Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Called out - 27 March 2024, Anno Domini

 

I

 AM the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  (John 15:5)

 

            A great Indian missionary from the Punjab (1889-1929), Sadhu Sundar Singh, once wrote, The little chicken in its shell lives in a very circumscribed and narrow world of its own. It is receiving its mother's warmth and care all the time, but it is unconscious of them because it cannot see or know her. It has wings, but they are closely folded and it cannot use them. So, it is with us until God calls us out into His abundant life.

 

            The same describes the lost sinner before he comes to know the risen Savior. He can do nothing to save himself. He is helpless without the calling Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ drawing him out of his shell of sin and depravity into newness of life – life changed as surely as the cocoon who undergoes the metamorphosis of the butterfly is gifted with new wings of freedom.

 

            Without Christ, we are nothing. We are dead in trespasses and sins, and no more alive than the entombed Lazarus whose dead body had already begun to decay. But outside the tomb stood the Lord of Life and Love. It was the sound of His Voice calling His name to come forth, and he did so still bound tightly by the grave clothes. His face was also covered so that Lazarus was blind to the One to whom he had responded. Jesus then commanded the disciples about him, Loose him, and let him go(John 11:44) Lazarus was thus set free. Only the Lord Jesus Christ could perform such a miracle, but what effect did it have on the Jewish observers when they witnessed such an event? And what about the rebellious Jewish rulers? But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus to death (again). Because that by reason of him many of the jews believed and went away, and believed on Jesus(John 12:10-11)

 

            The Jewish rulers knew full well only God could resurrect a dead Lazarus from the grave; but they preferred their own power, prestige and glory to obedience to the Lord God and His only Begotten Son. They were precisely what Jesus labelled them – children of their father the devil for it was his will that they would do and not the will of the living God – hypocrites!

 

            Just five days later, our Lord Jesus Christ would die His atoning death on the cross for us. Now, it was He who would lie in a tomb much like Lazarus. Who remained that could raise Him from the dead as He had raised Lazarus? At least Lazarus owned a tomb – the tomb of our Lord was a borrowed tomb, and rightly so, for He would need it only for three days and three nights. 

 

            At the apprehension of Jesus in Gethsemane, the disciples all deserted Him and fled for cover.  He died alone on the cross with only the women and the Apostle John with the courage, motivated by love, to remain till the end. Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus (he who came by night) were the two to risk the wrath of Rome and the Jewish rulers to remove the body of Jesus ere the Sabbath began at Sundown.

 

            So who would command the stone to be rolled away on resurrection morning and raise our Lord to life? But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you(Romans 8:11)

 

            You and I were just like that chicklet in its temporary home in its shell – unable to love, without freedom, without knowledge of our Creator, etc. We were spiritually dead in trespasses and sin unable to help ourselves until the Spirit calls our name and we go forth from the grave relieved on the binding grave clothes of sin. And you hath He quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;  (Ephesians 2:1-5)

 

            You are even loved while in your shell, but you are unable to return that love until you are born into newness of life by way of the quickening Spirit of God when He calls your name to Come forth. That call is granted by the risen Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Thine be the Glory –26 March 2024, Anno Domini

 

J

ESUS said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?   (John 11:25-26)

 

            I was surprised to learn I had not yet written about this majestic Easter hymn. I was likewise surprised to find it missing from a number of hymnals, including the 1940 Church Hymnal. I can only attribute that omission to oversight or ignorance of the depth of meaning of this hymn. Perhaps it is a bit too biblical for the modern hymnist.

 

            Composed by the Rev. Edmond Budry in 1884 (while in Africa) to the tune of Judas Maccabeus, this hymn reverently depicts the resurrected Kingship of our Lord and His powerful victory over death and Hell. Judas Maccabeusis the work of Georg Friedrich Handel. This hymn is to be sung slowly, reverently, and with passion.

 

Thine be the Glory

 

Thine be the glory, risen, conqu'ring Son;

endless is the vict'ry Thou o’er death hast won.

Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,

kept the folded grave-clothes where Thy body lay.

Refrain:

Thine be the glory, risen, conqu'ring Son;

endless is the vict'ry Thou o’er death hast won.

 

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb.

Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom;

let His church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,

for the Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting.

Refrain:

 

No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life!!

