PALM SUNDAY / PASSION WEEK SPECIAL

Join Daniel Mamora and Pastor Gary Kusunoki as they explore the significance of Passion Week, the triumphal entry of Jesus, and the profound lessons from Matthew 21. Discover insights into biblical prophecy, the humility of Christ, and practical ways to live out faith during Easter.

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:20

Hello and uh happy. Well, it's not yet Palm Sunday. Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, but happy, I guess you could say happy Palm Sunday or Palm Saturday in this in this case. But um it might not be Saturday or Sunday whenever you're watching this because it's archived. But um, but this is basically um uh in regards to Palm Sunday, and um we are going to enter, we're about to enter Passion Week. Uh Passion Week leads up to Easter Sunday, and so that's what we're going to, me and Pastor Gary are going to um talk about today because um Easter is kind of like this the Super Bowl for us as Christians because we get to celebrate Jesus' resurrection from the dead, uh from dead, and that what that symbolizes. And next week, um, yeah, but today we're gonna lead up from uh the triumphal entry, uh, because we're going to Matthew chapter chapter 21 today, and next week we're gonna pick it up from the crucifixion um of Jesus Christ, and then you know the story, hopefully. But you're gonna have to uh either read ahead or tune in next week uh for the um the great news of what happened after the crucifixion. But at this point, we're gonna talk about the triumphal entry of Jesus in Matthew 21. And so um if you have your Bibles, go to Matthew 21. I don't think I've ever said that in the podcast that we have, you know, because I'm like I never I've never had to said that anywhere, you know, like in the podcast. Maybe I've said that in you know, because I've you know I've taught a few times in the past, but um but I've never had to said that in God's stories uh before. So turn your Bibles. I feel like a preacher now, turn your Bibles in Matthew 21. And uh, but I'm not gonna be uh preaching, maybe, but mostly Pastor Gary will, because he's ordained and I'm not. So and uh, but anyway, so uh let's just set our hearts right, and as we're about to enter Passion Week, and uh Pastor Gary, take it away.

