have our own “kingdoms” we want restored.  For some it is the kingdom of our health.  For others, it is the kingdom of Family relationships and marriage, or maybe financial stability and security.  Or we may want peace of mind and emotional well-being, purpose, meaning, and hope for the future.  All of these are good things, and ultimately Christ may restore the blessings of each of these (but always in His perfect timing).  We do not know the day or the hour when our prayers for these blessings will be answered.

Jesus reminded His disciples (and us) not to get caught up in worrying about when our prayers will be answered.  He sends us His Holy Spirit to empower us to be witnesses who tell people about Jesus–in our own neighborhoods, in our community, and even to the ends of the earth.

Jesus Ascended to Heaven
After saying these things, Jesus ascended to heaven.  Picture that for a moment…

The disciples watched Jesus go up to heaven in a cloud.  They watch for a long time, until they could no longer see him.  Still the gazed up into heaven for a long time. 
Two angels had to rouse them from their staring.  They told them something that defines one of the core teachings of Christianity:  “Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!  

We recite our belief in this every Sunday in the Apostles’ Creed:  “I believe… He ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father, almighty and will come again to judge the living and the dead.”

So we believe Jesus will return.  He is coming!  And we should work to be ready, because we do not know when that will be.  So we should always be ready.

And It’s A Good Thing!
And I want you to know that Jesus’ ascension is a good thing.  Some may wish that Jesus was still on earth with us today like He was with the Disciples.
(To be sure, Jesus is with us and will never leave us—in a sense—but I mean, Jesus is not with us in the flesh no as He was with the Disciples back then. He is with us spiritually.)  Jesus said His ascension to heaven was a good thing.  In John 16:7, Jesus said, “...it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.”  

This Advocate is the Holy Spirit. God sends the Holy Spirit to live inside every person who follows Jesus as Lord.  Jesus took on flesh to live as one of us.  Though He is Divine God, He squished His divinity into the limits of our human flesh.  He lived by the limiting laws of time and space that restrict all of us. For instance, Jesus could only be in one place at a time. 

But the Holy Spirit can be with all believers everywhere at once and is not limited by time and space. 
The Holy Spirit lives within us, giving constant personal guidance and conviction.
The Holy Spirit empowers every believer for ministry, not just those physically near Jesus.
The Holy Spirit helps us understand Scripture and discern God’s will.
The Holy Spirit gives strength to resist sin and grow in holiness.
The Holy Spirit comforts us in suffering and reminds us we belong to God.
The Holy Spirit unites believers across the world into one Body of Christ.
The Holy Spirit produces spiritual fruit like love, joy, peace, and patience in us.
The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to build up the Church and reach the world.

With the Holy Spirit, all the power of the God of the universe is at our disposal to do the will of God and complete Christ’s mission to restore His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.  But we must always remember is it His Kingdom, not ours.

So, Jesus ascended into Heaven to sit at the right Hand of God the Father, Almighty.  And that’s a good thing, because it means we can receive the Holy Spirit when we choose to follow Christ as Lord.  Next Sunday, we will celebrate Pentecost—the day God poured out the Holy Spirit on the Church.  I invite you to wear red next Sunday to help commemorate the event.

Closing
As we close, I invite you to image Jesus ascending up to take His throne in Heaven.  The disciples wondered when Jesus was going to retore their kingdom.  In your own heart, think of the “kingdoms” you want restored:  health, family, peace, finances, purpose…

Now I invite you to open your hands and surrender those kingdoms to Christ.  Don't worry about when or how Jesus will restore those kingdoms in your life.  Trust Jesus to do it His way in His time.  Meanwhile, take upon you the power Christ offers to be a witness for His Kingdom.

"Jesus, we release to You our worries about the things in our lives that are broken. We trust that You will retore these things in our life according to Your holy and perfect will and timing. We trust You. Help us to focus on Your Kingdom and receive he power of the Holy Spirit to be effective in Your mission. Amen."

The Ascension Story | A Sermon on Acts 1:6-11

Introduction
For six Sundays since Easter, we’ve been exploring powerful stories of the risen Jesus—appearing to His followers, proving He was alive, and changing lives forever.