Life is nought without Thee; aid us in our strife;

make us more than conqu'rors, through Thy deathless love;

bring us safe through Jordan to Thy home above.

Refrain:

 

1 Thine be the glory, risen, conqu'ring Son; endless is the vict'ry Thou o’er death hast won. Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, kept the folded grave-clothes where Thy body lay. When we meet the enemy on the battlefield, we seek to destroy him. If he dies at our blows, the victory is ours; but with Christ, the rule did not apply. He laid down His life at the hands of His enemies but this was not the end of the story. After lying in the tomb over the Sabbath Day, our Lord arose from the dead conquering both death and Hell – for US! The Roman cohort leisurely stood without the tomb on what they considered to be a routine night of duty; but that night turned out to be one of the most spectacular post of duty they would ever experience. A blast of Thunder from Heave heralded the coming of the Angels to roll the heavy stone away from the borrowed tomb of our Lord. It was such a startling event that the Roman guards fell unconscious with fright. To the guards, the event was one of overwhelming gravity, but to the angels, it was a simple honor to keep watch over the tomb to insure that the grave close were left undisturbed where the risen Lord had folded them.

 

2 Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb. Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom; let His church with gladness hymns of triumph sing, for the Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting. The darkness of a night of fearful contemplation prevailed in the hearts of the disciples as well as those who had been complicit with His crucifixion. Perhaps the greatest hurt was felt by Simon Peter who had denied the Lord thrice and then beheld the Lord look him straight in the eye while standing before His accusers. Though Christ rose from the dead, it will profit us nothing unless we are made aware of that resurrection and believe. Christ arose long before sunrise on the first day of the week, very likely just after the close of the Sabbath the evening before. But His resurrection remained unknown until Mary Magdalen came to the tomb while it was yet dark. Mary wandered through the dark streets of Jerusalem to the Garden Tomb only expecting to find the dead body of her Lord. There was evening greater sorrow created by her finding the tomb empty. Weeping, Mary looked into the empty tomb and was disappointed at not finding the DEAD body of her Lord. Owing to her lack of understanding, Mary wept bitterly. The query of the angels she saw there must have seemed completely meaningless to Mary, “Woman, Why weepest thou?” “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.” Mary is mourning over the dead body of her Lord just as we often mourn the loss of a loving family member who dies in faith of Christ – but without reason. 

 

Allow me at this point to take certain editorial license in describing this scene of the weeping Mary and the two Angels. I=t is apparent that the Angels were looking out the opening of the tomb toward Mary. They could see the cedars lining the Garden, the pink cast of pre-dawn on the hills, and they could see something else of which Mary was not aware. They could see the living Lord whom Mary sought approaching behind Mary. It likely gave them a thrill in asking her, “Woman, why weepest though?” Of course they knew the reason, but thay also knew the futility of tears in the presence of a risen Savior.

 

Mary’s eyes are blinded by her profuse tears. She turns aback and sees some personage approaching. Who else could it be at this early hour but the Keeper of the Garden – and so it was! It was the living Lord whose dead body she sought. But her tears blinded her just as the tears blinded Hagar in the wilderness of Beersheba. The presumed Gardener uttered the same exact question of the Angels, “Woman, why weepest thou?” When Mary insists that the Gardener reveal where He has laid the body of her Lord, Jesus calls Mary’s name in such a way as only her Lord could call her, and her eyes were opened. Her tears became tears of joy rather than of sorrow. When Christ calls our names, He does so in a manner which is unmistakable to the hearer. We will know Him intimately if we seek His resurrected glory. Knowing the voice of our Lord will insure that we, too, have that same victory over death that He has promised and made possible by His resurrection. We, too, can enjoy a ‘borrowed tomb’ instead of that grave of the Rich Man who cared not for the beggar Lazarus.

 

3 No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life!! Life is nought without Thee; aid us in our strife; make us more than conqu'rors, through Thy deathless love; bring us safe through Jordan to Thy home above. The Light of Faith sheds great light on our understanding. Knowing that Christ died a sinless sacrifice for us as the Lamb of God without spot or blemish, that He was buried and His tomb vouchsafe by the imperial seal of Rome, that He arose from that tomb on the third dayand ascended to the Father to continue as our only Advocate and Intercessor is our soul’s comfort. We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us(Romans 8:37 Not that we loved Him, but that He loved us first. That love imparted to our hearts will enable us to rise as well from our borrowed tombs at that Last Day.