SPEAKER_00 2:33

Yeah, well, first of all, let's look at we're gonna look at Matthew 21 in verse 1, what we all know as the triumphal entry. And it says, Now, when they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, Go into the village opposite you. Immediately you will find a donkey tied, a colt with her, loose them and bring them to me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them, and immediately he shall send them. All this was done that it might be filled, which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you lowly and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. And and um as we begin here, why don't we start off in prayer and then let's just see what the Lord would have to say to us. Father God, as we come before you, Lord, we thank you for your word. And I pray for for everyone listening to this, whenever it is they're listening, that you would bless them, that you would, Lord, just show them who you are, especially if they're listening and they don't know you as Lord and Savior, they don't know if they died today, whether they would go to heaven or not. Lord, we are all about sharing the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins. And so, Lord, as we tell your story, may we just uh be touched and may you use this time in each of our hearts and lives to inspire us as we follow you in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Well, it's interesting because we we call our podcast God stories, right? And so, and it's really kind of been well, stories of what God's doing in the lives of uh believers. And but what what we're doing here is we are talking about God's story, yes, you know it it's definitely makes sense. And and sometimes when we call it a story, it might give the idea that it's fiction, and it's not. This is you know the the documentary evidence of the the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, of his going and dying for our sins, and then the glory of the resurrection. So um, you know, I I think first of all, let's put ourselves in the place of the people there. So now we're looking ahead to Passion Week, right? But we already know what happens. We we already know what happens on on you know the Sunday following this triumphal entry, and that is that Jesus rises from the dead and he conquers sin and death. And and so, you know, um we have that that view looking back, but for those that were there, especially the disciples, because sometimes I think we're we're kind of critical of the disciples, but you know, here they're they're entering Jerusalem at feast time, so Jerusalem is packed, maybe you know, upwards of two million people that are in Jerusalem at that time. And it's not like Jerusalem's uh the size of Los Angeles, it's it's small, and so it had to be, you know, literally wall-to-wall people, and they're just walking through and and looking at everything and and you know, and wondering what does all this mean? And and so Jesus sends them on a mission, and and to them it may not seem like a very important mission, you know, go get you'll find a donkey and a cult and bring it here, bring them here, and and it's like, you know, well, wait a minute. And and and you know, we really it doesn't matter really which two, but imagine, you know, for me, I'm like, what? You know, why do I have to do that? You know, and let Peter do it, let somebody else do it. I don't, you know, why am I going to do get a donkey and a colt? What is this all about? And and so um, and you know, but but I think that that what God is doing, what Jesus is doing has two purposes. One is um obviously to fulfill scripture and prophecy, but the other is to strengthen the faith of his own disciples. And they're gonna go and and and somebody will say to them, Hey, what are you doing? And you go, we'll just say, Hey, the Lord has need of them, and then they'll say, Okay. And it's like, you know, if someone if you walked out, imagine this, man, especially with your electric car. So you walk out, and somebody you don't know is getting in your car, right? And and you go, Hey, what are you doing with my car? And they say, The Lord has need of them, you know, uh, the Lord has need of it. What what what would you do? You know, and it's like, what? You know, you can't have my car. And and so um, you know, this is kind of the format, this is the the the scene uh of them. So it did take some faith to go and do that because they're like, you know, uh well, are we gonna be arrested? You know, are they gonna attack us? What's gonna happen? And and and yet it was, and and as they in hindsight, as Matthew in hindsight, it's looking back, it's like, you know, this was fulfilling the the words of the prophet. Yeah and this is Jesus doing what what um or fulfilling what God's word had spoken of him. And so um it was to strengthen their faith. It was to to really, it was also a demonstration of his power, and Jesus saying, Hey, you know what? I'm in control, and this is showing you that I'm in control. And then um so the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded, verse six. They brought the donkey, the colt, laid their clothes on them, and sent him on them, and a very great multitude spread their clothes on the roads. Others cut down branches from the street, spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before, and those who cried out, saying, Hosannah, which means we know, save now, to the son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. And and verse 10 says, And when he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? So the multitude said, This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee. And so, so again, let's take it from the point of view of the the uh disciples. We have a packed city, wall to wall, and here they come into the midst of this. And you know, I don't know at what point in in their walking down from from the Mount of Olives, they they began to to worship God or to worship Jesus and and to spread down their their colts, their coats and their their palm branches, and and really they welcomed him as a king. Now we all know he came on a colt because he came in peace, and and that when a king comes riding a a horse, it's usually in war, and he he's coming to proclaim victory. But when he comes in on a colt, he's proclaiming peace. And so um, so they start to worship him again. You know, we're there, we're we're seeing the streets crowded, everybody worshiping Jesus, and we're like, wow, okay, so all this is coming to pass. And and they at this point, they're not expecting that that in less than a week they're gonna see the same Jesus on a cross. You know, they're they're thinking, This is the beginning of great things. And and their idea of great things is not God's idea. And you know, it's often with us, you know, when God doesn't work the way we think he should, how do we respond? You know, and and because God is not going to work in the way that we think that he should. He's gonna work in a way that that that is gonna be for our eternal good and for his glory.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 11:23

Um, but you know, for us, we always have well, God should do this, God should do that, even for for uh, you know, Peter, when Jesus said, I'm gonna be be crucified, and he said, No, you know, let it never be. And and Jesus said, get behind me, Satan. And and and it's like, you know, Peter's like, no way, this is not gonna happen. This is I have a plan, I know how this is gonna happen. You're gonna come in and and and you are gonna take over, and you're gonna push the Romans out. And so that's what they're thinking. You know, here comes the the king, here comes the savior, the messiah, and he is going to now take his throne, rule, and then we're gonna rule with him. And so, you know, I mean, I mean, for me, I'm when I put myself in in the place of the the disciples, looking from their perspective, it's like, man, this is this is really exciting, and and God's really gonna do a work here. And and um, but again, not necessarily the work that God wants to do, not necessarily surrendering to him. They weren't listening because Jesus had already told them, I'm going to be delivered up and I'm gonna be crucified. But but you know, they weren't listening because, like all of us, you know, we we understand God's got a plan and it's not ours, and he doesn't need our input. Yeah, we pray and yeah, we say, Lord, please, you know, um, I need need this or help with this or heal me or whatever. I mean, there's nothing wrong with that, but I I'm I'm just saying that it's not our will, but God's will that we want done on earth. And and so, you know, from there he goes and and he he cleanses the temple, but but I I really want to to jump ahead because you know what Jesus says in in his last few days um on on earth in that that physical sense um is important. And so, you know, he cleanses the temple, he pronounces uh you know his his judgment on the Pharisees, and and you know, he he has the parable of of the wedding feast, and he says in in verse 22, verse 14, for many are called but few are chosen. And and so, you know, we we see that that um as we we look at our our walk with God, that he was all about preparing the people, preparing his disciples not only for his death, and even not only for his resurrection, but be able to go forth, share God's story and the gospel, and bring them to salvation. In chapter 24, he predicts a destruction of the temple, the the signs of the end times, and you know, you you you um and we see these, right? You know, if you look at at um the signs in Matthew 24, um he says, When when they asked, What will be the sign of your coming, the end of the age? And he said, in verse 5, for many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many, and you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things might must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, there will be famine famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Sound familiar, Daniel? Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 15:26

