Palm Sabbath

The title of the sermon today, Palm Sabbath. Palm Sabbath. The subtitle, When the Cheering Stopped. When the Cheering Stopped.

Some years ago, a noted American historian wrote a book titled When the Cheering Stopped. It was a story of President Woodrow Wilson and the events leading up and following World War I. When the war was over, Wilson was an international hero, somewhat much on the order of Barack Obama today.

There was a great spirit of optimism abroad, and people actually believed that the last war had been fought and the world had been made safe for democracy. On his first visit to Paris after the war, there were cheering mobs who greeted Wilson. He was actually more popular than their own heroes. Of course, the French have been desperate for centuries for a hero and have not really found any to speak of. The same thing was true when he went to England and to Italy. In Vienna, which is in Austria, he went to a hospital there. A Red Cross worker had told the children in that hospital, there would be no Christmas presents because of the war and the hard times. The children didn't believe her. They said President Wilson was coming, and they knew that everything would be all right. The cheering lasted about a year.

Then it gradually began to stop. It turned out that political leaders in Europe were more concerned and interested in their own agenda than they were in their interest for lasting peace. At home, Woodrow Wilson ran into opposition in the United States Senate, and his League of Nations and Wilson's famous 14 points failed to be ratified by the U.S. Senate. Under the strain of it all, the President's health began to fail, and his health actually broke. In the next election, his party was defeated. So it was that Woodrow Wilson, a man who barely a year or two earlier had been heralded as the world's new Messiah, came to his end, a man broken and defeated at the end of his days. It's a sad story, but one that is all too familiar in the annals of human history. The ultimate reward for someone who tries to translate ideals into reality is apt to end in frustration and defeat. There are some exceptions to this story, but they are not very many in the course of human history. And to a large degree, the above is a summary of human history and how humans have viewed those who would stand to lead. It reminds me of a poem. I learned this poem way back years and years ago, and I don't think it has a title. I don't know who wrote it, but it goes like this. Fame is a myth, popularity an accident, those who cheer today will curse tomorrow. Only one thing endures, character. Or, if you're a sports fan, something like this. Another little poem goes like this. To win or lose, it matters not, but rather how you played the game.

For those who played or heroes true, beyond reproach, and fame to them will air befall, but first, let's fire the coach.

A lot of them have been fired in recent times.

In this world, the most accurate definition of leadership is the ability to help people achieve their goals. That's what people are interested in. Of course, there are many academic definitions of leadership, but when all is said and done, people are going to follow you as long as they perceive that you are helping them achieve their goals. So, no matter how diligently you have served in the past, and no matter how converted and sincere you may be, if you're not perceived as helping people be where they want to be, they will toss you aside like a used teabag.

That's the story of human history.

I believe the best definition of leadership from a spiritually-oriented perspective is the dedication and desire to help people achieve their God-ordained potential, that of being a child of God and the family of God forever. After the Gulf War, the Gulf War was the one where Iraq had invaded Kuwait, and George Bush Sr. was president. The U.S. quickly won that war. Of course, at that time, many advocated going on to Baghdad and defeating Saddam there, but George Bush Sr. decided not to do that. But even after that war, his approval rating soared to 90 percent, and one year later, he was on the ropes, and he lost the presidency to Bill Clinton. There was a great deal of shouting heard around the world when the coalition forces ended the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein. President Bush, that is, President Bush, too, was hailed as a hero in the short run, but his presidency ended with perhaps the lowest ratings of all time. Now President Obama is being hailed as a hero, but how long will it last? Remember that people will support your leadership as long as they believe you're helping them reach their goals. When they perceive that you're not helping them reach their goals, they will oftentimes ditch you like a filthy rag. What even speak to you?

