AVBC - Easter/Resurrection Sunday - 04/05/26 - “The Face Covering Was Separate!” - “The Path to the Empty Tomb” Sermon Series (Part 7 of 7) - John 20:1-18, Romans14:9

 Easter Sun. 04/05/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “The Face Covering Was Separate!” - “The Path to the Empty Tomb” Sermon Series (Part 7 of 7) - John 20:1-18, Romans14:9                                      

 

(Welcome Picture)

          Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Happy Easter/Resurrection Sunday brothers and sisters, friends in Christ! On this day nearly two-thousand years ago, Jesus Christ our Lord got up and walked out of the grave, out of the tomb. Jesus conquered death, and this reminds us that through Him we have hope, salvation, eternity, are resurrection! Today, we are called to live “resurrected” or transformed lives.

          In this season of spring, new life is all around us, flowers are growing, birds are chirping, and today, once again, we have an empty tomb. So, what do we do with this my friends, my brothers, and sisters? How does the empty tomb and this new life we are offered in Jesus Christ change us?  Does it change us? Even though the empty tomb of Jesus Christ happened almost two-thousand years ago though, I believe that today is still as important as ever. Many of us have celebrated this day, Easter Sunday, many times. Is this day though, Easter or Resurrection Sunday merely a ritual? Is it something that we do out of religious obligation, or because it is our culture? Do we believe that as the Elevation Worship song “Resurrecting” says in the chorus of this song:

“By Your spirit I will rise, From the ashes of defeat, The resurrected King, is resurrecting me, In Your name I come alive, To declare Your victory” (https://genius.com/Elevation-worship-resurrecting-lyrics).

 

          This day, Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday, is much more than just a historical event. It is much more than just the tomb being empty. It is the idea that as Christ rose from the dead, we die to ourselves and spiritually rise with Him. When we baptize people in our church, not only is it an outward sign of an inward grace, but we symbolically die to ourselves. We go into the waters of baptism, and we symbolically go into the tomb and the death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. When we come up out of the baptismal waters, we then rise to new spiritual life with Jesus Christ. The baptism does not save our souls, but it is symbolically our spiritual death to sin and shame. It is symbolically shedding our tombs of sin and our shame and rising to new life in Christ. We become new creations!

          Today then, while it certainly centers around Jesus overcoming sin and death, and what that means for our salvation, it is also about us continuing to change to become more like Jesus.

          In looking again at our gospel of John 20:1-18 reading for this morning again, let us walk through, once again, what the gospel of John said happened on the first Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Starting in John 20:1-18 the gospel says, once again:

The Resurrection of Jesus

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him’ (Jn. 20:1-2, NRSV).

          In this gospel of John narrative then, the first person to realize that the tomb of Jesus Christ was empty, was Mary Magdalene. After Mary Magdalene realized that the tomb was empty, she the ran back to tell Simon Peter and John, that Jesus’ tomb was empty. The stone had been rolled away, and Mary Magdalene initially though that some people had stolen the body of Jesus.

(Peter in the Empty Tomb of Jesus - Picture)

          At this point, our gospel of John reading picks back in John 20:3 saying, once again:

³ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. ⁴ The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb           (Jn. 20:3-6, NRSV).

So, the Apostle John beats Peter to the empty tomb of Jesus, but does not go in. John sees the linen wrappings that wrapped Jesus’ body lying where we was laid to rest on Good Friday. Peter, however, went right into the tomb, and this is a description of this event.

(Face/Head Covering of Jesus in the Tomb - Picture)

This is also where I got my sermon title for this morning. In the gospel of John 20:6b-7, is says of Simon Peter, once again:

He saw the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷ and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself⁸ Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; (Jn. 20:6b-8, NRSV).

          It is important to know that all four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all have the resurrection Jesus discussed in them. Yet, the only gospel that mentions Jesus’ head or face covering being in a place all by itself is the gospel of John. For, I think in the first few years of ministry anyway, I either did not think about this detail, or maybe I did not even notice it. I mean think about it though, all four gospels discuss the resurrection story of Jesus Christ, but John excitedly mentions that the covering that was on Jesus’ head or face was rolled up or folded up in a place all by itself. Such a specific detail to mention in John’s gospel. I mean imagine you went over to a friend’s house for dinner, and you told me about it. You would probably tell me what you had to eat, what you talked about etc. Imagine though if you said, “oh and by the way my friend had five bananas on their kitchen counter.” That is a really specific detail. Either you really like bananas or there is a specific reason to tell me that your friend that you went over to their house and had dinner had five bananas on their kitchen counter. Or this was just a random thing you noted, or maybe you were telling me this to try to convey something about your friend or something else. I say all of this, once again, because why would John make such a point to mention the head or face covering of Jesus, when Matthew, Mark, and Luke did not?