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:26

It's all going on right now. Oh, yeah. It's all going on, and so you know, uh, I'm I'm not I'm obviously not saying, oh, Jesus is coming tomorrow, but you know what? He's coming soon, and he can rapture us um at any moment. And we're praying, Lord, Maranatha, come quickly, Lord Jesus. And um, but you know, he also says, and we kind of like to skip this in verse 9, then they will deliver you up to tribulation, kill you, you will be hated by the all the nation for my name's sake. And many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Yeah, sounds familiar. And so, what are we called to do? You know, what's you know, if we're gonna really point our our minds, our hearts, our spirits, our prayers in this passion week, what is it, Lord? Give me endurance. Yes, you know, give me that that patient endurance that the Lord speaks about. That you know, when we look at the word perseverance in the New Testament, that Greek word literally means patient endurance. And so that's what we want. We want to endure till the end. And and the other thing is is we want to hear, you know, and and if the Lord should tarry, um, we think he's coming anytime, but but if he tarries and and you know, and or whenever we go to meet him, we want to hear, well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord. And and so um, and then in verse 14, and here's here's where I really get excited. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come. You know, you know, in Nepal, uh Daniel, we're we're working in unreached people groups, you know, we're up in the mountains of Nepal where they have never ever heard the gospel, met a Christian, never heard the name of Jesus. They I mean, I mean, absolutely never. And so, and that's exciting as we see the witness, the gospel, the good news of salvation and forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ go to the unreached parts of the world, and and being preached because that's the end, you know, then the the end will come, and then you know, the the the tribulation, and and you know, obviously we we believe um that that we're gonna be raptured. Yeah that uh before the tribulation that we'll be raptured out, and and so but but there will be a real seven-year tribulation and and so yeah, and he's he warns of that. But I I wanted to kind of um you know highlight for a minute um chapter 25 of Matthew in in verse 31. It says, When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory, and all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats, and he will set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in or naked and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you? And the king will answer and say to them, Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it to me. And so in these times. So so this is all the we're set in in the the the um the time that Jesus says is coming after his death and resurrection, and and we're looking now at the end times, which which I believe we're in, and what does God say? Does God say, you know, get an AR and and build a bunker in the mountains and and you know get 5,000 rounds of ammunition and hide out, you know, or or does he say get out there and and do good? You know, um during the tribulation, he does say, you know, run. But but for us now, he says, work. Do the work, do the work of the ministry, do the work of the event of evangelism. I want when Jesus calls for us and we hear that that trumpet saying, come up, and and we're raptured, I I want him to find us busy about his work. And so, you know, um sometimes people say, Well, well, you know, is this the the you know, and I I hate this word, social gospel. I hate it because there are people that are like, you know, our calling is just to go out and do good, and we never have to share the gospel. As a matter of fact, I was told by by another organization that, you know, it our obligation is just to go and do good. And if they never hear about Jesus, then that's not our responsibility. I'm like, what? You know, then who gets the glory? We get the glory. No, everything that we do has to be about this is because Jesus loves you, and so do we. And so, you know, I'm I you know what what we are doing and what what Anchored does, and what all of us at Anchored are doing, and the volunteers that come alongside us, they're we're doing these things. You know, we're feeding the hungry and we're We're the ones that are thirsty, we're talking before um this about how um I think last week I think we might have mentioned that you know we've got everything and there's people that don't have clean water, yeah, you know, to drink. And you know, i if you can see uh I'll try and look that up before our program's done, but a picture of what the people in Uganda uh what they drink out of. And and just to be able to see, you know, how much we have uh versus what they have. And and that that we're called to go and make a difference. So, you know, we go and and and we build uh or we drill wells. And for about$8,000, we could drill a well that will serve$1,500 to 2,000 families with clean water year-round. Um let me show you. I found it, let me just show you this picture here of one of the areas where in Uganda. So I can you see that, Daniel?