There have been very few heroes in the annals of human history who were able to sustain their hero status for very long. It happened that way with one called Jesus Christ the Messiah. When he emerged on a public scene, he was an overnight sensation. Miracles water into wine, healing of the sick, the lame rose up and walked. Those who had diseases for years were healed. Demons were cast out. He turned the small number of fish and loaves of bread into such a blessing and such a multitude of food that it fed the masses. Let's notice John 6.24. He was so popular that when he would go somewhere, the people would follow him. It was hard for him to get away. John 6, in the first part there, is where he turned the fishes or performed the miracle of fishes and bread so that the multitude could be fed. Then he tried to slip away, as it were. He went to the other side of the sea. Verse 22, John 6.22, the day following when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat save that one wherein the disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone. Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberius, nine in the place where they did eat bread, and after that the Lord had given thanks. When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping and came to Capernaum, asking for Jesus. So, I mean, he couldn't get away. Let's go and get in a boat and go to the other side of the sea. And Jesus answered them, saying, "'Verily I say unto you, you seek me not because you saw the miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves and were filled.' And then he said unto them, "'Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that food which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you. For him hath God the Father sealed.' And they said unto him, What shall we do that we might work the works of God? And Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God that you believe on him whom he hath sent." As long as he was meeting their physical needs, they followed him. But when he came down to the nitty-gritty, to fulfilling the spirit of the law, they all forsook him, including the apostles on that night in which he appeared in the various mock trials, and especially the one where all of the apostles denied him, including the apostle Peter. This year, the Passover and Holy Days fall on the exact same days as they did when Christ instituted the New Covenant Passover. In our handout here, we'll see in John 12 and verse 1, if you want to turn there, forward a few pages. It says that six days before the Passover that Jesus came to Bethany. Bethany is near the Mount of Olives. Of course, the Mount of Olives looks over Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. John 12, 1, that Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was when he had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

So, I have reconstructed this to some degree. And you look in column 1, Jesus arrives in Bethany by exclusive reckoning. It would be sometime on Thursday.

That is, if you're not counting the 14th, if it's inclusive reckoning, where you are counting the 14th, it would have been on a Friday. So, I'll leave it to you. You can easily see that. Then, on the 9th, if it's inclusive, Jesus arrives. This is the second column. Jesus arrives in Bethany, inclusive reckoning, and his feet were anointed verses 2 and 3. So, you can follow the chart as we have. I've reconstructed it here, and perhaps, and I hope that you can read it. You'll see at the top, of course, the sacred calendar days, and then at the bottom, what we call the days of the week today. And it goes through the end of the days of unleavened bread, the seven days there. So, let's continue now in John chapter 12. You know, one of the interesting things. I want to point this out. I also want to make this assignment.

I'm asking all of us to do it, including myself, everyone here. Do you know that, and maybe you stop to think about it, that one half, almost one half of the book of John, and this is not counting words, it's chapters, but almost one half of the book of John, and a fourth or more of the other gospels are devoted to Christ's last six days here on earth. And I'll give you those benchmarks if you want to write them down. I would like for us, you read from the benchmark to the end of the chapter, and you'll see what transpired such action-packed days. It's hard to imagine. Beginning in Matthew 21, 17 to the end of the book, Matthew 21, 17 through 28. Then in Mark 10, 32 through the end of the book, which is chapter 16, in Luke 18, Luke 18, 31 to the end of the book, 24 chapters. And then in John, beginning in John 12, 1 to the end of the book, 21 chapters. All of these chapters, a half almost to a fourth, are taken up with these last six days.

In John 12 and verse 2, there they made him a supper, that is, in Bethany and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the odor of the ointment. Then said one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who should betray him, why was not this ointment sold for 300 pence and given to the poor? Why are we wasting this ointment? What are we doing here? This, he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, he was embezzling, he was skimming off the top, he was a made-off of the day, and he had the back, and bear what was put therein.

Then said Jesus, Let her alone against the day of my burying, as she kept this. For the poor always you have with you, but me you have not always.

So we see here Jesus coming to Bethany, and I think that probably this took place on a Friday evening. I don't know that for sure. There's another account in which oil was poured on his head, and there is some discussion as to whether or not this is two different scenarios, and perhaps it was. But we know for sure here that his feet were anointed with this ointment. Now we'll be coming back to John 12. If you want to mark this with your handout. Now we want to go to Matthew 21. John 12 and Matthew 21 have to me the most detailed description of these days, the six days before he was betrayed, crucified, and all of that. In Matthew 21 verse 1, And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, their journey, and you know this benchmark that I gave you of Matthew 21 17 is where they began this journey up to Jerusalem. I think I said 21 17.

Initially, it should be 20 17 when I said the last part of Matthew's taken up with this is Matthew 20 17. Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the 12 disciples and they were going up to the Feast of the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. Now in Matthew 21 1, And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem and were come to Bethphage or Bethany, unto the Mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying, Go into the village over against you, and straightway you shall find an ass tied and a colt with her, loose them, and bring them to me. And if any man say anything to you about this, say to them, The Lord hath need of them, and straightway he will send them. All this was done, and it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of by the prophet. And here, Matthew quotes Zechariah 9 9. We're not going to turn there, but you can note, if you want to in your margin, this is a quote from Zechariah 9 9.