Sunday, March 24, 2024

AOC Sunday Report – Palm Sunday


Happy Palm Sunday! 


The AOC Sunday report can be downloaded RIGHT HERE.

 

There is Bishop Jerry’s write up on the Madrid trip. 

 

We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy, Yves and Jack, as well as Rev Bryan.  Jack’s sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video HERE -> https://youtu.be/ioLPSMynTsA

 

Bishop Jack’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem at the start of Holy Week by a cheering crowd, many of whom would condemn Him on Good Friday.  In the Collect, we acknowledge God sent His Son to be our Savior.  Think about that, the Creator, Lord and Master of the Universe sent His only Son to live amongst us and not just provide us with instruction and leadership, but to give His earthly life as a one time sacrifice for our sin that we might be accounted as perfect in our final accounting, the resurrection.  The Epistle calls us to follow the example Jesus set in His actions of His Death and Resurrection, and also calls us to embody His great humility and His great patience.  Recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on this day so many years ago.  Only Jesus knew of the upcoming crucifixion; everyone else, including Jews, Romans and His followers, thought he was making a triumphant entrance in to the city to take control of things and kick the Roman occupation force out.  Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.

 

As always, we have a lot of people who desire your prayers. I know that seems to never change, that is because it doesn’t ever change. Today we ask you start with Alan Ridenour’s father who has been released to him after two months on a ventilator in ICU with Covid then work your way through Candy, Shamu, Tricia, Laurie, and continue from there when you have time.

 

On this Palm Sunday, think about this: many of those in the crowd who welcomed Him to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday were the same people who condemned Him the morning of Good Friday.  In many respects, we are that crowd.

 

As we welcome the Lord into Jerusalem amongst other things, we all need to see if we are really opening our heart to God’s guidance in the form of the Holy Ghost. If we’re not, and I doubt any of us really are as much as we could, we need to try harder and harder to do that. It is very difficult to follow God’s instructions if you don’t listen to them.

 

May you see the epic and Holy Week ahead.

 

Godspeed,

 

Hap Arnold

Bishop Coadjutor

Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide

Palm Sunday - Our Substitute - Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide - 24 March 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)

  


Jerry Ogles, 
Presiding Bishop
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

 

The Sunday next before Easter, commonly called

Palm Sunday.

The Collect.

 

A

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

¶ This Collect is to be said every day, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Good Friday.

 

N

OW at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.   (Matt 27:15-21)

 

The account of Barabbas is a stark illustration of each of us ere we came to know our Lord Jesus Christ as redeemer and Lord. Barabbas had been arrested, caught in the act of murder and sedition. He was locked away in prison awaiting his certain fate of torture on the cross. This is an exact example of each of us. We were all lost sinners, sentenced to death and awaiting our final execution on the day of Judgment. It is likely that Barabbas never came to know why he was spared, but maybe he did -God only knows. It is even possible that he later came to know the Savior so well that he could be spared the second death. We are not told the final fate of Barabbas in Scripture.

 

            The events of that Good Friday, two thousand years ago, were fully orchestrated by the fore-ordained workings of the Holy Spirit. He works in the same knowledge and purpose in every believer’s heart. It is interesting to note that He who was guiltless of any crime or sin was pronounced innocent by the Roman Proconsul, while the condemned murderer who was guilty as charged was set free.

 

            Beyond any merit or goodness in Barabbas, his life was spared by One who was totally innocent of his sins. So were you and I set free from the bondage of sin and death by a substitute.

 

            We often read of Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Joseph, or David as antitypes of Christ. Very seldom do we look solemnly enough in the Mirror of God’s Word and find there antitypes of ourselves even though they are found in proliferation in God’s Word. For example, the Woman at the Well is a picture type of those who earnestly seek truth and the Water of Life. The Woman taken in Adultery is a perfect type of all of us ere we came to the Throne of Grace in Christ. Peter, in his loss of courage outside the court of the High Priest typifies us all at some point in our walk when we deny Christ either by word or deed. And we have before us, in the account of Barabbas, the perfect antitype of each and everyone of us! How so?