          Before diving into this a little more though, as our gospel of John reading says picking up, starting in John 20:9, Simon Peter and John saw the empty tomb, but they still not understand that Jesus rose from the dead.

⁹ for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples returned to their homes (Jn. 20:9-10, NRSV).

(Two Angels at the Tomb of Jesus - Picture)

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

 

¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; ¹² and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ ¹⁴ When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’ ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her (Jn. 20:11-18, NRSV).

Mary Magdalene, however, stays outside of the tomb weeping or crying, and as she cried, she bent over and looked into the tomb. As she did, she saw two angels in white, sitting there where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. These same two angels, at the foot and the head of Jesus saw Mary Magdalene crying and asked why she was weeping. Mary Magdalene then told the angels, that some people have taken her Lord, the body of the Jesus.

(Mary Magdalene sees the Risen Christ - Picture)

          At this point in John 20:14 Mary turns around and sees the risen Christ, but for some reason she could not see that it was Jesus. Jesus, who Mary Magdalene cannot see asks her why she is crying. Jesus asks her who she is looking for. Mary thought that the person was gardener, and she said to who she thought was the gardener, if he taken Jesus’s body from tomb, just tell her where his body is. Mary Magdalene would then get and get His body and bring it back.

          Jesus then said, Mary!’ At this point, she turned around and exclaimed ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means teacher) or Rabbi. Then she saw the risen Christ. Jesus then tells her to not hold onto His body, because He had not yet ascended back to heaven.

(I Have Seen the Lord - Picture)

The gospel of John reading for this morning then ends with John 20:18 saying:

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her                                                          (Jn. 20:11-18, NRSV).

(Face/Head Covering of Jesus in the Tomb - Picture)

          So, with all that said, only the gospel of John narrative of the resurrection of Jesus mentions the head or face covering of Jesus being separate. Once again, why would John, and John alone, have mentioned such a small detail? This morning as we are finishing our Lent Season sermon series, “The Path to the Empty Tomb,” as today we have arrived on this Easter or Resurrection Sunday at the empty tomb of Jesus. Beyond Jesus’ tomb being empty though, what can we learn from Jesus’ head or face covering being in a place all by itself, as this sermon is called, once again, “The Face Covering Was Separate!” Here are some theories of why John’s gospel mentions that Jesus’ head or face covering was separate:

The separation of Jesus' face cloth (soudarion) from the other linen wrappings in the tomb, as described in John 20:7, is primarily interpreted as evidence of a miraculous, orderly resurrection rather than a robbery. The folded or rolled-up cloth suggests Jesus removed it Himself and that the body was not hastily stolen, which would have left the cloths in disarray. 

Key Interpretations of the Separated Cloth:

·       Evidence of Resurrection: The orderly state of the grave clothes—with the head cloth placed separately—convinced the beloved disciple that Jesus had risen rather than being removed by thieves.

·       Orderly Departure: Unlike a stolen body, which would leave messy, torn, or stolen grave clothes, the folded cloth suggests a calm, intentional action, reflecting the biblical theme of God as a God of order.

·       Symbolic Meaning: Some traditions interpret the separate, folded cloth as a signal that Jesus would return, similar to a servant folding a napkin to indicate they are returning to a table. However, others argue this is a modern urban myth and not a documented first-century custom.

·       Supernatural Occurrence: Some interpretations suggest that the separation indicates Jesus' resurrected body passed through the cloths, or that the face cloth was removed last after He sat up, separating it from the main body shroud (https://www.google.com/search?q=why+was+jesus%27+face+covering+separated+from+his+clothes&rlz). 

There is a story around the symbolic meaning of Jesus’ face or head cloth being separate. I do not know if there is a lot of historic evidence for it, but it is a powerful story. This is how the story goes:

When Simon Peter arrived after [John], he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered [Jesus’] head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.

 

Why would John have noted the placement of the burial cloths in light of the astonishing fact of the absence of Jesus’ body? And why would he have thought it important to include this detail in his telling of the events of that first Easter Sunday morning?

 

In fact, it was an important detail.

According to Father Chrystian Shankar, the rolling up and placement of this cloth hearkened to a Jewish custom of the time. It related to a common practice used by servants and masters of this era.

