Week of Apr. 2-8, 2023

Sunday Morning Worship - 10:30 am

Wednesday Evening – 6:30 pm

Series – “If Christ Is Not Risen” 1 Corinthians 15:14

Sunday, Apr. 2  –  Palm Sunday. Message: “Price of Victory.” John 12:23-32.  Thought: Jesus even though King was willing to pay the price of humanity’s salvation. Devotion: Donna Shafer, Psalm 88:1-12.  The message of the gospel is the light in the darkness.

Sunday, Apr. 2 – Care Facility Services 1-4 pm

Income for Mar. 26 – $1470.00 

A special thank you to all those who have been faithful in your support of our fellowship. 

Introduction:

Palm branches by the time of the 1^st Palm Sunday had been a symbol of victory for over 1000 years.  The ancient Mesopotamian cultures viewed the Palm tree as the connection between heaven and earth.  The Egyptians viewed the palm tree as sacred to the Sun god.  Greeks celebrated the palm tree and its branches as sacred to the Sun god Apollo.

The palm branch in the Hellenistic and Roman world was a symbol of the winged goddess Nike or “Victory”.  It was used in military triumph parades and given to victors in sporting events.  A Roman General who had already received one Triumph was permitted to wear a Toga painted with “palm branches” if he was voted a 2^nd Triumph. The palm branch was so associated with victory that the Romans used the Latin “palma” as another word for victory.  The Jewish people because of its association with the Feast of Tabernacles and crossover from the Hellenistic culture also viewed the palm branch as a symbol of victory. 

In John chapter 12 we have the account of the 1^st Palm Sunday.  For the throngs of people in Jerusalem it was a spectacle that brought questions.  Questions like: Who is Jesus? Who can be part of the Messianic kingdom?  Will this anger the Roman government?  Is this a seditious act against the Jewish leaders?

But no one asked the most important question: What will victory cost?  It is an uncomfortable question.  Most of Jesus’ followers thought the victory had been won the Thursday before when Jesus and the disciples  took over the temple courts.  But Jesus knew the real battle lay ahead and the price would be enormous.  It would shake the foundations of the present world, shatter the underworld’s dominion, and rend heaven with sorrow.  The price of victory was the humiliation of God, the abuse and violation His Son and the death of the Creator. 

On that 1^st Palm Sunday Jesus was asked by a group of gentiles if they would be included in the kingdom.  He responded, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." (John 12:31-32 [ESV]).  Based on this statement, twice in the New Testament (Colossians 2:13-15 & Hebrews 12:1-2), we are told that Jesus through his death on the cross triumphed over Satan and the malevolent forces of this world.

In 1939 Eugene Monroe Bartlett, a successful gospel song writer and music publisher experienced a debilitating stroke that would eventually lead to his death less than 2 years later in 1941.  He was partially paralyzed and unable to run his publishing business. In the midst of this struggle, he wrote his most enduring hymn, “Victory In Jesus”.  In the depth of his suffering he found victory in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Roman Christians eventually adopted the palm branch as a symbol of “victory” over death in the resurrection.  It is carved on their tombs.  For us the Palm Branch is the symbol of Christ’s victory over death.

Gustave Dore in 1882 created an iconic print of the Triumphal Entry, but in 1899 he produced a print called “The Victory of Christianity over Paganism”.  At the center of this print stands Jesus Christ holding the cross. 

The price of the Palm Branch is the Cross.

  Pastor Alan will share a video sermonette for today on the Garrison Church of God Facebook page and YouTube channel.. We post the audio of the service on our website “sermon download” page following service - www.garrisonchurchofgod.com.

Coming Up:

Wednesday, Apr. 5 – No Service due to Holy Week.

Thursday, Apr. 6 – Maundy Thursday – The Transmission of the Bible– Communion.

Friday, Apr. 7 – Good Friday Services, 4:30 pm.

Sunday, Apr. 9  –  Resurrection Sunday. Easter Brunch, 10 am. Service 11:00 am. Message: “Living The Joy of Creation.” Romans 8:18-26.  Thought: The Resurrection not only promises our redemption but the restoration of all creation. Devotion: Isaiah 65:17-25.  The Glory of God’s Kingdom.

 Wednesday, Apr 12 - Bible Study 6:30 pm. Ezekiel Study  - The Vision of the Temple’s Corruption. Ezekiel 8:1-18

Saturday, Apr. 15 – MIP Seminar 10 am