 

            WE have all hated others with a hate that emerges from envy and covetousness. That is the birth of murder in our hearts whether carried to fruition or simply dormant. We have all lied, stolen something that does not belong to us either overtly, or covertly through our failure to work a solid eight hour shift for which our employer paid us in currency of the realm. We have looked longingly at some person of the opposite sex. We have many times dishonored our mothers and fathers. We have taken the Name of the Lord in vain either in profane language, or in praying in the Lord’s Name for purposes of impressing others only. So we are just as despicable in our sins as was Barabbas. In fact, prior to our being drawn powerfully by the bonds of the Holy Spirit to Christ, we were dead in trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2) Unless you are some special kind of mortal angel (and there are none), you were a condemned sinner in the old man. (see Romans 3:23).

 

            Dead men can do nothing good to EARN their salvation. Their spirit and heart is as silent and still as the heart of Lazarus as he lay in the tomb at Bethany. The wages of sin is death, and we were dead in our old and unwashed souls. (see Romans 6:23) 

 

            We all stood condemned on Good Friday though we had not yet breathed the Breath of Life. We were just as much in bondage and condemned to death as was poor Barabbas. 

 

            Lying in a Roman prison in the company of his fellow conspirators, Barabbas had doubtless given up all hope of pardon or reprieve. He was guilty as charged, and he faced the horrible death of crucifixion. There was absolutely no escape in the terms of the law – no provision for forgiveness under the law for the law cannot forgive by virtue of its own nature. If there had been some weakness of the law as to provision of justice, pardon might have been possible; but there was not. God’s Law, too, demands absolute justice for sin (death). Since we have all sinned, that justice will be satisfied. Since God’s Law is perfect, there are no terms for pardon. The debt must be paid! Our sins were not pardoned on Good Friday – they were satisfied under the terms of the Law by our Redeemer. He atoned for our sins and made it possible for us to be accounted righteous by the imputed righteousness of our Lord who died that day in our stead. 

 

            The story of Barabbas is parallel in its physical outcome to our own.

 

            Barabbas lay on the cold floor of that Roman dungeon awaiting the time of crucifixion. He would have been totally startled in hearing his name called by the Captain of the Guard. Barabbas, come forth! This sounds very much like that Voice that Lazarus heard while lying on a stone-cold slab in the tomb at Bethany. Barabbas likely considered this the call to come forth for the beatings and tortuous death that typified the hours of crucifixion. He must have recoiled at that call just as many Christian fearfully recoil when the Holy Spirit plants a hook in their jaws as He draws them where they may not have wanted to go. Resist as we may, the Hound of Heaven will not lose our trail. He pesters us until we answer. 

 

            Perhaps Barabbas had to be forcefully moved from the cell for the very purpose of setting him free. His tortured mind could not comprehend the enormity of what was happening. He was confounded and confused, if I judge the man aright, when he was released by the Roman governor. He may have staggered out wondering what the meaning of this wonderful liberty was all about. He saw our Lord pronounced innocent and then sentenced to death at the consensus of the crowd incited by the conspiratorial demands of the Jewish rulers. He may have wondered, “Why am I being set free while this just man is condemned?” Or he may have had his conscience so seared with the hot iron of lust and cruelty that he merely did not care why. 

 

            Some have speculated that Barabbas was so affected by this event that he became a follower of Christ. I do admit that this conclusion is possible, but not revealed in the Word of God. For all we know, he reverted to his old, reprobate self. 

 

            Now, when I pronounce the name, Barabbas, I mean everyone reading this message. We have all sinned and would have suffered the fires of Hell were it not that we had a substitute under the law who paid our penalty. We were set at liberty, as was Barabbas, without any effort or good deeds of our own. We had nothing to do with our preciously purchased freedom. The debt was too great for any of us to pay. But it was PAID by the only one who could have been eligible to purchase our freedom and die in our stead – our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

            If we have been drawn by that great Magnet of the Cross under the power of the Holy Spirit to the Throne of Grace, our lives will be changed and we will become new creatures. Though we may stumble and stagger, the Holy Spirit is with us to lift us up as we seek forgiveness. There may always exist tares among the wheat. The evidence will be in the fruit. The Christian character is like a sterling silver spoon. Regardless of its age and use, it will always bear the character and properties of pure silver. But those who are silver-plated are the playroom Christians – they are not truly Christians at all. With time and use, the silver plate will wear off and the baser metal will be revealed. 