Tell you the daughter of Zion, Behold the king comes unto you, meek, and sitting upon an ass and a colt, the foal of an ass. And the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set upon them. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way. Others cut down branches from the trees, and shrod them in the way. And the multitudes went before, and they followed, crying, hosanna. Now, hosanna in the, it's a Hebrew-ism, it means save now. It is an appellation that was used by the Jews at the Feast of Tabernacles.

You can look at Psalm 118, and you can see that as well. We're not going to turn. It's Psalm 118, verse 25, where this similar word is used, or it is used. Hosanna to the Son of David, or save now, you Son of David. Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna, save now in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out them that sold, and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and things began to change. Say on Palm Sabbath, and you can count up the days. Of course, the world says it's Palm Sunday, and they count six days inclusive of Sunday Monday, and crucified on a Good Friday. But if the crucifixion was on Wednesday, which we have proved now through the calendar and astronomical calculations, and the computer, I don't think there's any doubt that Passover in 31 A.D. was on a Wednesday. So the computations are there. If you have the skill to look at them, you know which buttons to push, but we have some who have done this in recent years. And I don't think there's any doubt this has been what we have basically believed and taught for decades, that Passover was on a Wednesday. The crucifixion was, of course, the Passover was instituted on the evening before, but it was still on the 14th, the 14th beginning after sunset.

So on this poem, Sabbath, the crowds gathered round and they cheering. A wave of joyful expectation swept the country, but the cheering didn't last all that long. Soon the tide began to turn against him. Earlier, they had been afraid to speak out of fear of the masses, but they began to perceive that the fickle public was turning on him, and soon the opposition began to swell. When they discovered that they could not discredit his moral character, they began to take more desperate measures. Before it was all over, he was the victim of a tidal wave of negative public opinion that brought Jesus to his knees under the weight of the stake and death on the stake.

Why did the masses so radically turn against him? How did the shouts of Hosanna on Palm Sabbath transform into the shouts of, Crucify him, on a Wednesday?

And I'm not talking about the immediate events that may have brought it about, but the deeper root causes. What were the underlying issues? In four days, it all fell apart. Why? Why did the cheering stop? Let's go back to John 12 now and pick it up in verse 9. One of the reasons is that those who were there on Palm Sabbath were there for the wrong reason. Oh, we've heard that he raised this man from the dead. You know this fellow Lazarus? He raised him from the dead. We've never heard of anybody resurrecting one from the dead, maybe in the days of Elijah or Elisha. What about this? Let's go see this.

John 12 and verse 9. Much of the Jews therefore knew that he was there. They came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also whom he had raised from the dead. So they were there for the wrong reason. They were there to see, as it were, sort of like a sideshow. You know, I've just never heard of this. Let's go see this man. Let's see if it's real. Is he really there? But the chief priests consulted that they might have Lazarus also put to death. Well, we'll just kill the witness, the testimony there. We'll kill him. Evidently, they'd kill him, have to hide his body so no one could find him. So then you begin to see another reason. The religious leaders were jealous. They were afraid that Jesus would take away their following, their standing in the Jewish community, and that the people would go after him and not them. Verse 11, because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away. That is, they turned from the priest and from the religious leaders, and they believed on Jesus.

Now, one of the greatest causes of murder, one of the greatest causes of character assassination, one of the greatest causes of evil on the face of the planet that ever has been, it dates back to the days of Cain and Abel, where Cain, out of jealously, slew Abel because Abel's sacrifice was accepted and his wasn't. See, Cain brought, I think, offering, an offering from the ground, which perhaps Cain even thought that he might be the, and of course this is speculation, that he might be the prophesied Messiah because in Genesis, Eve says, I've gotten me a man from the Lord. So Cain brought a thank offering. He didn't bring a sin offering. He didn't recognize that he was a sinner, but on the other hand, Abel brought an offering that was accepted by the Lord, and Cain became very jealous, and he killed Abel, his own brother, his own brother. See, Cain was a firstborn, and Cain would have had the preeminence by the fact that he was a firstborn, but he just couldn't stand the fact that his offering was not accepted, and Abel's was. Notice James. You know, through the years I have seen envy and jealousy in the Church of God to the point that I am absolutely sick of it. It needs to go.