 

A servant, after he had prepared the dining table for his master, would stand to the side, out of sight of the master, but attentive to the progression of the meal. He wouldn’t dare to return to the table until the master had finished his meal.

 

When the master was finished, he would rise, clean his fingers, mouth, and beard, and leave the “napkin” crumpled in a ball on the table. The wrinkled, discarded napkin indicated “I have finished.”

 

If, however, for whatever reason, the master left the table with the intention of returning, then he would crease the napkin into folds and leave it beside his dishes. This was a message for the servant that he was not to disturb the table, given that the master had indicated: “I am returning.”

 

This, then, is perhaps the reason for John’s attention to the detail of Our Lord’s face cloth. Jesus had told them with his words that the Son of Man would return. That morning, he repeated the promise, with the seemingly inconsequential, but very symbolic, gesture of leaving his face cloth rolled to the side, assuring us that he’d not left for good. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, “I am going away and I will come back to you.” (John 14:27-28) (https://aleteia.org/2017/11/20/why-did-jesus-leave-the-burial-cloth-rolled-up-and-in-a-separate-place/).

 

          The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 14:9:

 

⁹ For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living (Rom. 14:9, NRSV).

 

          Today my brothers and sisters, my friends, as we end our journey to the empty tomb of Jesus Christ our Lord this morning, may we see this day are more than just a custom, a tradition, or a mild belief. May we believe anew that Jesus rose from the dead, that He is Lord to all who call on His name, and that He will return on day in glory.

          Easter/Resurrection Sunday reminds us that God wins in the end. It reminds us that the evils and the corruption of this world, in the end, will be defeated by grace, mercy, truth, hope, and justice. For this empty tomb of Jesus Christ our Lord is not just an event, but it is something designed to that change us and enable us to change Adams the world around us. Happy Easter and amen!

AVBC - Good Friday - 04/03/26 - “Is it Possible to Repay Jesus?” - “The Path to the Empty Tomb” Sermon Series - Psalm 22, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1-19:42

 Good Friday 04/03/26 – 6:00 PM - AVBC

Sermon Title: “Is it Possible to Repay Jesus?” - “The Path to the Empty Tomb” Sermon Series - Psalm 22, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1-19:42

 

 

(Welcome Picture)

          When I was younger my understanding of Good Friday, I am sad to say, was very different than it is now. You see, on some level when I was younger, I felt some guilt and unworthiness over what Jesus did for us all on the cross today. I mean, can we ever be good enough for what Jesus did for us? Or to ask it like this, “Is it Possible to Repay Jesus?” Further, do we need to repay Jesus? On this day, this night of Good Friday should we feel guilt, shame, and unworthiness? My answer to this is no. Jesus chose to go to the cross for us. This was part of His mission on earth before time itself. Jesus did this out of love for us, and for our forgiveness and out salvation. We cannot earn it, and we cannot give anything to repay Jesus.   

What is true is today is a day that Christians all over the world have remembered and have commemorated for nearly two-thousand years. Marking this day, worshiping on this day, telling the story of this day is an important part of our Christian faith and tradition. In fact, in some Christian Churches like in Roman Catholic Churches or in Episcopal Churches, this day’s events literally laid out in numbers/images around the church’s sanctuary. These stations of the cross or fourteen numbered markers are the events of this day, Good Friday.

          Once again, our Holy Week began this week with Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem to the shouts of “Hosanna,” and palms waving. This week then continued on Monday of this week, as Jesus cleansed the temple, flipped the tables of the money changers, released the sacrificial animals, and threw out the vendors selling these animals. On Tuesday, Jesus confronted the hypocrisy of the some of the religious leaders, as He taught. On Wednesday, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for 30-pieces of silver, the cost to buy a slave at that time. Yesterday on Maundy or Holy Thursday, Jesus had the Last Supper in the Upper Room in Jerusalem with His disciples, He washed their feet, and He then gave them the “Maundy” or new commandment to love one another.

          After the Last Supper last night, Jesus then went into the Garden of Gethsemane, and He prayed all night long. Jesus asked a couple of his disciples to stay awake while He prayed, but they both fail to do this both times that Jesus asks them to do so. On this day further, in the early morning, Judas Iscariot greets Jesus with a kiss, even though he betrayed him. Jesus is arrested, Peter will deny him three times, as the majority of Jesus’ followers scatter out of fear.

          Today’s saga will then play out as Jesus is brought before the high priest, the Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, and the King of Judea, Herod Antipas. You can see how this week, Holy Week, can therefore seem similar to a stage production, as the story of this week keeps unfolding, and keeps developing. This is why the communion table has elements of what happened this week so far. Every year for centuries Christians have gone through this week and the events of this week, as it is our faith and our tradition.