SPEAKER_04 23:19

Yes, I can.

SPEAKER_00 23:20

Okay, so the color of that, it's not just because the water's in a shadow, that's brown, um, stagnant water. And you see what he's doing? He's filling jugs, drinking water drugs, jugs. They're they're gonna go and drink that water, they're gonna bathe in it, they're gonna cook with it. And and so this is actually one of the areas where we did uh drill a well and and see the the the Lord provide clean water to these people. And you know, we've we've drilled 10 wells now. We want to drill 10 more. Um each well cost about$8,000 because we actually have to bring in big drills that will go down deep enough to where the the wells will never run dry that will go through um through rocks and and um and so you know it does it does cost money. But um so but so eight thousand dollars. Let me show you. This is show and tell. This is kind of like you know, you get invited over and they want to they say, let me show you my my vacation pictures. So so look at this. This is one of the the drilling rigs that we use. It's not little. Um, but but they have to go, um, usually they they drill down about 200 feet, and um so that that they will always have water, and and so critical um that that we're able to do that. So so we're providing water for those that are thirsty, and and you know, um we're we're taking in the strangers and we're literally clothing the naked. And and you know, we have eight kids in our anchor of hope house um that that uh we are responsible for year-round. Uh four of them go to boarding school, but when they're not in boarding school, they're home living with us, and and uh two of our girls now are living with us um, you know, full-time in our anchor of hope house. And and so, you know, we've we've taken them in. Um we're taking care of the sick, whether it be those that are malnourished or or you know, um, and incidentally, let me tell you, the the um the cases of waterborne diseases in our village just since we built the 10 wells. And and you know, we could do literally a hundred. Um we'd like to do a hundred, but but just with these ten wells, we've seen you know, about a 40% dip in water-related illnesses um since these wells came in. And so, so that's significant. You know, we we've um done uh prison ministry, supporting prison ministries, and and so again, why are we doing it? We're doing it for the Lord, we're doing it because that's what God's called us to do. So, you know, this this Easter, this Passion Week, um, you know, as as we look to to the Lord and we look to to his sacrifice on the cross and and um you know, may we really get that sense not only of what Jesus did for me, and because we'll say, yeah, Jesus died for me, and and I have salvation, you know, I have eternal life because of him. But but we said this last week. What does that mean to you? Are we truly you know thankful for it? Are we truly you know willing to to say, you know, this has value? And and it it it's something that I value, I want to give it to others, and so I want to do what God's called me to do. And and you know, Jesus knew that he was dying, so so the most important words he's saying are are the words he's saying now. And he's saying, you know, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, take the stranger, take the stranger in, heal the sick, visit those in prison. And and I'm not just saying, hey, with our ministry, you know, that'd be great if people came with us. We got a trip to Uganda coming up um July 17th, and uh um we've got a team ready to launch here uh April 17th to Nepal. Um so um we'll do uh we'll do a podcast from there too. But but you know, the the key is you know, for us personally, do I value my salvation? Do I understand what Jesus did for me? And and um am I willing to put my life on the line? Am I willing, you know, last week we said a lot of us aren't even willing to give up a cup of coffee, one cup of coffee in a week, you know, for the Lord. But are we willing? Are we willing to do that? You know, and and so um Jesus has called us and and said, you know, what he's telling his disciples is, hey, I'm going, I'm I'm gonna be killed, I'm gonna be crucified, but on the third day I'm gonna rise again. But this is what you're gonna be doing um after I'm gone, you know, after I'm gone physically. And so, you know, from that point, then Jesus is is uh arrested. He he you know, uh um I wish we had time to go through everything. Is you know, and in uh John 17, we see his his uh prayer in the Garden of the Gethsemane, and and you know, he prays for his disciples, and and and in verse 9, he prays for us. And he says, Um, I pray for them, I do not, this is John 17, 9. I pray for them, I do not pray for the world, but those whom you have given me, for they are yours, and all are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I'm glorified in them. Now I'm no longer in the world, but these are in the world. I come to you, holy Father, give them your name, those whom you have given me, that they may be one as as we are. While I was with them in the world, I have kept them in your name. Those whom you gave me I have kept, and none of them is lost except the Son of Perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to you, these things I speak to you in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I've given them your world word, and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have also sent them into the world, and for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they may be sanctified by the truth. So, so Jesus is praying for his disciples, he's praying for his followers, and and then, like I said, he's he's gonna pray for us. And he says that in verse 20, I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word. That's us, that they may be one as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they may also be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me, and the world which you gave me, I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one. I in them and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me. And and so Jesus is praying, you know, it'd be like he's saying, I don't pray for these alone, but I also pray for Daniel, and I also pray for for Gary. You know, these guys need a lot of prayer. So sorry, speaking for myself. And he said, but I want them to be one, I want there to be unity, and there there does need to be unity in the body of Christ. Now we've talked before about all the aberrant teaching that is out there, and I'm certainly not talking about that, but with with those true believers and those, you know, true um the true churches out there that that um that we need to be one, not fighting against each other, not fighting for territory, you know, as we're out there in in the mission field, um, there's a lot of what we call flag planting where where one ministry says, hey, we don't want you here because this is our area, you know, and it's like, okay, there's a million people here, but you know, you tell me you got it all handled. Um, but but you know, there there needs to be unity, and and um, you know, let's stand for the word, let's live upon the word. He's given us his word of truth, he says, and and may we glorify him. And that was was Jesus' last wish. You know, then then he is uh arrested, appears before the Sanhedrin, before the high priest, you know, appears before Pilate. Peter denies him three times. Um, and that's that's a whole nother story when we look at failure, um, forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration. And then um he appears before Pilate, you know, he's mocked, he's tortured to the point where he no longer even resembles a man. And um and then he's put on the cross. And and I I I want to want to highlight really three words in in um John 19. And and it's um John 19 and verse 30, it says, So when so when Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, It is finished. Bowing his head, he gave up his spirit. So what is it is finished? You know, probably a lot of us has heard it's the Greek word titelisti, which means paid in full. It's done. Everything is done. And and whenever I read this verse, I think of um you know the the uh missionary in in China and that that um oh my mind just went blank. Help me out here, Daniel, China Inland Mission. Um and um oh Hudson Taylor.