We serve a risen Savior. Death could not defeat Him!  Today, we turn to the final moment Jesus appeared to His disciples before ascending into heaven.  It’s a pivotal scene—a farewell, a promise, and a mission—all in one.  Our Scripture comes from Acts 1:6–11.

Acts 1:6-11
⁶ So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

⁷ He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

⁹ After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. ¹⁰ As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

The Disciples Question
The question the disciples asked amounts to this: “Lord, when are You going to fix everything?”

It’s such a revealing question. After all they’d seen—Jesus’ teachings, His death, and His resurrection—the disciples were still holding onto their old expectations.  They were still hoping Jesus would throw off Roman rule and restore Israel’s independence.  In other words, “Is now the time You’re going to fix everything for us?”

We can relate to that, can’t we? We often want God to step in and take care of everything—
to fix our problems, change our circumstances, and do it now.

The disciples weren’t wrong to hope, but their vision was far too small.
They wanted national restoration. Jesus was about to launch a global mission.
They were focused on their country. Jesus was thinking of every tribe, tongue, and nation.
They wanted comfort and control. Jesus offered power and purpose.

How often do our prayers sound like their question?  “Lord, when will You finally fix this situation?”
“When will You restore my idea of how things should be?”

Jesus doesn’t rebuke our questions, but He gently lifts our eyes to something far greater than we can imagine.

Jesus’ Response
Jesus doesn’t answer the disciples the way they expect.  He doesn’t give them a timeline.  He doesn’t lay out a political plan. He tells them two key things:

First, “It’s not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set.” In other words—“You don’t need to know the schedule. That’s the Father’s business.”  How often do we want God to give us the when and how?  But Jesus shifts their focus from timing to trusting.

Second, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”  This is the true gift—not power to take control, but power to share the Good News.

And here comes the surprising part.  Jesus said:  
“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  This is bigger than national renewal. It’s a worldwide revolution of grace and truth.

And let me ask you—have you ever thought about this?
If the disciples had clung to their small vision—if they had kept the Gospel only for Israel—you wouldn’t be sitting here today.  There would be no Pleasant Grove Methodist Church.  No Christian faith in America.  No Bible on your nightstand.  And more importantly—no forgiveness of your sins, no hope beyond the grave, no peace that passes understanding.  Every blessing you know in Christ is possible because those first followers let go of their narrow view and embraced God’s global mission.

In His response, Jesus is also saying:  “Don’t wait around for Me to do the work you’ve been called to do.  I’m sending you.  But I’m also equipping you—with Holy Spirit power—to fulfill your purpose.”

It’s not a small story about Israel anymore.  It’s God’s mission for the world.  And the Disciples—and everyone who calls Jesus Lord—is part of the mission. 
And that means you.

The Ascension
On the Christian calendar, today is known as Ascension Sunday—the day we remember that Jesus ascended back into heaven.  But that raises a question: Why did He leave? Why not just stay on earth?

First, because He belongs on Heaven’s throne.  After conquering sin and death, Jesus takes His rightful place as King—not just of Israel, but of all creation.

Second, Jesus left for our good. In John 16:7, Jesus said, “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go, the Advocate [the Holy Spirit] will not come to you.”  You see, Jesus’ resurrected body is still a physical body.  Glorious and perfect, yes—but still bound by time and space like ours like all physical bodies.  That means Jesus, in bodily form, could only be in one place at one time.

But the Holy Spirit is not limited that way. The Spirit can be with me in the hospital room, with you in the middle of a stressful workday, with a mother protecting her children in Gaza, with a world leader making a critical decision, and with a high school student taking their final exams—all at the same time.

The Holy Spirit makes the presence of Jesus available everywhere, to everyone who trusts Him.
So yes—it was good that Jesus ascended to Heaven to sit on His throne so we could receive the Holy Spirit.

Finally, by ascending, Jesus passed the baton to us.  If He had stayed on earth, we might still be sitting around waiting for Him to do the work.  But instead, He gave that work to us.  We are now His hands and feet in the world.

The Promised Return
I wonder how long the disciples stood there, mouths open, eyes on the sky.  After seeing such an incredible thing, I probably would have stood there a long time.  I think that’s why two angels appeared—to snap the disciples out of their wonder.  They asked, “Why are you staring into heaven?”