On this day that we have come to call Good Friday, the religious leaders clearly wanted Jesus dead, as he was a threat to their authority and their power. The King of Judea, Herod Antipas finds no fault in Jesus, as the high priest and the Pharisees tear their robes open feeling Jesus was committing blasphemy in claiming to be God in the flesh on earth, while the Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, seems to not want to deal with Jesus at all. Pontius Pilate even offers to release Jesus or the bandit Barabbas to appease the angry mob (Jn. 18:1-18:40, NRSV).

          The pressure continues to build, as the crowd shouts for the bandit Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be retained in Pontius Pilate’s custody. Barabbas is released, and then things move to a fever pitch with shouts to crucify Jesus. Many in the crowd shouted “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Jn. 19:6, NRSV). Pilate has Jesus flogged and whipped to try to appease the crowd, but this does not appease the crowd. Eventually, Pontius Pilate conceded to the mob and has Jesus crucified. Jesus carries his cross but will end up getting help from Simon of Cyrene. By the time Jesus gets to the cross he is marred, whipped, beaten, and barely recognizable as a man. Jesus is crucified along with two other criminals. One of these criminals rejects Jesus and once accepts him. Jesus prays for those who are harming him, condemning him, mocking him, and even spitting on him. Jesus asks his beloved disciple John, who is the only disciple of the twelve disciples at the cross, to take care of his mother Mary. Jesus had a crown of thorns placed on his head and has been treated in ways that are cruel and demeaning. Pilate has a sign nailed to Jesus’ cross above his head in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that reads “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (Jn. 19:19, NRSV).

(Jesus on the Cross - Picture)

          In addition to all of this, at Jesus’ crucifixion some of the prophecies of the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible come to fruition, as well. These prophecies of old, like casting lots for Jesus’ clothes, or none of Jesus’ bones being broken, etc. occurred. We also hear once again in tonight’s reading from Psalm 22, in 22:1a the Psalmist says:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1a, NSRV).

          Jesus is recorded saying these words from Psalm 22:1a in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34. The great saga of this day, as this great stage production that we move through every year on Holy Week continues.

(It is Finished Cross - Picture)

In our reading from the Gospel of John 18:1-19:41, Jesus says, “It is finished” in 19:30, bows his head and gives up his spirit. Jesus has died. He then is taken off the cross, as the Sabbath Day, which is sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday was quickly approaching. Jesus was wrapped in linens, and a mixture of myrrh and aloes were put on his body. Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, and this is how the great saga of this week, Holy Week, continues.

          So how then, as the person asked me some years ago can this day be called “Good Friday?” One good answer is written in the gospel of Matthew 27:51, which says upon Jesus dying this:

⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split (Mt. 27:51, NRSV).

 

(Hebrews 10:19 - Picture)

Further, this is reinforced our scripture reading for tonight from Hebrews 10:16-25, it says once again in 10:19-22:

“Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:16-25, NRSV).

 

          You see, when Jesus died, the veil or the curtain in the great temple in Jerusalem that separated the high priest from the holiest room in the temple was torn. This room could normally only be entered into by the high priest, and only once a year. In fact, a rope would be tied around the waste of the high priest. Should God find him unworthy, and he be struck down dead, the other religious leaders would just pull him out. I mean after all, if the high priest were struck down, what hope would there be for the rest of them.

          Jesus dies, and the sin of the world dies with Him, if we but turn to Him. Today then could simply be seen as merely a saga alone, or part of the stage production alone. Death on this day though has been swallowed up in victory. For on this day, the only perfect and the only sinless person, who was fully God and fully human, Jesus Christ, dies for the sins of the world. Jesus dies for us, as measure of unfathomable love, and this open door is offered to us all. The torn veil in the temple shows us that all people are invited into the forgiveness from Christ that this day offers. Today is truly “Good” then because Christ our Lord dies for us.

          Some have argued that the events of this day are just simply too brutal. Some have argued why did the events of this day happen or need to happen? Couldn’t God just forgiven us they ask? Sure, but this day was preordained before time itself. We hear in the gospel of John in chapter 1 these words regarding Jesus in 1:14-17:

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”) ¹⁶ From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷ The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:14-17, NRSV).

 

          Today’s events were planned before time itself, and God’s plan to reconcile humanity through the life, love, light, and death of His son was God’s plan to redeem humanity before time itself. We cannot earn it, we cannot buy and cannot do anything to pay back what Jesus did for us all on this day.