You know, through the years, at the age of 20, I was teaching Adult Sunday School, and I've been teaching and preaching in the Church of God for nigh on to 40 years, not quite 40 years.

And most of us are really not preachers. We're talkers, and we use oftentimes a very sort of academic, intellectual kind of approach, oftentimes never getting down to the real nitty-gritty, because even some of us are intimidated by, well, what would the people think? I'm interested in what does God think? What does this Bible say? That's what we all had better be interested in, is what does this say? I am a very imperfect instrument, and so are all of us. Paul, after many years in the Church, said that of sinners, he is chief. That's in Romans 7.

In James chapter 3, verse 13, This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion in every evil work. I mean, this is as plain as it can be. You know, James is noted for plainness. In the book of James, there are some 50 statements, declarations of this kind of language.

Verse 17, But here's where we want to be. The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy, good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy, and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Now back in John chapter 12, so we see two main reasons why the cheering stopped. They're for the wrong reasons, and religious leaders were jealous.

They wanted the preeminence just as Cain wanted the preeminence.

In John 12, 12, On the next day, much people that were come to the feast when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. This once again recounts the palm Sabbath, took branches of palm trees, went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna, blessed is the king of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat there upon as it is written. Well, we read a little more detailed description of this in Matthew. And here's this quote from Zachariah 9 verse 9, verse 16. These things understood not his disciples at first, but when Jesus was glorified. Then remembered that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the grave and raised him from the dead, bore record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, perceive you. Look at this! How you per failed nothing! Behold, the world has gone after him! Once again, we're going to lose it all. Now to Matthew 21, once again, beginning in verse 12, and we'll see another reason why the cheering stopped. In Matthew 21 and verse 12.

We left off there when we were here earlier.

Matthew 21, 12. Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple over through the tables of the money changers and the seats of them that sold us. So when he began to call them to task, to point out their sins, and to set things right, and to cleanse the temple.

Of course, you can cleanse the temple physically. You can drive out the money changers and all of that. You can cleanse your houses. You can scrub them from stem to stern. You can cast out every last crumb, every last morsel, every speck of dust out of the house. But that in and of itself does not cleanse the inside. God and Jesus Christ are more interested in cleansing the inside than the outside. Or see, Matthew 23 takes up that, of how the Pharisees were so so diligent to wash and clean, and clean up the outside, and to whitewash the tombs. But inside, it was quite different. God knows our heart. He knows everything.

And I do not understand why we're not more interested at times in pleasing God than we are in pleasing other people. Who would we rather please? God or man? All of us are just men. We are nothing. We're absolutely nothing. But we have the great potential of being sons and daughters in the kingdom of God. Verse 13, and He said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer. But you've made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple and healed them. Of course, that only asrobates the jealousy. And when the chief priest and scribe saw the wonderful things he did, and the children crying in the temple, saying, Hosanna to the Son of God, save now the Son of David, they were very displeased and said unto Him, Hear you what these say. And Jesus said unto them, Yes, have you never read out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, you have perfected praise. And he left them and went out of the city unto Bethany, and he lodged there. Now in the morning as he turned unto the city, he hungered.

And when he saw a fig tree on the way, he came to it, found nothing thereupon but leaves only, and said unto him, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto thee, or unto you, If you have faith and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also you shall say unto this mountain, Be you removed, and be cast into the sea, and it shall be done. And all things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive. Of course, they gathered around, and once again, they began to question him. We can go through here as we continue into chapter 23. Remember that from Matthew chapter 20, and verse 17 to the end of the chapter is taken up with these last six days on earth, and most of it is taken up the last four days. In Matthew 23, Jesus takes the scribes and Pharisees to task. One of the most notable verses in the Bible, Matthew 23, 23, Woe unto you scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites, you pay tithe of the men, anison, coming, have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith. These ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone. There are two main ways that you exercise judgment, mercy, and faith. First of all, before God in Christ, you judge yourself. You come before God in Christ and say, I have sinned. I'm a sinner. Will you please forgive me? And you exercise faith in the sacrifice of Christ, and He's faithful and just to forgive you of your sins. And then you exercise judgment, mercy, and faith with your neighbor. You have the Matthew 5 verses 22 and 23. If you come to the altar to offer your gift and realize that your brother has ought against you or think that your brother has ought against you, go to him, be reconciled, then come and offer your gift. So, if we would exercise judgment, mercy, and faith before God in Christ and before our brothers and sisters and our neighbors, the world would turn around overnight.