In other words—don’t just stand there!  Jesus has gone, but now you’ve got a mission.  There’s work to be done, lives to be changed, Good News to share. Get going!

But the angels also offered reassurance:  “This same Jesus who saw going up to heaven will come back in the same way you saw Him go.”  So don’t lose heart.  Jesus reigns.  The Spirit empowers.  And one day, our King will return.  But until then—let’s get to work.

Holy Communion
But before we go out to serve, let us pause to remember and be empowered.  At the table of Holy Communion, we remember His sacrifice, we receive His grace, and we are nourished by His presence.  The Risen, Ascended Christ is still with us through the Holy Spirit. Come to the table, not because you have it all together, but because Jesus invites you—to be forgiven, to be filled, and to be sent.

Jesus or Barabbas | A Palm Sunday Sermon

Introduction
The Palm Sunday story is important to remember. Not just because it’s fun to have our kids enter the sanctuary singing and waving palm branches. There is a critical message in this story we need to hear, but often miss.

It’s a story that goes right down to the core of what it means for us to live as Christ’s followers. So, I encourage you to listen closely and think deeply today. Hear the Palm Sunday message with fresh ears.

Matthew 21:6-11
⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna^[b] to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”^[c]

“Hosanna^[d] in the highest heaven!”

¹⁰ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

¹¹ The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Hosanna!
There are several important symbols in this story that reveal what’s really going on. The first clue is the word the people shouted.  What did they shout?
They shouted “Hosanna!”  The word sounds like a praise, but it has a specific meaning. It’s a quote of Psalm 118:25, “Please, Lord, please save us.  Please, Lord, please give us success.” Hosanna means:  Lord Save us!

Now, when the Israelites shouted Hosanna to Jesus, they had a specific salvation in mind. They were NOT demanding He save them from their sins so they could go to heaven.  No. They meant, “Save us from these Romans who rule over us and oppress us!” The Israelites wanted to be rid of the Romans. They wanted Israel to be an independent Kingdom again.  They wanted prosperity. They wanted Israel to be great again like it was back in its glory days.

A Second Symbol: The Palm Branches
The second symbol that reveals what the Palm Sunday story is really about is the palm branches.
Palm branches were the national symbol of Israel.  They became the national symbol of Israel in 167 BC when the Maccabees, a family of Jewish priest, led a successful military revolt against the Seleucid Empire and gained Jewish independence.  The Israelites celebrates their victory by waving palm branches.  Afterwards, Israel was independent for about 80 years before the Romans took over Israel.

So as Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palms Sunday, the Jews waved palm branches the same way Americans might wave American flags at a fourth of July parade.  They waved their palm branches, remembering how the Maccabees revolted and gained Jewish independence, and they shouted to Jesus, “Hosanna! Lord, please save us from these Romans!”

…to the son of David!
A third symbol is how they addressed Jesus. The called Him: the son of David. The Jews in Jerusalem wanted to go back to what they considered the glory days of Israel. In their minds, David’s kingdom was the greatest time in Israelite history. He conquered all their enemies.  He untied Israel as one nation. He established peace and prosperity.  And Israel was respected by all the nation around them. (Of course, they conveniently forgot that David levied tremendously high taxes.  God said there was so much blood on his hands he couldn’t build God a temple.  David is also known for an adulterous affair with Bathsheba and for murdering her husband, Uriah, to cover it up. And David’s son, Absolom, led a rebellion and tried to steal David’s Kingdom.) But the Jews of Jesus’ day wanted Israel to be great again, like it was back when David was king. And so they waved their Palm branches, shouted: “Hosanna! Lord, save us now (like the Macabbees)!  And make us great again (like we were when David was king)!”

Donkey/Warhorse
There’s one more symbol—the donkey.  Jesus rode in on a donkey.  Actually, it was a donkey’s colt (a baby donkey).  This was the fulfilment of prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. But it was also sent a powerful message that did NOT align with the hopes of the crowds cheering for Jesus.  They wanted a military king who would bring a sword and ride in on a warhorse to defeat the Romans.  But Jesus came in on a humble little baby donkey talking about peace and forgiveness, and telling everyone they needed to “love their enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This was not the image or words of a conquering king.  They were not the words most Jewish people in Israel expected or wanted to hear.