          Only a perfect spotless lamb’s blood would save the Israelites first born on that first Passover in Egypt, and on this day the death and blood of Christ saves us all. So, do we receive this free gift of grace and salvation offered so freely to us through Jesus Christ. Who deserves it? No one does. Who is offered it? Everyone is. All of us need Jesus, and today all people, without exception are offered new hope, redemption, forgiveness, salvation, and eternity through the cross of Christ.

With this said, I want to show you a video about the criminal on the cross next to Jesus who accepted Him as Lord. Jesus told this repentant criminal that He would be with Him in paradise this day. Let us watch this together:

(The Thief on the Cross - Video)

          Today, Jesus opens the door to glory, and all we have to do is say yes to Him. It is that simple, He did this all  for us. Will we say yes, and receive the hope, mercy, peace, salvation of Jesus Christ anew on this Good Friday? Amen.

AVBC - Maundy/Holy Thursday 04/02/26 - “The Supper, The Washing, and The Mandate” - “The Path to the Empty Tomb” Sermon Series – 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-35

Maundy/Holy Thursday 04/02/26 – AVBC

Sermon Title: “The Supper, The Washing, and The Mandate” -                 

“The Path to the Empty Tomb” Sermon Series – 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-35

 

(Welcome Picture)

Welcome again, friends, brothers, and sisters, to our Maundy or Holy Thursday worship service. In this service, what is being emphasized tonight is “The Lord’s Supper,” the washing ritual that Jesus performed, and the “Maundy” or mandate that Jesus gave us to love each other. We will also share “the Peace of Christ” as Jesus not only told us to have peace in Him before Good Friday, but He also displayed this sharing of the peace in his post resurrection appearances.

Tonight, is also the night before the arrest, the trial, the torture, the crucifixion, and the death of Jesus Christ our Lord. This night is significant, because in that Upper Room in Jerusalem, which could be the same Upper Room at the Pentecost story in Acts 2, Jesus and his disciples celebrated the Jewish Passover Sedar dinner.

(Passover Seder - Picture)

The Passover holiday and Sedar dinner comes from the Jewish celebration of the death of the passing over of the firstborn child in Egypt, when the Israelites or Jews were slaves in Egypt. This was the last of the ten plagues that Moses warned the Egyptian Pharoah of, to let his people go.

On that first Passover night in Egypt, long before Jesus was born, the Israelites were instructed to sacrifice a pure and spotless lamb. They were then told to take the blood of the lamb and spread it over their doorposts and lintels. The blood of the pure and spotless lamb protected the oldest child of each family for a night from death, but Jesus, our new Passover Lamb, covers our hearts and our souls for eternity with his shed blood. This “New Covenant” is Jesus’ blood, as He is the new Passover Lamb, is signified in “The Lord’s Supper” tonight.

This was still a Jewish Passover Sedar dinner though, as Jesus and His disciples where Jews. So, in addition to the bread and the cup, they likely ate some of or all the Passover foods that the Israelites ate on that first Passover. Jews have been doing this at the Passover Sedar ever since. In fact, we have the picture that I just put up of common Passover Sedar foods, and I have this portrait given to me of the Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci.

(Leonardo Da Vinci - Painting)

In this painting there is more than bread and the cup of wine present at “The Last Supper.” In this case, most of the food looks like common food that would be eaten in Italy where Leonard Da Vinci lived, but it is still showing us that there is more than just bread and wine at the table.

In addition to all of this, some Christian Churches or denominations have what they call a “Maundy Thursday” service, and some have a “Holy Thursday” service, during Holy Week. You might have heard both names before, but the question is why are some services called “Maundy Thursday,” and some services called “Holy Thursday?”

(The Maundy - Picture)

You might notice to that our service tonight is called “Maundy/Holy Thursday.” This is why, according to a source that I researched it said this of “Maundy Thursday”:

It is the fifth day of Holy Week, preceded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday. "Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum, or commandment, reflecting Jesus' words "I give you a new commandment" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maundy_Thursday).

 

          So, the Latin word “Mandatum” means “mandate.” On this night Jesus gives us the “maundy” or the “mandate” to love each other. “Holy Thursday” though emphasizes “The Lord’s Supper” or Communion over the Maundy. This is why I have sometimes combined the two into our service title tonight, which again, is “Maundy/Holy Thursday.”

