Today’s passage might be right up there with John 3:16 and Psalm 23 as recognized and quoted scriptures, even by those who would not claim Christianity as their own. But as we know with Scripture, we cannot take only one isolated verse or section of verses and dismiss the rest of the context.

I have been of a Protestant tradition of one kind or another for my whole life. What this means in terms of fasting is that I have not had any regularity or liturgical significance for this. But that does not excuse me from this vital spiritual discipline. Fasting is not optional.

Abraham’s story is told time and again in sermons and illustrations. But often overlooked is the life of Sarah. Sarah’s life mimics that of our own. When we peel back the layers of her story, we see a woman who endured hardships, struggled with her flesh, and was extended grace in her humanity. Ultimately, she was used in a powerful and miraculous way by God to birth a nation.

This message explores the story of Palm Sunday through the lens of a mirror and challenges us not to assume we are "good soil." It invites us to hold up a mirror as we examine the four characters of the familiar Palm Sunday passage and see where we find ourselves.

But in our final teaching, we come to what is arguably the most important of all four–the Sabbath is a day for worship. Now, where does this idea come from? Let’s read one last time from Genesis 2…'On the seventh day God had completed his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation. ' Genesis 2:2-3, CSB

Flip through any popular magazine, scroll on your favorite social media app, or watch any commercial on your free streaming service and you will see all sorts of advertisements–a couple drinking coffee and reading the morning newspaper in bed, a man lounging on the couch playing the guitar, a group of friends on the beach for a picnic… What exactly are they selling? They are selling sabbath.

Jesus clarifies both the law and the practice of divorce. He addresses the misplaced allegiance & displaced loyalty of his audience, redirecting their focus from the law to creation’s intent. He peels back the veil of obligatory obedience to black-and-white laws to emphasis loyalty. And Jesus pushes us to see people as sacred, to see people as image bearers not objects for our discard. 

And then Jesus reminds the people that they are a people of covenant, which is a sacred agreement between them and God himself. He starts this reminder with:“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Advent leads to more, however, than the celebration of Christmas Day. Yes, we celebrate the newborn babe Jesus who was born in that lowly stable, surrounded by animal feed and manure. Even moreso, we celebrate the arrival of our Shepherd, the one who leads us, once we are willing to declare, as Robert pointed out last week, “The Lord is my shepherd.“

Jesus often spoke in picture illustrations so that his audience would relate. He captured the ordinary and turned it divine. By likening himself to bread, he communicated that we need him to live, that he alone satisfies. By likening himself to a shepherd, a common profession in the time and region of Jesus, he communicated that he will lay down his life for us and protect us from enemies. 

Our passage for today is in John 8 (John 1), so feel free to turn there now. Jesus had just been at the Festival of Shelters. The Festival of Shelters, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, is a Jewish festival that commemorates the Israelites’ 40-year journey through the wilderness after the Exodus.

The people were discontented with their current government and they were looking for a leader they wanted to follow. Someone who would solve their problems. But, as we’ve been reading this year in our Bible plan, the whole making-people-king-thing didn’t really work out for them in their favor in the past. Yet, here were the people again, following signs and miracles, wanting a king.