Pilate and his Roman military also came to Jerusalem that day.  (It is well documented that Roman governors like Pilate rode into Jerusalem to maintain order on major Jewish festivals like Passover, which drew large crowds and carried the potential for unrest.  And when the Romans arrived, they rode in on Warhorse with banners flying and swords and armor flashing.  They wanted to make sure everyone in Jerusalem could see their military power so as to deter any thought of rebellion.

So we have this contrast—Jesus on a humble donkey and Pilate and the Romans on warhorses. It’s clear what the people wanted.  They wanted Jesus to be their military king who would save them by kicking out the Romans and make Israel great again like it was when David was king. It’s clear they were excited, but it’s also sad that they missed the whole point of why Jesus came. And we can see this sadness bring Jesus to tears in Luke’s version of the Palm Sunday story.  In Luke, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, because He knows hey won’t listen to Him. 

Nevertheless, Jesus spent a week preaching and teaching in Jerusalem. He taught them about the Kingdom of God and invited them to receive it. But Jesus wasn’t offering the kind of Kingdom they wanted.  Instead of peace, they wanted war. Instead of forgiveness, they wanted revenge.  Instead of love, they wanted to hate the Romans.  Instead of serving, they wanted power. And instead of the King of Heaven, they wanted Barabbas.

Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested on Thursday night. He was tried and sentenced to death. On Friday, Pilate sought to have him released.

Luke 23:18-20
¹⁸ Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹ (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) ²⁰ Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. ²¹ But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Jesus or Barabbas?
People haven’t changed much in 2,000 years.  We still struggle to pick Jesus over Barrabas.
“What?!” You say, “I would never choose Barrabas over Jesus!”  Is that so?
Whenever we choose the ways of the world over the ways of Jesus, we’re choosing Barabbas.
When we demand immediate results instead of trusting God’s timing, we’re choosing Barrabas.
When we prioritize safety and comfort over obedience and sacrifice, we’re choosing Barrabas.
When we follow the crowd instead of standing for truth, we’re choosing Barrabas.
When we elevate charisma or influence over character, we’re choosing Barrabas.
When we choose temporary gain over eternal reward, we’re choosing Barrabas.
When we define success by winning instead of by faithfulness, we’re choosing Barrabas.
When we choose the kingdoms of this world over God’s Kingdom, we are choosing Barrabas.

Who Will You Choose?
So here we are—just like the crowd in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago.
Jesus enters humbly, offering peace, forgiveness, and the way of the cross.
Barabbas stands as the symbol of worldly strength, quick fixes, and the kind of power that dominates.  The people had a choice then. You have a choice now.

Every day, with every decision—how you treat your neighbor, how you lead your family, how you handle conflict, how you vote, how you speak, how you spend, how you love—you are choosing:  Jesus… or Barabbas.

Will you submit to Jesus—even when it means patience, humility, and sacrifice?
Or will you go with the crowd, shouting "Save us!" but only on your terms?

Will you lay down your life and follow the servant King on the donkey?
Or will you cling to the world's ways, hoping for glory, comfort, prosperity, and control?

So today, I challenge you to look honestly at your life. 
Not just what you say you believe—but your choices. 
Actions speak louder than words.

And ask yourself:
Whose Kingdom am I really choosing?

 

Crowds Follow Jesus | A Sermon on Matthew 4:23-25

Introduction
Today, we conclude our study of the first 4 chapters of the Gospel of Matthew.  You'll find an outline of what we studied at the end of this message.

Have you ever noticed how quickly a crowd can form when something exciting happens?  A firetruck with its sirens blaring, a celebrity athlete preaching at church—we’re drawn to the excitement, the mystery, the promise of something extraordinary.

In Matthew 4:23–25, Jesus becomes the center of attention. People are coming from everywhere to see Him—all the towns around Galilee, Judea, and even as far as Jerusalem. Why?  Because something powerful is happening. The sick are being healed. Hope is spreading.  And word is getting out: something amazing is happening. 

But here’s the question we’ll wrestle with today: Were they following Jesus? Or just the miracles? And what about us? What are we really seeking?

Matthew 4:23-25
²³ Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. ²⁴ News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all. ²⁵ Large crowds followed him wherever he went—people from Galilee, the Ten Towns,^[h] Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.