(This Do In Remembrance Of Me - Picture)

Tonight, the bread and wine, or grape juice in our case, will be shared and celebrated, and not only because Jesus said, “This Do In Remembrance Of Me.” It is important because through instituting the Lord’s Supper or Communion tonight, Jesus is instituting the new covenant, the new agreement with God through Him. For on this night, we are no longer living under the Law of Moses, but we are now living under grace. We are on this night, living under the grace of Jesus Christ, our new Passover Lamb. The blood of Christ once again then, will not save us not just for the night, but for eternity, if we turn to him.

(Roman Empire Map - Picture)

          Tonight, Passover Sedar dinner that Jesus has with His disciples in the Upper Room or the “Last Supper” is discussed in all four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but there are some differences in the gospel accounts. Further, during Jesus’ life the Passover happened only in Jerusalem, because this is where the great temple of God was. The Jews, therefore, had been celebrating the Passover long before Jesus and his disciples walked on this earth. Every time we celebrate “The Lord’s Supper” or Communion though, we are in effect celebrating that Passover dinner of the institution of the New Covenant in Jesus Christ.

In fact, as Connie read tonight, the Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, what happened at the table on this night at that Passover Sedar or “The Last Supper”.

(This Do In Remembrance Of Me - Picture)

This is what 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 says, once again:

^“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes”                            (1 Cor. 11:23-26, NRSV).

 

On this night almost two-thousand years ago, Jesus sits with the disciples, his friends, and he tells them that he is the new Passover lamb. We are given the gift of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ, through the breaking of the bread, and the sharing of the cup.

(Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet - Picture)

In the gospel John, and only the gospel of John 13:1-17, Jesus then washes His disciples’ feet. Due to this, we will have a foot/hand washing ceremony after we celebrate The Lord’s Supper, or Communion. Then I will offer us the “Maundy” or the mandate that Jesus gave His disciples to love one another. We will then share the peace of Christ, as He offered His peace to others, both before his death, and when he appeared after His resurrection.

Christ dying on the cross, tomorrow on Good Friday, and his resurrection on Sunday cements the salvation in Him offered to all of humanity past, present, and future, forever. All we need to do is repent of our sins and turn to Jesus Christ, and eternal death will pass us over forever.

While our Gospel of John reading for tonight, once again does not talk about the Last Supper itself, it is implied as the scripture says that Jesus got up from the table. Clearly this table was the table of “The Last Supper.” Tonight, once again, we remember and we celebrate “The Supper, The Washing, and The Mandate.” Let realize anew tonight, why Communion, the washing ritual, and mandate from Jesus for us to love each other is so important. Happy Maundy/Holy Thursday. Amen.

AVBC - Sunday 03/29/26 - “A Humble King and Savior” - “The Path to the Empty Tomb” Sermon Series (Part 6 of 7) - Matthew 21:1–11

Sunday 03/29/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “A Humble King and Savior” - “The Path to the Empty Tomb” Sermon Series (Part 6 of 7) - Matthew 21:1–11                                      

 

(Welcome Picture)

"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Welcome once again this morning, on our Palm Sunday. This day, which marks the beginning of what many Christians have come to call “Holy Week.” You might have seen a picture in the pre-service slides on the television this morning, of the days of “Holy Week.” Just in case you did not see it though, here are the days of this week or Holy Week:

(Holy Week - Days Picture)

today, is Palm or Passion Sunday, the day that Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey, or foal or colt (young male donkey), to the shouts of “Hosanna” or save us. Tomorrow is Holy Monday, when Jesus will free the animals, flip the tables of the money changers, and cleanse the temple. On Holy Tuesday this week, Jesus will teach at the temple. On Holy Wednesday Judas Iscariot will betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. This Thursday is Maundy or Holy Thursday, as Jesus has the Last Supper with the disciples, washes the disciples’ feet, and gives us the “Maundy” or the mandate to love one another as He has loved us. This Friday is Good Friday, as we will remember the trial, torture, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. We will have the Ecumenical Good Friday service from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, and the Good Friday Service here at 6:00 on Good Friday. This Saturday is Holy Saturday, as Jesus’ body will be in the tomb. Some churches have vigil and prayer service on Holy Saturday. Next Sunday is Easter or Resurrection Sunday. We have our sunrise service at 7:00 am at Adam’s Community Park on Wardwell Street behind the former Adams School building, to commemorate when the tomb was found empty. We then will have our Easter breakfast here at the church from 8:30 am – 10:00 am, followed by our Easter or Resurrection service at 10:30 AM. So, this is Holy Week.