But of course, there is the tendency within all of us to defend ourselves. And Jesus Christ told them in this chapter, no uncertain terms, that He was more interested in the inside than He was the outside. Notice in verse 29, Matthew 23 verse 29. Woe unto you scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites!

Because you build the tombs of the prophets and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous, and say, if we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore, you be witnesses unto yourselves that you are the children of them which kill the prophets. Fill you up then the measure of your fathers.

You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the judgment of Gehenna?

Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes, and some of them you killed and crucified. Some of them you've scourged in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city. That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed unto the earth from the blood of righteous Abel and the blood of Zacharias, son of Bar-Chias, whom you slew between the temple and the altar. Barely I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this generation. Then he makes this eloquent plea, and the eloquent plea is there for us all day, every day.

Because even though God is a God of judgment, and he tells the Pharisees what he tells them in no uncertain terms, on the other hand he is a God of love and mercy, and he is a God who wants to gather all of us under his wings, just as the mother hen gathers her little chicks. And I've seen it many times growing up on the farm. The sound of the hawk, the mother hen makes her certain noise, and all the chicks run, and they get under her wings.

And he says in verse 37, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone them that are sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not? Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, you shall not see me henceforth, till you shall say, blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.

And in Zechariah chapter 12, there is this great verse, Zechariah 12.10, that talks about in the time in which Jerusalem is surrounded by the armies, and it looks like Jerusalem is going to be destroyed. That God intervenes, and it says, they shall look upon him whom they pierced, and they shall mourn each one in his own order, in his own house. In Matthew 24 and 25, Jesus Christ teaches. See, this is Matthew 24 and 25, as part of those last few days here on earth.

Matthew 26 is a part of those days. In Matthew 26, the account of where he institutes the symbols of the New Covenant Passover, as you heard in the first sermon. After that, he instituted the symbols there, and they sang the hymn. Matthew 26 and verse 30, he instituted the symbols. They sang a hymn. Then in verse 31, Matthew 26, 31, then said Jesus unto them, All you shall be offended because of me this night. For it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.

But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. And then Peter makes his great claim that he would never be offended. And Christ says, before the cock crows three times, you will deny me three times. Then Matthew 27, 28 is taken up with a trial and with Jesus Christ being crucified, and the resurrection, and then him appearing again and commissioning the church.

So I've asked you to read those last chapters of all four of the Gospels as part of our preparation. Now I want us to look at the dramatic account of what happened in Luke's account, Luke 23, Luke 23 and verse 22. Luke 23 and verse 22. And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil has he done? I found no cause of death in him. I will therefore chastise him and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices requiring that he might be crucified.

Four days earlier on Palm Sabbath, Hosanna, save now, rolling out the red carpet, as it were, of that day with the palm branches and singing praises to him. And quoting Zechariah 9, 9, I guess, the Hosanna, save now, you son of David. So even the civil authorities, the Roman authorities asked, well, what has he done? And they said, crucify him. And the voices of them and the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them that for sedition and murder was cast into prison.

So Barabbas, the murderer was released. Jesus Christ was retained. And they delivered Jesus to their will. And as they led him away, they laid him away, they laid hold upon one, Simon of Serena, coming out of the country. And on him, they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. There followed him a great company of people and of women, which also bewailed and lamented. But Jesus, turning unto them, said, daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming, and the which they shall say, blessed are the barren and the wounds that never bear and paps that never gave suck.

Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, fall on us, and the hills cover us, judgment is coming, Christ is saying upon all.

For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

Jesus, in summary, was saying, I don't need your tears now. I know what awaits me. Death, yes, horrible, cruel, undeserved, and unjust. But after three days and three nights, I will rise again. I will ascend to my Father, and I will sit on the right hand of the Father, and I will rule with Him. In one of these days, I'm returning to this earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. But if you only knew what awaits you, you would weep and wail for yourselves. That's what He's saying. Today is the day of the green tree. Today is the day in which the Spirit of God is flowing. Today is the day when the Spirit of God is at work, and we have new life within us, and it's budding all around us. See, Christ was there. They had seen the lame heal. The dead had been raised from the dead. Sinners had been given new hope. Demons had been cast out. The day of the green tree. But the day of the dry tree is coming, a famine of the hearing of the Word, and when Satan and the demons are going to be unleashed, and then the time of the wrath of God and the Lamb, as you read about in Revelation 6. And God's justice will be awful to behold, as the dead wood of sinful humanity is consumed by the fires of God's wrath.

