Mary goes to the tomb early in the morning. Can you imagine the conversation that’s happening the rest of the day! Jesus shows up in the evening. He shows up with “Peace be with you.” He shows up with his scars.
Where they nailed his hands and feet. Where they pierced his side with a spear. Where they slapped him and pulled out his beard. Where the flogged him on his back. Where they placed a crown of thorns on his head.
Every one of his scars tells a story- Injustice. Betrayal. Denial. Grace. Truth. Love. Victory.
What scars have you brought with you today? What stories do they tell?
Maybe they aren’t scars yet, maybe they’re still wounds.
Scott Erickson, quote adapted. It starts with our own wounds. Because to bring your own wounds is to ask the Divine “Are you involved in my life at all?” Then we will encounter the wounds of those we love, and ask “are You here too?” Friends, strangers, every wound in the world begs the same question…. IS NEWNESS POSSIBLE?
Yes, newness is possible. This is the story of Jesus’ scars.
Isaiah 53:5, NIV UK. He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; (wrongdoings) the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
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The King is coming The people announced it. It filled the streets like the perfume filled the house the night before. “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!”
The King is coming. The disciples remembered it. Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Hosanna! The King is coming, triumphant and victorious Riding into Jerusalem just like Solomon did centuries before Ending the dispute over who’s the one true King
Jesus, Jesus is the King of kings Greater than the Roman war machine Greater than the Pax Romana With Jesus its Eternal Peace- wrong made right through humility, and vulnerability, and sacrifice Eternal Peace- Pax Eterna
Zechariah 9:10 He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Hosanna! The King is coming. The Anointed One- the Christ Anointed by Mary in gratitude and love for raising her brother Lazarus from the dead Anointed by Mary, blessed to reign as King forever Anointed by Mary, blessed to bear God’s grace as high priest forever Anointed by Mary, a holy sacrifice anointed for death The last sacrifice ever needed A sacrifice so great it overcomes all sin, all death, for all time
Hosanna! The King is coming. The King over death. Jesus raised Lazarus Only a few days later he’ll lay down his own life and take it up again Hosanna! The King over death. And he will raise us up as well. Hosanna! The King over death. All the little deaths. All the little injustices. All the big deaths. All the big injustices. Hosanna to the King over death. Hosanna! Save now.
This is why so many are going after him. He raised Lazarus from the dead. This spectacular miracle. This quick, spectacular fix.
This is what the people were testifying to. Hosanna to the King of Israel. Hosanna to the King over death.
How many will go after him when his work becomes small? When his work becomes slow? When his work becomes sacrifice?
How many will go after him when his work includes our work? When his work includes our “yes” – our time, our prayer, our money, our hands, our sacrifice When the hungry come and Jesus says, “You feed them” When the night of anguish comes and Jesus says, “stay awake, watch and pray with me” When it’s time to deny ourselves, and take up our cross, and follow Follow the King- the King of kings, the King of death, the King of sacrifice
Hosanna! The King is coming The leaders said, “what can you do, the world has gone after him” Have you gone after Him? Are you following him? testifying to him? serving him? trusting him?
The King is still coming The gracious King The King of kings The King of death The King of sacrifice
Our humble King Our King, triumphant and victorious Let us go after Him
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