          Given all of this, I have a question for us all to consider this morning. If you were the richest person in the whole world, or the most powerful king or queen in the whole world, how would you enter a large city for a celebration? Would you come in on a private jet? Would you come in a limousine? Would you come in with a fleet of fancy SUVs? Would this include music, fanfare, celebration, pomp, and splendor? Would you have fancy clothes and other things to mark your prominence, wealth, and importance? Sometimes when I think about this, I think of award shoes like the Oscars, or the Emmy’s, with the red carpet. Celebrities and famous people adorning the red carpet, dressed is expensive clothes and all making a big entrance.

For some people that I have asked these above questions though, for some reason they think of Junior or Senior Prom in high school. For example, how do most people want to show up to prom? When I was in high school many students wanted to make a statement on prom night. They wanted to show up in a limousine, with fancy clothes, and look top notch. It was almost competitive, as some wanted, it would seem, to outdo each other. Then there were some students, however, that could care less about how they looked arriving at prom.

This morning, on this Palm Sunday people from all over the known world, largely from the Roman Empire, are descending upon the city of Jerusalem.

(Roman Empire/Jerusalem Map)

These people are coming to celebrate the Jewish Passover holiday, which from the research I have read, generally runs 7-8 days, depending on where it is celebrated. This year, the Passover holiday runs from Sundown Wednesday April 1st until the night of April 9^th. The Seder dinner that many Jews celebrate is often held this Wednesday in Israel, while many will celebrate it on Thursday of this week. This Thursday, Jesus and His disciples will celebrate the Passover Seder dinner, and we have come to call this dinner, “The Last Supper.” We will talk about this more at our Maundy or Holy Thursday service this Thursday here at 6:00 PM.

Once again, this morning Jesus comes to the Jerusalem, where many Jews and perhaps others from throughout the known world and Roman Empire are descending for the Passover holiday. Likely prominent people and leaders entered Jerusalem for this holiday in fancy and powerful ways. Jesus being fully God and fully human, the savior of the world, the only sinless person who has ever crossed the horizon of the world, comes in on a foal, the colt of the donkey. Not only this a borrow donkey, and a colt. Now the gospel reading says In Matthew 21:6 this of the donkey and the colt, once again:

⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; ⁷ they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them   (Mt. 21:6-7, NRSV).

 

(Donkey and Colt – Picture)

          So, did Jesus ride into the Jerusalem this day on the donkey, the donkey’s young male colt, or son, or did he ride in on both? Well, I do not think Jesus sat on the donkey and the colt, I do think though that He sat on both cloaks though. In fact, from the research that I have done, Jesus rode in on the colt, the young male donkey that had never been ridden before, which is also in scripture. In the version of the entrance of Jesus on Palm Sunday in Mark 11:1-11 for example, there is no donkey, just the colt, the young male donkey that had never been ridden. In the version of the entrance of Jesus on Palm Sunday in Luke 19:28-44 there is no donkey, just the colt, or the unridden young male offspring of a donkey. In the version of the entrance of Jesus on Palm Sunday in John 12:12-19 Jesus enters Jerusalem on a young male donkey, a colt.

          While all four gospels speak of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the Passover, only in the gospel of John and our reading from Matthew 21:1-11 for this morning, does the scripture discuss Jesus doing this in order to fulfill the prophecy of the Messiah from Zechariah 9:9. The actual prophecy that I am talking about comes from the Book or Prophet of Zechariah 9:9 in the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible. This is what full verse says:

The Coming Ruler of God’s People

⁹ Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zech. 9:9, NRSV).

          So, once again did Jesus ride the donkey and the colt simultaneously to fulfill this scripture? Our reading this morning from the gospel of Matthew said that donkey and her young male colt where both there, but most scholars think that Jesus rode on the colt and the mother of the colt came along.

(Jesus on a Colt – Entering Jerusalem Picture)

           I have never seen a depiction of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday riding both the donkey and the colt. Have you? In addition to this, the four gospels also discuss the prophecy of the Messiah, which comes from Psalm 118:25-26, which says:

²⁵ Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success! ²⁶ Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord (Ps. 118:25-26, NRSV).

