Think about everything you’ve said and done in the last six days…
Would you have done those things if one week was all the time you had left?
What would you have done differently???
Hopefully you would fill out that Will or Trust, that you’ve been meaning to fill out for the last 10 years.
- Some might say “one week is all I have”? No more diet!! Bring on the lobster &ribeye!
- Sadly some might run up their credit cards and leave the bill for someone else to deal with…
John 12 tells us about Jesus’ last week before He gave Himself to be crucified for our sin…
- Jesus spent qualitytime with friends.V1-5
Six days before the Passover,Jesus came to Bethany,where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.2Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served,while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.3Then Mary took about a pint[a]of pure nard, an expensive perfume;she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]”
I love John’s little interjection V6… remember, he wrote His Gospel about 60 years later…
He says in V6…
“He(Judas) did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag,he used to help himself to what was put into it.”
Do you think John was still a little bitter towards Judas 60 years later?
In V7-8 Jesus responds to Judas
Leave her alone,”“It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.8You will always have the poor among you,[c]but you will not always have me.”
Over and over Jesus had told His disciples that He was going to die, but it still went over their heads…
Likely the same as if I were to tell you that by this time next week I’d be gone… and I hope that’s not the case…,
because if it happened, it would make your remembrance of this message really weird, wouldn’t it…
But if it happens, you’ll know that I’m in heaven with Jesus… Don’t weep for me…
Jesus knew this was His last week before His crucifixion…Yet…
- Jesus remainedfaithfullysurrenderedto His mission.
V12-19 – Video
It was a strange thing… riding into town on a colt of a donkey…
Who does that?!! Only someone who BREAKS horses, wild animals would do something like that… He also did it to fulfill Zechariah 9:9…
After His triumphal ride into Jerusalem, He predicted again His death… to try and ease the burden of what was coming…
He knew that Friday was going to bring the most awful day He had ever faced in all of eternity…yet, He kept moving towards it…Video
He remained faithful to His mission because
- Jesus’love(for His Father)wouldnotallow Him to do otherwise.
- John 14:15
- 1 John 2:15
Hold on to your hat, because this is what Jesus love for the Father accomplished in His last 6 days…
Starting at sundown on Saturday (after the Sabbath) thru Wednesday
- Jesus taught why most would not believe in Him. John 12:37-43
- Jesus preached. John 44-50
- Jesus taught about the cursed fig tree. Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11:12-25
- Jesus withstood challenges to His authority by the religious leaders. Matthew 21:23-27
- Jesus taught the parable of the two sons. Matthew 21:28-32
- Jesus taught the parable of the evil farmers. Matthew 21:33-46
- Jesus taught the parable of the Wedding Supper. Matthew 22:1-14
- Jesus is questioned by the religious leaders about paying taxes. Matthew 22:15-22, Mark 12:13-17, Luke 20:20-26
- Jesus is questioned by the religious leaders about the Resurrection. Matthew 22:23-33, Mark 12:18-27, Luke 20:27-40
- Jesus is questioned by the religious leaders about the greatest commandment. Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-34
- Jesus confounds the religious leaders. Matthew 22:41-46, Mark 12:35-37, Luke 20:41-44
- Jesus warns about the religious leaders. Matthew 23:1-12, Mark 12:38-40, Luke 20:45-47
- Jesus condemns the religious leaders. Matthew 23:13-36
- Jesus watches a poor widow giving all she has. Mark 12:41-44,Luke 21:1-4
- Jesus teaches about being watchful for his return. Matthew 24:1-51, Mark 13:1-37, Luke 21:5-38
- Jesus teaches the parable of the 10 bridesmaids. Matthew 25:1-13
- Jesus teaches the parable of the loaned money. Matthew 25:14-30
- Jesus teaches about the final judgment. Matthew 25:31-46
Maundy Thursday - John 13 – Jesus washed His disciples feet and taught them thru His Last Supper with them.Judas leaves
John14 – Jesus comforted His disciples and promised His Holy Spirit of Truth to help them.
John 15–Jesus taughtHis followers that they were branchesstill connected to Him by the Power of the Spirit, and that thru their loving obedience to His teachings…Kingdom fruit would be produced.
John 16 – Jesus taught them fully about the role of His Holy Spirit and how their grieving hearts would soon turn to joy.
John 17 – Jesus prayed His High Priestly prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane for all of His disciples (including those who follow Him today).
John 18 – Jesus wasbetrayed with a kiss, falsely accused, denied 3 times by Peter, His mock trial(s) began…, and given the opportunity to free Jesus,
the same people who had shouted “Hosanna!! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”, just 6 days earlier…
were now shouting “CRUCIFY HIM!!” And a ruthless criminal, “Barabbas” is freed instead…
Good Friday - John19 – Jesus is mercilessly beaten beyond recognition, mocked and spit upon, sentenced, crucified by His own creation, and buried in a borrowed tomb…
You just got a glimpse of the last week of Jesus’ life…
His love accomplished much Amen!!
What can you and I learn and apply from His example?
- Spend time with friends and family this week. Be the example of Christ that they need to see.
- Remain faithfully surrendered to your mission.
Don’t sit back, relax and do what pleases you… and don’t wait until it’s too late…
Our church will love you, support you and help you accomplish the mission God has given you.
If you believe you’ve finished the mission that God gave you and you’re still alive… that doesn’t mean that you get a free ride from here to heaven!!
Jesus told a parable about that one as well… The rich man who had done well for himself, and thought “I’ll just sit back, relax, eat, drink and be happy”…
Jesus said,“that night God appeared and said “you fool, tonight your soul is required of you”… now who will all of your possessions go to…
No, you fast and pray…get alone with God and say “what’s next”?
I’ll guarantee He’s not calling anyone to “tear down their barns and build bigger ones… or to sit and yell at the TV all day…
or to be focused on building a life in this world that will not last while neglecting your calling to help build the kingdom of God that last forever.
When He gives you your next assignment, you pour yourself out in faithfulness and serve Him with EXCELLENCE “as unto the Lord”, no matter what the religious turkeys around you may or may not be doing.
Keep on keeping on until the day the Lord chooses to call you home… Plan like you’ll be here for a long time to come… but live like Jesus… like it’s your last week…
What do you have to lose? Nothing that matters if you have a relationship with the Lord…
But if you lack a relationship with the Lord, everything but Him will matter…
The truth of the matter is that what Jesus did during His last 6 days, He had been doing for the last 3-1/2 years…
- Lastly, Love the Father in heaven so much that you wouldn’t consider doing anything else.
Yes… Jesus asked the Father on multiple occasions to “save Him” from what He would endure next Friday, but that was not the Father’s will…
Have you ever been hurting & aching, going thru the worst moment of your life and cried out to God to fix it or make it go away and He doesn’t?
Same thing happened to Jesus, the Son of God…The same thing happened to the Apostle Paul… and many others…
Remember that, when you find yourself in the valley’s of life… but also remember how Jesus, Paul and others loved God enough to persevere in their faith, so the will of the Father could be accomplished thru their life…
When we don’t seem to get our way, remember that there is a greater purpose at work… for a greater kingdom… and a greater King…
Sometimes… no…, most times… we just need to face life by faith and go thru the situation like Jesus did… knowing that better and brighter days are ahead for us…
Because of His close relationship with the Father, Jesus knew the crucifixion would not be the end for Him…He knew SUNDAY WAS COMING!!
So no matter what this week holds for you, even the worst that life and the devil can throw at you, know that is not your end…
- Victory is just around the corner!!
- Destiny awaits!!
- It is always darkest before the dawn!!
- Sunday is coming!!