SPEAKER_04 34:53

Yes and Taylor, yes.

SPEAKER_00 34:55

So, anyways, sorry, it's in your moment, but that's okay. You have you just had one too, so but Hudson is a good one.

SPEAKER_04 35:03

I was thinking of Corey Tembo, but that's a totally different missionary.

SPEAKER_00 35:06

Yeah, that's not China, okay. So anybody if if you want to send some to Anchor, could you send uh a book uh with a world map for Daniel? So he's just he's a little conf confused between Europe and China. So, anyways, I digress. Sorry. Um anyway, so so you know Hudson Taylor, I I know um if you uh ever read his biography that his son wrote, and he talked about um how there was a point about 20 years into Hudson Taylor's ministry when he had a crisis of fate, and he was just really struggling. And and in the sense of he wanted to represent God in such a way that that he would show the character, the love, the patience of God. But he had a problem because he kept losing his temper. And he would fast, he would pray, would get up early, and then he would go out, and the first person he met, he would lose his temper. You know, how many of us has done have done that? We we pray get up, pray in the morning, we're like, Lord, I'm gonna give you glory today, and we get in the car, we hit the freeway, ah, what's the matter with you, you know? And um so not, I mean, you probably don't do that, Daniel. I'm just left other people do it. Um, but he was he was like, I you know, 20 years in the ministry, am I even called? And and he he said a friend of his wrote him a letter, and and he said, What really struck him was that, you know, and I'm gonna I'm um just kind of uh summarize this, but he he said that he said we need to trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus said it's finished, which means everything that was necessary for us not only to find forgiveness of sins, not only for us to gain eternal life, but for uh for us to walk this life in victory with him was accomplished on the cross. At this point, it is finished. And so we need, Hudson Taylor said, to simply learn how to walk in the finished work of Jesus Christ. And so, how do we do that? Obviously, easier said than done. It's submitting to the work of Jesus Christ and our Jesus Christ in our life and submitting to the leading, the guiding, the empowering of his Holy Spirit. And no, it is not about us, it's not about us. Psalm 115. And um so takes us up to Good Friday next week. We're gonna look at the the joy of the resurrection.