 

(Hosanna – Picture)

          You see, Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord or Lords is “A Humble King and Savior.” As such, He comes into the holy city of Jerusalem on this day for the Passover holiday, of death passing over the first born while the Israelites were still in slavery in Egypt, until the Egyptian Pharoah finally let them go. Then the Israelites led by Moses, went through the parted Red Sea and wandered in the wilderness for forty-years, before getting to the land of “Milk and Honey” or Israel. Death passed over the first born of the Israelites on that first Passover while they were slaves in Egypt, as they were instructed to take a pure and spotless lamb and spread the blood of the lamb over their doorposts and lintels. As a result, the death that passed over the Israelites in Egypt on that first Passover saved there first born. There first born were saved by the blood of the lamb. They also ate the first Passover dinner together on that night in Egypt. This Thursday, when we celebrate Maundy or Holy Thursday, Jesus will institute the Lord’s Supper or Communion. He will give us a new covenant, which is His blood that will save all who believe in Him. As a result, Jesus is the new Passover Lamb, as His blood will not just save the first born for a night, but His blood covers our hearts and our souls. His blood covers us for eternity, and Jesus is the new Passover Lamb.

          Since this all is true, as we walk “The Path to the Empty Tomb” to next Sunday on Easter, this morning, Jesus Christ our Lord, enters Jerusalem, the Holy City on the Passover, as “A Humble King and Savior.”

(Behold Your King – Picture)

To bring this home a little more, let us look once again at our gospel of Matthew 21:1-11 reading for this morning. Picking up in 21:1 it says:

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

 

21 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ ⁴ This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, ⁵ ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; ⁷ they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them (Mt. 21:1-6, NRSV). 

          Jesus Christ, our Lord, comes into Jerusalem this day for the Passover holiday, not only a colt, or the foal of a donkey, but He comes with a borrowed donkey and colt. They are not even His! This is humility. This is a “Humble King and Savior” indeed!

          As Jesus rides into the city, this what Matthew 21:8-11 says happens:

⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ ¹⁰ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ ¹¹ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee’ (Mt. 21:8-11, NRSV).

          This once again fulfills the prophecy of the Messiah from Psalm 118:25-26, which says once again:

²⁵ Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success! ²⁶ Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord (Ps. 118:25-26, NRSV).

 

          Unfortunately, though my friends, this celebration will be short lived. By this Thursday, Jesus will be celebrating the Passover Seder or “The Last Supper” with His disciples. The Palms have been trampled, and the crowds dispersed. Those palms in some church traditions get burned, and the ashes are then imposed on people’s foreheads on “Ash Wednesday,” the first day of the season of Lent. Further, some were disappointed that Jesus was not a military conquering king. That he was not King David 2.0. Yet, Jesus Christ will change the world with His love. The largest Christian denomination in the world today is the Roman Catholic Church, who have about 1.4 billion adherents, and Christianity in total has about 2.6 billion adherents. This is about one-third of the world’s population.

The Roman Empire persecuted Christians for almost three hundred years. They tortured them, mocked them, and killed them. Today, the seat of power of the largest Christian denomination in the world is in the city that was capital of the Empire that tried to destroy Christianity, and who ordered through Pontius Pilate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This “Humble King and Savior” enters Jerusalem this day in the humblest of ways, and His gospel and His love reigns today. The empire that enslaved countless people, and tried to destroy Christianity has fallen, and in its place the largest Christian denomination in the world sits. Pretty impressive for a borrow donkey and colt!

Here are some application points, so that on this Palm Sunday 2026, this sermon can walk out of this church with you into Adams and the world.

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, marking the beginning of Holy Week and the final week of his earthly ministry. It signifies Jesus as the humble King and Prince of Peace, fulfilling prophecy by riding on a donkey rather than a war horse, and initiates the final journey to his crucifixion and resurrection.

Key Aspects and Significance:

·       Triumphal Entry: Celebrates Jesus being welcomed into Jerusalem by a cheering crowd that laid down cloaks and palm branches—symbols of victory—before him.

·       Fulfilled Prophecy: Fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, where the Messiah enters riding a donkey, symbolizing peace, and love. 

Bible Study Tools:

·       Passion Week Start: Marks the start of Holy Week, transitioning from this celebration to the recollection of his suffering, Passion, and death on Good Friday.

·       "Hosanna" (Save Us): The crowd’s shouts of "Hosanna" indicate they were calling upon Jesus to save them, recognizing him as the promised King and Savior.

·       Symbolism of Palms: Palms represent triumph and are used in church services to symbolize Christ's victory over sin, death, and the devil.

·       Sacrificial Lamb: It serves as a reminder that Jesus came to die, acting as the sacrificial Passover lamb. 

    Today friends, on “The Path to the Empty Tomb” on Easter Sunday, Jesus enters Jerusalem as “A Humble King and Savior,” reminding us that He is for us, and that we can relate to Him and His gospel. For He came to earth for us all! Amen.