The Good News about the Kingdom
As Jesus traveled around the region of Galilee, what did He announce?  He announced the Good News about the Kingdom.  The Kingdom was good news because it meant that God’s rule was breaking into a broken world—bringing healing, hope, and restoration. It offered freedom from sin, peace in place of chaos, and the promise of eternal life with God. 

People in Israel were used to Kingdom talk.  For 500 years, they’d been ruled by various different foreign kingdoms who invaded their homeland and ruled over them—the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, and then the Romans.  All along the way, generations of Jews had longed for the day God would send a Savior to restore the Kingdom of Israel (which was supposed to be God’s Kingdom on Earth). 

Jesus preached the Good News of the Kingdom and it was Good News because it meant that God’s rule was breaking into a broken world—bringing healing, hope, and restoration.  It offered freedom from sin, peace in place of chaos, and the promise of eternal life with God.

The Kingdom of God (AKA the Kingdom of Heaven) is what we pray for everytime we pray the Lord’s Prayer ands say “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

Why Healing?
As Jesus shared the Good News about God’s Kingdom, people were healed in amazing ways. That makes total sense—because in God’s Kingdom, there is no sickness.  Sickness and all kinds of suffering are part of our world because of sin. We don’t fully live in God’s Kingdom yet. But when God’s Kingdom comes in all its power, there won’t be any more pain, sickness, or death. Just like darkness disappears when the light shines, all brokenness will be gone when God’s Kingdom is fully here.

So as Jesus announced the Good News: “The Kingdom of God is close at hand,” sickness and all kind of suffering were driven away.

The Crowds
With all the excitement, crowds of people started following Jesus.  And that sounds like a good thing.  Maybe it is.  I’m sure it felt good for the Disciples to see their Master succeeding and gathering such large crowds.  But the idea of "Crowds" in the Gospels is always a tricky thing.

On one hand, it’s exciting to see a big crowd of people who seem to love and support you. But how can you tell if they’re all there for the right reasons? Some people in the crowd truly wanted to hear Jesus’ message and follow His teachings—like loving God and loving others. But others were only there because they hoped Jesus would get rid of the Romans so they could do whatever they wanted. Some just wanted free food or to watch Him do cool miracles. A lot of people were more interested in what Jesus could give them than in actually following Him and living the way God wants.

And don’t forget—at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, when Jesus was on trial, Pilate actually wanted to let Him go. But the crowd shouted for Barabbas, a known criminal, to be set free instead. Then they yelled for Jesus to be crucified. This shows how quickly a crowd can change and how people sometimes choose what’s easier or more familiar instead of what’s right and true.

But for now in the story, Matthew tells us that crowds of people gathered to follow Jesus whereever he went.  Jesus had a platform to share His wonderful Good News about the Kingdom so people could decided for themselves how to respond.

And now, I believe the Holy Spirit is leading me to bring this message home—to you and your life.  The same Spirit that led Jesus to preach the Good News of the Kingdom is speaking to you today.

So let me ask: Are you just one more person in the crowd, following Jesus around because you want something from Him—maybe a blessing, a miracle, or some help with your problems?
Or are you truly hearing His message and realizing something deeper?

The Kingdom of God is here. It’s not just about getting what you want—it’s about recognizing that Jesus is the King, and He calls us to follow Him with our whole heart.

Have you been living for His Kingdom, or just for yourself?
Have you made Jesus your King—or just someone you call on when you're in trouble?

Now is the time to respond. Will you keep standing in the crowd, watching from a distance?
Or will you step forward, follow Jesus, and be part of the real Kingdom He came to bring?

He’s calling you. How will you respond?

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Outline Review of Matthew's Beginning Chapters 1-4
Chapters 1:
The genealogy of Jesus, His conception, and Mary and Joseph’s reaction

Chapter 2:
Jesus’ Birth, the visit of the Wisemen, Herod’s reaction, the holy family’s Escape to Egypt, and their eventual return to Nazareth

Chapter 3:
John the Baptist prepares the way and baptizes Jesus

Chapter 4:
Jesus’ Temptation in the wilderness, His ministry begins, the first disciples, and the crowds start following Jesus