 

            Which kind are you, the old Barabbas, or the Paul of the Damascus Road?

Holy Week 2024

Holy Week

The Sunday next before Easter is commonly referred to as Palm Sunday.  The period between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday is often referred to as Holy Week.  Most churchgoing people go to church on Palm Sunday, then to church on Easter Sunday. It’s a fairly uplifting time with not a lot of thinking. On Palm Sunday Jesus makes his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. On Easter Sunday there’s the joyous resurrection. What’s not to like about that?

 

The thing is, there is a tremendous amount that goes on between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, not all of it joyous, in fact most of it is pretty scary or sad.   The beginning of the week was wonderful; in the end the week was even more wonderful.  In between was a series of ups and downs the ups a little high and the downs very very deep. It is important to remember as you go through Holy Week that Jesus was in control of all the events of the week.  The week starts with the Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem and ends with the death of the Savior on the Cross and the burial of his body in the tomb.  It is a week of ups and downs without parallel, the ups a little high and the downs very very deep, deep as Hell you might say, and precedes the most joyous day of the year, the Day of the Resurrection or Easter Sunday.

 

Jesus has a triumphant entry into the city on the First Day of the Week (Sunday); on Thursday night he celebrates the Passover with his disciples in the Upper Room, he prays and agonizes over what he knows is coming in the garden of Gethsemane; Judas betrays him early Friday morning, his most trusted disciple denies him, not once but three times before the cock crew; the Jews condemn him to Pilate who in turn orders him to be beaten and humiliated; that does not satisfy the Jews and at their request, Pilate condemns a man he knows to be innocent to a horrible death to pacify the crowd of Jews assembled by the priests; Jesus is crucified, asks John to take care of his mother and gives up the ghost; his body is taken down and buried; the disciples are dispersed and discouraged; they have listened to their Lord, but not understood.

 

Think of this week from the disciples’ perspective, on the first day they enter with their leader into Jerusalem in triumph; mid-week they celebrate the joyous feast of the Passover, then their leader is betrayed, defends himself not and is killed.  At the time they surely could not think of this as a Holy Week and certainly not a Good Friday.  Yet on the first day of the week that follows, our Lord is Risen, Risen indeed and delivers the promise of salvation in person.


Remember many of those in the crowd who condemned Him the morning of Good Friday were in the crowd that welcomed Him to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. What a difference five days can make!

 

It is important to remember as you go through Holy Week that Jesus was in control of all the events of the week.

 

What a week!


I remain yours, in Christ, 


Hap Arnold

Bishop Coadjutor

Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide

Palm Sunday - Propers with explanation – Bishop Jack’s Sermon – With Video

  

Bishop Jack’s sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video HERE ->https://youtu.be/ioLPSMynTsA

 

Bishop Jack’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem at the start of Holy Week by a cheering crowd, many of whom would condemn Him on Good Friday.  In the Collect, we acknowledge God sent His Son to be our Savior.  Think about that, the Creator, Lord and Master of the Universe sent His only Son to live amongst us and not just provide us with instruction and leadership, but to give His earthly life as a one time sacrifice for our sin that we might be accounted as perfect in our final accounting, the resurrection.  The Epistle calls us to follow the example Jesus set in His actions of His Death and Resurrection, and also calls us to embody His great humility and His great patience.  Recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on this day so many years ago.  Only Jesus knew of the upcoming crucifixion; everyone else, including Jews, Romans and His followers, thought he was making a triumphant entrance in to the city to take control of things and kick the Roman occupation force out.  Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.


The Sunday next before Easter, commonly called

Palm Sunday.

The Collect.

 

A

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

¶ This Collect is to be said every day, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Good Friday.

 

The Epistle came from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, starting at the Fifth Verse of the Second Chapter. 

 

Paul reminds us if Christ, the Son of God, was obedient to God, we should so be.  Also, as a result of that obedience, God hath given Jesus the name to which all of earth should bow. 

 

L

ET this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, starting at the First Verse of the Twenty-Seventh Chapter and tells the story of Jesus’ trial, crucifixion and death.  The Gospel was read by in parts.  We all read the Crowd part together.

 

The normally powerful Gospel seems even more powerful when read as a play, so to speak.  The crowd’s part is very hard to read as it reminds us of our dark side.  If you did not make it to church today, please find someone to read this with in parts.  It is an uncomfortable experience that you nonetheless should not miss.

