| Pastoral Resource Ministries, Inc. An Outreach Resource Ministry A Ministry for the Millennium |
| Words of Inspiration for the Week of April 4, 2004 |
| To contact Pastor Thelma Gilbert For more information write or call us at: Pastoral Resource Ministries, Inc. P.O. Box 7232, Bloomfield, CT 06002 Phone (860) 243-2168 - Fax: (860) 242-1838 email: prministrie@snet.net |
| As we enter Holy Week, all of mankind should reflect back to that First Palm Sunday to discern the spiritual significance of the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ as he entered Jerusalem. The King of kings, and the Lord of lords, the Savior of mankind who was to take away the sin of the world, enters a city not with horses and chariots, but upon a poor man's beast. The crowds followed him and thronged about Him as they laid down the royal carpet, made out of their garments and tree branches for Him to ride on as he entered the city. Many who were singing, "Hosanna to the son of David: blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord…" (Luke 21:9) on another occasion eventually cried out "…Crucify Him! Crucify Him…!" (Luke 23:21) Here we have the Biblical portrayal of Jesus Christ, the sacrificial Lamb who conversed with the sea, raised the dead, cast out devils, open blinded eyes, unstopped deaf ears, and who healed all manner of diseases, not going to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, but to meet his appointment with death for a sinful humanity. No event in the life of Christ can compare to the events of that last week, culminating in His crucifixion and resurrection. What type of week was it for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? It was a week of suffering and shame. It was a week of traveling from judgment hall to judgment hall to be condemned by Pilate who pronounced Him innocent. It was a week when Jesus was beaten and scorned, and stripped of His own clothes. He was mocked and spat upon, oppressed and afflicted, and was brought as a lamb to the slaughter. It was a week when our Savior was despised and rejected of men and bared our grief and carried our sorrows. His enemies plucked His beard and placed a crown of thorns (as His royal diadem) on top of His head. It was during this week that Jesus given vinegar to drink and nailed to an old rugged cross. His enemies pierced Him in the side, stretched Him out wide, and lifted Him up high on Calvary's cross. Jesus said Himself, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:32). It was a week when the "Perfect Lamb of God" took upon Himself the iniquities of us all and then bowed down His head and died…ALL BECAUSE OF LOVE! The most important single event in the life of Christ was His death, coupled with His resurrection from the grave so that we may have the right to eternal life. John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." Isaiah 53:6 say, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Since all of us are like sheep that have gone astray, what type of week will this be for you? Think about it! Be Blessed! Pastor Thelma Gilbert "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God..." (1 John 4:7) |
| "The Last Week" (Matthew 21;1-11) |