SPEAKER_04 38:11

I actually want to add one more thing before we get to Good Friday. Um the next chapter in Matthew, chapter 26. I I'm not gonna go over like every single one of them, but I just kind of summarize, you know. So basically, in the beginning, how Jesus predicted his death, you know, and there's like there the chief priests and elders were starting to plot to kill him and like arrest him, then kill him. And Jesus even knew it, but the disciples just didn't understand that either. Um, and so and then if you go uh fast forward into like the later verses, I think in verse 14, you know, at Bethany, where Judas uh betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. And so, um, and I think too where you know I think we talked about it too, where uh in the past episodes where we try to do and even Pastor John reiterated this on uh last Wednesday, where sinful choices for personal gain can definitely have consequences, and it's so funny like how you know people might not know it, but the Lord can see it. We can't hide from the Lord these things, and like and Jesus just knows what's gonna happen, and it's like we could deny it all we want, and they're like, No, no, because like even later in the verses, how Pete you know he predicted that Peter was going to deny him three times, and and Peter was like, No, no, no, no, that's not gonna happen, but of course, you know, because we're just all you know humans and sinful people, that he did deny him, and so and then even in that garden in Gethsemane, right? And um, later in that chapter, um, he um he prays in deep anguish, and um even like I'm deeply grieved to the point of death, remain here and stay with me. And then uh I have a study Bible, so I have to like go through two pages here. Um and then what and then this I think this is the part, right, where he said, you know, uh to take this cup away from me, right? And so uh my father, this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done. And so he prayed again for the third time, right? And so uh the son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let's go, see my betrayer is near. And then, of course, there was Judas who ultimately betrayed him, and then um he appears right before the Sanhedrin, and so faces Pilate, and then that's where next week we're gonna pick it up, and so yeah, he he he he faces Pilate and um and so or excuse me, was it Pilate or Caiaphas? Was it well he he faces the high priest and then Pilate, yeah, okay, gotcha. Yeah, so okay, I don't want to make sure I get it, I didn't get that wrong. So, so that's our segue for next week because I think that chapter right there is kind of like you know, very, very vital to leading up to that, because you know, when when Jesus came in the donkey, and that was actually a prophecy, I think, in Zechariah 9, too, where um you know when when G Jesus wrote on the donkey, and something that points out to me too, I know we're going over time, but um, it just shows that Christ's humility through, especially throughout that week, you know, right? He rides on that donkey, but also you know, the ultimate humil um uh sign of humility was when he died on the cross, and that's what we're gonna talk about next week, and so um because I know like there's some people, especially in the woke community, that says like Jesus was never humble because it's all about me, it's all about me. But literally, like, who else did he have to report to? Who does he have to repent to? Because he's he's God, he's God, he's ultimate and so like because like even like um I remember hearing one woke pastor saying uh I think he was in San Diego. He he he said that you know Jesus, you know, if after reading Mark's gospel, Jesus had to repent for what he said. And I'm like, who did he have to repent to? Goodness, yeah, and such like all these weird theologies and false theologies are out there just for the sake of tickling ears. Um, you know, and so and we gotta look back into this, you know, we gotta look back into this because you know, next week we're gonna see the ultimate uh grand prize for us as Christians because we can often, myself included, forget and take for granted what he did on the cross. And so um, so um I would encourage you guys, you know, even you know, during this during this week, read, read, read ahead. Don't have to wait about what we have to say, just read ahead and have asked the Holy Spirit to like take you through memorabilia what Jesus went through, and even the disciples as well, because I tell you what, it's yeah, it's one thing to like read it, but also like I wish I could just walk that path that Jesus walked and see like oh, this is what and that's one of the reasons why people go to Israel because they see the word of God come to life, or footsteps of Paul, you name it. So, yeah, but anyway, um that's such a great encouraging word. We went through a lot of chapters in Matthew, which is awesome because the word of God is powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, and so um, and again, um, if you guys have uh I just want to say this too. Um if you you're listening and you don't have a home church, um and whether you're in the area or not and you just want to have like a uh you know you just want to go somewhere um for Easter or just go to church in general, please let us know. Please reach out to us. We we have we we could definitely point you the right direction of which church that we know we we you know we uh that we align with and just kind of like hey, this is a great church to be a part of, um because we want you to be planted. And so and don't just go to church for because it's Easter and it's like, oh, you gotta go to church because you know that's what we do, uh, because it's Easter, that's what we ought to do. But it's like, no, be planted, be planted. The Psalm 92, those who are planted in the house of the Lord will flourish in the courts. And so uh, so yeah, please let us know on Instagram, uh at Anchor Belief on our website, anchorrelief.org. You can follow our blogs at anchorrelief.blog. Uh if you need to call us, we uh you can reach our phone number, uh, area code 949-432-6777. Again, 949-432-6777. You can also subscribe to our text. Let me get this right. Let me see. Okay, 949-384-9282. Text the word air to 949-384-1982. Well, you can um subscribe to our text thread and uh to see what's going on, what we can pray for in regards to any of our kids or any of our missionaries in Uganda or by the way.