 

Please read this out loud!

Parts

Reader

Jesus

Judas

Pilate

Pilate’s Wife

Crowd

Gospel of Saint Matthew

starting at the First Verse of the Twenty-Seventh Chapter

 

Reader: The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew: When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, 

Judas: I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. 

Reader: And they said, 

CrowdWhat is that to us? see thou to that.

Reader: And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, 

CrowdIt is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

Reader: And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, 

Pilate: Art thou the King of the Jews? 

Reader: And Jesus said unto him, 

Jesus: Thou sayest.

Reader: And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, 

Pilate: Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

Reader: And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, 

Pilate: Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

Reader: For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, 

Pilate’s Wife: Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

Reader:  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, 

Pilate: Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? 

Reader: They said, 

CrowdBarabbas.

Reader: Pilate saith unto them, 

Pilate: What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? 

Reader: They all say unto him, 

CrowdLet him be crucified.

Reader: And the governor said, 

Pilate: Why, what evil hath he done? 

Reader: But they cried out the more, saying, 

CrowdLet him be crucified.

Reader: When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, 

Pilate: I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Reader: Then answered all the people, and said, 

CrowdHis blood be on us, and on our children.

Reader: Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, 

CrowdHail, King of the Jews!

Reader: And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, 

CrowdThou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

Reader: Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

CrowdHe saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

Reader: The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,

Jesus: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? 

Reader: that is to say, 

Jesus: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Reader: Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, 

CrowdThis man calleth for Elias.

Reader: And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, 

CrowdLet be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

Reader: Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

Moment of Silence

Reader: And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, 

CrowdTruly this was the Son of God.

 

Having read this, do you see yourself in the crowd?  The crowd were not a random group of bad Jews, the crowd is us.  There is a little or more of the crowd in each of us.  Uncomfortable?  Yes.  But, sadly very real.  Yet, if we realize this, we can act to make ourselves less of the crowd and more of the Christ.  For in us each is the crowd and the crown.  We chose, each of us, which it will be, crowd or crown.  One simple letter of difference, yet the gap between the two is bridged only by Christ.


Jack Arnold

Bishop of the Diocese of the West  AOC USA

Education and Training

Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide

Bp Jack brings the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together because as is always the case there is a unifying message in the Scripture for this Sunday.   Bp Jack’s sermon can be viewed on video HERE ->https://youtu.be/ioLPSMynTsA


Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem at the start of Holy Week by a cheering crowd, many of whom would condemn Him on Good Friday:


The Sunday next before Easter, commonly called

Palm Sunday.

The Collect.

 

A

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

¶ This Collect is to be said every day, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Good Friday.

 

Consider these words from the Collect:

 

… thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection…

 

In the Collect, we acknowledge God sent His Son to be our Savior.  Think about that, the Creator, Lord and Master of the Universe sent His only Son to live amongst us and not just provide us with instruction and leadership, but to give His earthly life as a one time sacrifice for our sin that we might be accounted as perfect in our final accounting, the resurrection.  How much did God value His Son?  Consider what Paul tells us - Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Reading this, let us consider how much God valued His Son and how much He values us that He sent His Son here to teach us to guide us, to love us, and finally to give His Life for us that we might be free from the bonds of sin and death. Jesus humbled himself to a commoner’s death, and not just that of any commoner, but that of a thief. This tells us how much Jesus and God love us, that God would send His Only Begotten Son to die a horrendous death and that Jesus would under go this painful death and then the descent into Hell to save our souls from eternal bondage. If He did that for us, it is only fair that we should do our best to follow His Example and  perform good actions for Him. 

 

This thought leads directly to the Epistle which calls us to follow the example Jesus set in His actions of His Death and Resurrection, and also calls us to embody His great humility and His great patience, that we might follow the upward narrow path towards heaven and be partakers of His Resurrection. The Epistle calls us to action and follow in the example of Jesus’s great humility, humbling himself, the being who created this planet, to die for us on the cross, laying down His Life for ours, is an example we must strive to emulate in our own lives, to the best of our abilities. He has set for us the ultimate benchmark for our performance here on Earth. We will never be able to match it perfectly, but if we never try our best to follow it, we will never even get close. So let us allow the Holy Ghost to enter into our hearts and guide us to follow Christ’s example.

