People derive security from a lot of different things in this life. Yet, from time to time things happen that shake us and reminds us of how unstable most of those things are. We know what it’s like to be shaken by a health scare, a financial struggle, a pandemic, or some other challenge. Sometimes our world is literally shaken by earthquakes and at times God even shakes us with what He’s doing or in order to get our attention. The truth is that can be shaken will be shaken at some point, and for that reason, scripture calls us to cling to what cannot be shaken, to Jesus our rock and foundation, and to God and things of God. So what can we do in this season of Lent to cling more tightly to Jesus and to build our foundation on Him?

We are prone to being inconsistent as well. We’re capable of great acts of faith and courage and at the same time, we are prone to deep lapses in judgment and integrity.

This morning we’re going to focus on how inconsistent we can be at times and how Jesus calls us to something better than all this world has to offer!

When the high Holy day of Passover came and Jesus headed to Jerusalem, the capital city, the center of religious activity in Israel, people wondered what it meant and just who Jesus really was.

Jesus chose this route intentionally because hundreds of years before, the prophet Zechariah said that one day the Messiah would come to Jerusalem by way of the Mount of Olives.[1]

[1] Zechariah 14:4-5.

Donkeys aren’t very inspiring animals to us, they’re small and funny looking. But the reason for Zechariah’s prophecy and for Jesus choosing to fulfill it was that donkeys were the traditional animals ridden by Jewish Kings.[1]

[1] I Kings 1:32-34.

With all of these things Jesus was finally answering the question everyone had been wondering about, “Was he the Messiah?” Jesus’ answer to that question was a clear “Yes”

With v. 8 the whole scene turns into a kind of ticker-tape parade for Jesus as people begin to spread their cloaks and branches on the road before Jesus.

It had become a full celebration because they believe the Messiah had finally come to start a new chapter in God’s reign.

v. 10 says that Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem became such a huge even that “the whole city was stirred.” The Greek word for “stirred” here (eseisthe).[1]

[1] From the word “seio.” See https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/seio.html ; Bloomberg, NAC, Matthew, 313.

And if you didn’t know this story, based on what we’ve read so far, you might think that over the next week Jesus would be rise to power and be recognized as the Messiah and King. But that’s not what happens.

Jesus didn’t change during that week, he was the same person when they led him to the cross that he was when he rode into the city. It was the people who changed their minds that week because that’s what we often do; we are inconsistent.

You see, we say we want Jesus, that He’s great, and all we need one minute, and the next moment we chose something else over him, we are inconsistent, you could even call us fickle.

Based on Jesus’ amazing reception into the city you’d think it would’ve taken a massive conspiracy, but not really, Matthew and Mark both say that all it took was a few people to stir up the crowd.

And we do the same thing in many different ways. So often we know what Jesus wants us to do and to be, but then in the moment, we are tempted, we want something else, so we chose it over Jesus, we turn away from him and we sin. And sometimes we go a long way down that road away from him.

The problem was that they had mistakenly bought into a very earthly view of the messiah.

What they failed to see was that Jesus didn’t come to establish an earthly kingdom, he came to establish a spiritual kingdom, a kingdom that’s not about land or power, but about our hearts. Jesus didn’t come to save them from the Romans, he came to save us from sin.

What Jesus did was, he came and lived the good and right life that we’re supposed to live, but don’t. And then Jesus took his good and right life and offered it on the cross in place of our broken and sinful lives. He literally laid down his life for us, substituting his life for ours. And when he did that, he put right the wrong our sin, he wiped the slate clean, and brought us grace and peace with God now and forever!

Palm Sunday makes us realize how easily we can be pushed in one direction or another.

The call of Lent is for us to do better than that, to reexamine our lives and think about what needs to go and what needs to stay, to reassess our priorities and what place Jesus takes in them, and to seek to grow our faith and strength our resolve to follow Jesus with an unflinching consistency worthy of the sacrifice he had made for us and love he has for us!

Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190

We are excited to be able to worship under the Tent together. If you are not wanting to be under the Tent, feel free to sit in the front row of parking spots of the Orchard Parking Lot your car and tune your radio to 100.1 FM to listen to the service.

1. Masks must be worn while on the Orchard Campus (both inside and out)

2. Please maintain the Social Distance

3. Sunday Morning Children's program. Children are always welcome in the service and we do not mind the noises that come with children. Children are a healthy sign of a healthy congregation.

We encourage families to bring your own blanket and beach chairs and distance on the lawn as much as you like. Children will worship with their families and be dismissed following the kids’ message, escorted by our Orchard Kids’ Leaders to our beautiful outdoor classroom space in the children’s play yard. We will have our Bible story, activities, crafts, and games in a specially designed format following current health and safety guidelines. Parents, please come to the children’s area immediately following the worship service and find all of your children in one place. Each family will receive a “My Church Bag” to be brought each week with basic supplies already included plus items from home: water bottle and mask for each child and a blanket for all siblings. Our team is so excited to see your family! See you Sunday!

Nursery care for children birth to 3 years old is available by RSVP only to Melinda Hoyt at melinda@orchardventura.org.

Interested in being a Volunteer? Middle school through adult, please contact Melinda Hoyt at melinda@orchardventura.org.

Monday – Thursdays from 10 am to noon.

Masks and social distancing are required.

If you are unable to make it in during our office hours, please send an email to info@orchardventura.org and or leave a message at (805) 647-3757.