Rejuvenation
Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday

Paschal celebration & the Triumphal Sunday

Sunday April 2, 2023 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

John 11-12

THE MESSAGE

In this message, you will discover that Jesus often visits the home of His beloved friends to rejuvenate and replenish His body and soul to prepare for the journey ahead. At the end of the message, I will share that God longs to bring you home.

THE SCRIPTURE

"Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him... The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna!' Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' The King of Israel! Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: "Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt." John 12:1-15

THE CONTEXT

Millions of people came home to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Jerusalem swelled to more than two million as Jews made pilgrimages to the Temple for the annual celebration of Israel's liberation from slavery in Egypt (Josephus, a Jewish historian contemporary with the Gospels' authors). The large crowd saw Jesus as the savior from the oppression of the Romans.

The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him. John 12:12-13

The journey that Jesus took from-

1. Heaven to the world
2. Bethany to Jerusalem
3. Jerusalem to Golgotha, Calvary
4. The World to Heaven

was to bring us home to be with our Heavenly Father.

THE LAST HOMELY HOME

J. R. R. Tolkien, author of "The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings," refers to "The Last Homely House" East of the Sea as Elrond's home in Rivendell. The place is the last homely place where the elves can be at peace before they set off into danger ahead.

The house of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha was the last homely home before Jesus set off to Jerusalem and took the journey to the cross.

Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper, and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. John 12:1-2

THE EARTHLY HOME

1. Jesus often goes to the house of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha at Bethany. Their home was "the last homely home" for Jesus before His death and resurrection ( Luke 10, John 12).
2. The "Last homely home" is a place of comfort, safety, refuge, and peace before we face challenges, trials, and the unknown.
3. Jesus knew He had to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51)
4. Jesus came to the last homely home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha to nourish His body and soul and to replenish them before he headed to Jerusalem.
5. Jesus came to the last homely home to comfort and give peace to His beloved people.

Question

Do you have a place like "The last homely place" where you can nourish your body and soul and replenish your supplies to set off on the journey ahead?

"The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' The King of Israel!" John 12:12-13

THE JOURNEY

Following Jesus is a lifelong journey, and it is a journey that we must take. The three journeys in the gospel of Luke (Luke 9 &10), the triumphal entry and the journey to the cross, give insights into learning how to take a journey as a follower of Jesus.

First Journey: Sending out the twelve (12) ( Luke 9:1-6)

1. Preach the gospel, and heal people.

Second Journey: James and John journey to a samaritan village (Luke 9:51-56)

1. Show compassion, not condemnation.

Third Journey: Sending out the seventy (70) ( Luke 10:1-20)

1. The full power of the kingdom of God is within you

Journey to Jerusalem

1. Jesus is the Messiah, the prince of peace-"Hosanna!
2. Be the messenger of peace.
3. The journey has trials ahead.
4. Plot to kill Jesus (John 11:53)
5. Plot to kill Lazarus (John 12:9)

Journey to the Cross

1. Suffering is part of our journey
2. Obedience is essential in our journey
3. Jesus predicts His death and resurrection (Luke 9:22)
4. Jesus taught us to take up our cross and follow him (John 12:24-25, Luke 9:23-24)

Question: What kind of bread are you taking along for the journey?

THE ETERNAL HOME

Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt. His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. John 12:14-16, 26

1. Jesus promised His followers wherever He is: they will also be.
2. If you follow Jesus and serve Him, God will honor you.
3. God longs to bring you home.

Question: Do you know that Jesus speaks to and walks with us on our way home?

DAILY TAKEAWAYS

1. We need "The Last Homely House" to nourish our body and soul and to replenish our supplies for the journey ahead.
2. Following Jesus is a lifelong journey
3. Going home is a lifelong journey
4. The triumphal journey, the journey to the cross, gives insights on how to take the journey as a follower of Jesus.
5. God longs to take us home.