Close-up camera shots of things or people are very revealing. They help us immensely to spot details that we might otherwise miss. I have chosen this analogy because our goal in the Lenten Easter series of messages is to look at passages in the Gospel account of Matthew that give us close-up pictures of Jesus. We’ll look at some of the most revealing moments in his life and ministry, moments that reveal crucial details about who he was and what his ministry on earth was about. The overall goal is to help us to be better followers of Jesus because we understand him better. The first message in the series was on Ash Wednesday evening when we examined a lesser known fact of Jesus’ life, his denunciations of the religious leaders of his day for their hypocrisy. This week, we’ll jump back to the beginning if his ministry and talk about why he decided to be baptized when he didn’t need it.
Close-ups of Jesus in Matthew |
|||
“The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
|
|||
| Date | Message | Scriptures | Subject |
| Ash Wed. Feb. 10 | Three Thoughts Christ Condemns | Matt. 23:1-12 | Jesus condemns hypocrisy. |
| March 6 | God’s Message to Us at Jesus’ Baptism | Matt. 3:13-17 | God’s words reveal 3 things about Jesus |
| March 13 | Jesus the Calling Christ | Matt. 9:9-13 | Jesus calls us to follow Him |
| March 20 Palm Sunday |
Jesus, the Crucified | Matt. 20:17-19, 28; 27:27-54 | Jesus was crucified for us. |
| March 24 Maundy Thursday |
Jesus Communes With Us | Matt 26:17-30 | Communion reminds us of Jesus’ Presence in the ordinary times. |
| March 27 Easter |
The Risen Christ | Matt. 28:1-10 | Meeting the Risen Christ changes everything. |
| April 3 | The Ascended Christ | Matt. 28:16-20 | Jesus’ ascension assures us. |