These words should be very sobering to all of us. But even in this most tragic hour of his death, Jesus is still focused on others. Whenever a nerve center in his body was shrieking with pain and surely demanding relief, Jesus turned to speak to a group of women who bewailed and lamented him. Upon the cross, as the agony of his suffering only intensified, he prayed for those who put him on the stake and then stood by to stare and mock and jeer and celebrate his death. He honored the request of one of those who was crucified near him, a thief, and consoled him, telling him that there would be a time that he would be with him in paradise. So what will you and I learn from this? The last testimony of Jesus on the stake.

Hopefully we will learn to be less self-centered, more humble. To esteem others better than ourselves, more service-minded, giving and serving and praying and living to reach others with this message of hope.

Just as Jesus did as he writhed in pain on the stake. Can we pray as Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do? If they don't know what they do, then why do they need forgiveness? Have you ever thought about that? Wouldn't it seem logical that if they don't know what they are doing, then they can't be guilty? And yet the words, forgive them, tells us that even though they didn't know what they were doing, they were guilty. You don't forgive innocent people.

So clearly, Jesus said they were ignorant but not innocent. They didn't fully comprehend the multitude and magnitude of their sin. It didn't fully comprehend what it meant to reject, mock, despise, kill the Son of God. And yet there can be no question of guilt. And say, we are all guilty of the death of Jesus Christ and that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And apart from His sacrifice, we're going to die.

So what was the crime of Jesus of Nazareth?

Whom did He harm? Who suffered because of His miracles? Who was victimized by His gracious and kind deeds? Then why did they hate Him? Why did they stare at Him and mock Him while He hung on the stake? Why did they kill the Son of God? What could have possibly compelled them to commit this awful sin? This awful crime against one who had only come to help and to heal and was guilty of nothing, nothing at all. No charge could be leveled against Him that stood up. So let's bring it down to you and I today.

Why do so many reject and mock and despise Jesus Christ today? Why do so many sit in the Church of God and are our yay butters? Oh yeah, I heard what they said, but I've got a reason. You know, I've got a reason stored back here to feel the way I feel.

And no one is going to rob me of that.

Well, we all need to be robbed of anything that is within us. In the next few days, we're really going to be cleaning houses, as it were, our physical houses.

But more important, it is time to cleanse our spiritual houses.

What fault do they find with His words? What is wrong with His character and His teaching? What objection do people have to the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of glory? Why do they hate Him? Why do they ignore Him? What compels them to commit this awful crime of rejecting the one who died in their place? But see, we don't need to just look at this from what they did then, because in principle, the same things apply to us today.

It can only be that they didn't fully understand what they were doing. But you know, today, I think oftentimes we do understand, and yet we do some of the things we do.

They are ignorant, but not innocent, and therefore in need of God's forgiveness. Today, I don't think we're ignorant. I think we know. But we need to let go. Let go of anything that is holding us back, and let's become the people that we can be.

You know, one of the greatest blessings that my wife and I have ever received is the opportunity to be here in the fellowship with all of you. You have bent over backwards, over backwards to make us feel welcome, and we are so very thankful for that. You know, in the first sermon that I gave the Holiday Inn up there on September the 20th of 2008, one of the things I said, let's be all inclusive. Let's try to bring everybody together, one body, one bread, just as God and Jesus Christ wants us to be. And brethren, I know we can do it because there is a good feeling and a good spirit here. Some of the most serving and dedicated people that I have ever encountered in the Church of God are here.

Brethren, let's don't let anything separate us from the love of God, and doing the things that we've been called to do, and doing the things that we know to do. In just four days, the masses turned on the Prince of Life, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. They turned on Him as the shouts of Hosanna faded into the shouts of, Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Away with Him! Release unto us the rabbits, the murderer! So the shouting stopped, and Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world some four days after He had been so praised where the red carpet was rolled out for Him on Palm Sabbath. So what about you? What about me? What are we going to do when the shouting stops? Will our character endure? Fame is a myth, popularity an accident. Those who cheer today will curse tomorrow. Only one thing endures, and that is character. Today, if you would hear His voice, harden not your heart.