Life Church Vineyard

Pastor Mitch Price

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene.

How marvelous. How wonderful  is my Saviors love for me. 

Holy, holy are You Lord God almighty!

Worthy is the Lamb. Worthy is the Lamb

You are holy! You are the Lord God almighty!

The resurrection changes everything!

Psalm Sunday. The highs and lows of Holy Week

Jesus came in to Jerusalem to fulfill the coming of our King. 

It was the best of times it was the worst of times. Charles Dickens “A Tale of Two Cities”.

Every generations seems to think they are living in the worst of times. 

Jesus experienced the worst of humanity. Those who forget history will repeat it. Jesus had told His disciples that He would suffer, die and be resurrected. They did not understand.

How quickly we forget.

The Roman government ruled the lives of the Jewish nation. It was all about power and control. Tensions were high at the time of Jesus. Everyone of them was praying for the Messiah. They desired justice from their enemies. 

Matthew 11:

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” 

7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 

8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ 11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Mark 8:31-35

31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

They were expecting the Messiah to overthrow the Roman government.

Sometimes the Body of Christ expects the same. How sad. 

There was tension and confusion but there was also hope. Their human expectations were not immediately fulfilled. It would not be until His resurrection that the full meaning of the His birth, death and glorious resurrection. At the Pentecost Holy Spirit opened their eyes to the truth of the Scriptures. They would then understand.

Matthew 21:6-11

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

The same crowds who shouted Hosanna  on Palm Sunday only days later shouted crucify Him.

Luke 19:41-44

41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

The New King James Version

They failed to realize who He was and that He would lay down His life as a ransom for all who believe in His salvation. 

He died so that we could live!

His return is inevitable. We need to stay prepared for His return.

What are we hoping for? What is the Jesus you pray to? Are we praying for His will or ours to come? 

For God so loves the world that He gave us Jesus, His only begotten Son, to die in our place. 

Spread the Good News!