This sermon is an alternative, more devotional look at the verses, centring on the great gospel message of repentance and faith. It was preached in an evening sermon to complement the regular morning preaching as part of a series on
Silence is golden
In the darkness of night, away from the city, following a violence encounter, in the hands of armed enemies and with no support, Jesus could meet his end. However, it will not be so. His opponents – Israel’s leaders –
Safe getaway
Jesus is in Gethsemane with 11 of his disciples. The 12th then arrives – Judas – but he does so to betray. It’s such an ugly scene as Judas exploits his friends’ confusion to sell Jesus with a kiss of
Squeezed in the press
As his enemies close in, and death draws near, Jesus protects his disciples and readies them to run. However, there one more element of preparation he needs for himself and them: prayer. So they walk to Gethsemane, a place where
Hit the shepherd
Jesus has his death on his mind because it’s so close now. But he’s also concerned for his disciples. They need to understand that he will be hit hard, like the shepherd of Zechariah 13. When that happens they will
A new Passover [2]
On the evening before he dies, Jesus shares an intimate meal with his disciples. It begins as a Passover, but feels like no other Passover meal his team have ever had, as the threat of his death hangs over the
Big men, little woman
Jesus has silenced his opponents. But he will not be silent. Instead, he asks questions about the legal experts. Why do they struggle to see the most important commands? It’s not because they lack in intellect or knowledge. Their problem
A legal problem
After a number of group attacks, an individual comes to Jesus. This scribe wants to ask which law in all 613 of the Old Testament commandments comes first and provides the core principle that unites all the others. Jesus’ answer
Anger management
Jesus has seen the state of the temple and it isn’t good. God judgement is going to strike it for its sorry state. But not yet. There must be mercy in wrath. Jesus will delay the destruction so that some
Private plan, public parade
Jesus arranges to ride up to Jerusalem. The crowd of Passover pilgrims and others on the road see this as a declaration that a new King David has arisen., meaning salvation from hated enemies. However, Jesus’s arrival in Jerusalem will