SPEAKER_00 45:34

You can also text us if you have a prayer need, you could text us on that number. Absolutely. And we will pray. Yes. We do we do read all the the responses and texts that come in.

SPEAKER_04 45:47

Yes. I can't believe I remembered that number. So yeah, that's good. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 45:52

So that's a hey, but yes, but before we close, yes, I want to make sure that we do the most important thing in, and that is if you are listening and you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. In other words, you don't know if you died today, whether you would go to heaven or not. Then if you don't, you're not a Christian, this is just a story, you know, and and you might be, well, Jesus was a good teacher, or you know what? Jesus said, I'm God. I and the Father are one. He said, I'm the only way to the heaven. He said, I am the bread of life. And and so he is the only way. And and we would want to give you that opportunity if you don't know Jesus. And maybe you're having a really rough time in in this life, and in maybe you're even at the point of giving up, and and you need hope. Let us give you a hope for this life and for all eternity. And and I would just ask those that are listening if if somebody would want to ask Jesus into their heart as their Lord and Savior that they that you would just pray this prayer with me. Dear Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner. I know that I'm a sinner. And I thank you for forgiving my sins.

SPEAKER_03 47:17

I thank you for forgiving my sins.

SPEAKER_00 47:19

And I ask you to come into my heart. I ask you to come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior.

SPEAKER_03 47:27

And be my Lord and Savior.

SPEAKER_00 47:29

Thank you for dying on the cross for me.

SPEAKER_03 47:31

Thank you for dying on the cross for me.

SPEAKER_00 47:34

Give me eternal life in you.

SPEAKER_03 47:36

Give me eternal life in you.

SPEAKER_00 47:38

And help me to walk with you all the days of my life.

SPEAKER_03 47:41

And help me walk with you all the days of my life.

SPEAKER_00 47:43

In Jesus' name.

SPEAKER_03 47:45

In Jesus' name.

SPEAKER_00 47:47

Amen.

SPEAKER_03 47:48

Amen. Amen.

SPEAKER_04 47:50

That's the best decision you could ever make in your life, guys. So if you made that decision, please reach out to us as well in any of those contact numbers that we've given you. We would love to send you a Bible for free if you don't have one. And so uh we and also get you plugged into a church. So and um, yeah, not just we don't want to just leave you, be like, okay, hey, you're on your way. No, we want to get you plugged in because we're serious about um um about your walk with the Lord, like we are with everybody, and especially mine, especially Pastor Gary, everybody. We're all all serious at that because you're not meant to do this alone. So so please reach out to us if you've accepted that invitation and we'd love to send you a Bible your way. So God bless you guys. Happy Palm Sunday, happy Passion Week, and uh let's just get our hearts ready for Easter throughout this week, and uh God bless you all, and we'll uh we'll pick it up from the best news of all as Christians next week. All right, God bless you guys.

SPEAKER_00 48:50

God bless you.