Have you noticed that whenever Jesus went to church, fights usually broke out?
Yesterday was Palm Sunday. This day has been overserved by the Church for over 2,000 years. This is the day that Jesus entered into Jerusalem, starting the final week that led up to the cross. A day after entering the city, Jesus confronted the corruption at the Temple. (See Luke 19: 28-40 & 45-48.)
Just as Jesus brought change to that city, Jesus brings deep change to every life he enters!
When Jesus Enters a Life…
1. He Brings Total Forgiveness (Luke 19:45-48)
The Temple was operated by a group called the Sadduccees. They oversaw the day to day operation of it and the High Priest was part of their group. Priests had two primary responsibilities:
* To represent God to the people.
* To intercede to God on behalf of the people.
The High Priest was failing at both. Instead of praying for their people, Jesus found them preying on their people. This was unacceptable!
Jesus fulfilled the role that no human could adequately fill. Hebrews 10:1-10 teaches us that Jesus became our High Priest. We no longer need a human to offer a sacrifice on our behalf. As believers, we have the High Priest living inside our hearts bringing total forgiveness for our sins. How? He is our once and for all sacrifice.
2. He Brings Complete Righteousness. (Luke 19:39-40)
The Pharisees were offended by Jesus. They wanted Jesus to tell the people praising him to be quiet. The Pharisees combed through the words of the Old Testament and identified 613 codes and laws. They also added their own traditions and treated them as law. They thought that if they kept those rules and codes, they would be made right before God.
Romans 3 teaches that the Old Testament laws were never designed to make anyone right before God. They were designed to show us that we are sinners in need of a savior.
When Jesus enters into a life, he makes us right before God. Our old sin record is cancelled and his perfect record is put in its place. Before God, we are right!
3. He Brings a New Power (Acts 1:8)
That final week was horrific. Jesus was beaten, mocked, flogged, and finally crucified. It was truly a dramatic week. Upon his resurrection the disciples were still observably confused. They asked if Jesus was going to exert his power over the Roman government and the corrupt leaders of the day. Jesus took that moment to say, “You will receive power…” It was not the kind of power they expected.
Jesus gave the disciples:
– Power to testify to Jesus’ kingship.
– Power to heal.
– Power to turn weakness into strength.
– Power to resist temptation.
– Power to conquer evil.
– Power to withstand persecution.
– Power to change the world!
You and I can experience that forgiveness, righteousness and power today!
What do you think? Comment below and we can continue this conversation.