 

If we follow His Example and do our best to emulate His humility and patience, we too can be a part of His Resurrection. We will be a part of our own resurrection of sorts. To accomplish this, we have to have our selfish selves die and be replaced with the unselfish self, which we can achieve through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In other words, we need to stop our sinful behavior and replace that behavior with more Godly behavior. This is easier said than done, but it can be accomplished with the help of the Holy Ghost. Without His Help it will be impossible to accomplish. So let us ask Him into our hearts that we might renew our spirit and become New Men. We will find our lives improve remarkably as a result of our transformation into the New Men. Not only will our lives improve, but it will be a big help to those around us as well. So let us cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, allow the Holy Ghost to guide us in our actions and become the New Men that Paul talks about.

 

Jesus set the ultimate standard for us to following God’s will.  His entire ministry can be described as actions. He physically lived His Message. His Message can clearly be seen through His Actions. We need to do as He did and show by our actions that we serve Him. He did not just say nice words and do nothing, He backed up those words with actions. We are called to do likewise. Action, not just diction is what counts in the end and we must always remember that and strive to follow His Example.

 

Jesus knew ahead of time where, how and when He would die. He even told His followers this, but they could not understand as they did not have the Holy Ghost within them to help them comprehend what He said. He knew with a 100 percent certainty it was going to be a physically and spiritually painful death, Yet, He also knew this was God’s Will that we might live.  If He did this for you, how can you not follow Him wherever His Will takes you? And remember His Example, of acting even if it means the death of your temporal body. His Example that He has left to us to follow is that of Action. And like Him, we may have to die for our faith but rest assured that death will have a reward of eternal life. That takes away the threat of physical pain and death to us, as our souls will live on in Eternity and will go to Heaven where Jesus has prepared a place for each and every one of us that has done their best to follow Him.

 

Recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on this day so many years ago.  Only Jesus knew of the upcoming crucifixion; everyone else, including Jews, Romans and His followers, thought he was making a triumphant entrance in to the city to take control of things and kick the Roman occupation force out. It was almost a full moon, this was the year of the Messiah according to Daniel.  The natural events were lining up as Scripture had predicted which preceded the arrival of the Messiah.  Jesus chose the route into the city, through the King’s Gate.  The people saw Him coming and met him at the Mount of Olives.  When He came in through the King’s Gate, the people were expecting to see their future earthly king. They did not have the Holy Ghost within them to see His true nature.  However, they were incorrect, who they were seeing was and is their heavenly king. Jesus had no intentions of establishing a Kingdom of this World. He was looking for followers for the Kingdom of the Next World, of Heaven.

 

This World is only temporary, but the Next World is of Eternity. What ever trinkets we might acquire on Earth will never measure up to the gift that Jesus bought for us by His Death on the Cross and subsequent Resurrection. We must always keep that in mind whenever we are tempted by earthly trinkets. It is a gift of great joy, the fact is we should be by all rights dead and headed for the pit, instead headed to a kingdom of joyfulness and laughter and all pleasant things, and a world that will be far better than our pitiful shadowland here. This is indeed the most valuable of all gifts we will ever receive in our lifetime. 

 

As an aside the Chief Priests, who had so much invested in their 613 laws, likely searched far and wide for the crowd to convict Jesus of the crimes they imagined against their system. We need to remember that not all of the Jews wanted Jesus executed, just those in power and those that followed them. It is an easy mistake to make that many other Christians have made. They have not seen that it was not all Jews and not only that, they were representative of all of humanity, not just the Jewish people. The system that they followed was of this world, not God’s.  Remember, there are none so blind as those who will not see.  They were in the darkness, thus they could and would not see what was being shown to them because it would interfere with their comfortable way of living.  A new way that asked of them, no demanded of them, accountability unto God for their actions.  Know the crowd was not a self-forming group naturally set on condemning Jesus, but a handpicked gang.  At the same time, many of those in the crowd who condemned Him the morning of Good Friday were in the crowd that welcomed Him to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  What a difference five days can make.

 

Make no mistake, we are that crowd.  And, like Pilate, no matter what we say, we cannot wash our hands of the responsibility.  Thus, we must separate ourselves from the crowd.  Separate, that is to make ourselves holy, set aside.

 

When the time comes, how will you ACT?

 

It is by our actions we are known.

 

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God