Communion Message
Surprise Return
April 4, 2004
Pastor Leighton Sheley

Reading from John chapter 12 today: The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! " "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!" Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

Now the crowd that was with him had continued to spread the word that he called Lazarus from the tomb raising him from the dead. Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?" Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light."

Now on that day the news traveled many hours and days before Jesus walked that road, and people had the opportunity to prepare to receive him with palm branches and so forth. How quickly things change.

On that today so many years ago the crowds greeted him with hosanna, and just a few days later a different crowd said crucify him. The crowds had time to prepare for receiving Jesus, but that's not going to be true when he comes again. The Scriptures say it's going to take place in the twinkling of an eye; faster than the human eye can blink Jesus is going to return. And we know this, each day that passes brings us one day closer to the day Jesus will return. And we know this, that when Jesus returns it's going to be a surprise.

Jesus said put your trust in the light while you have it so that you might become sons of light. He was light, he is life; put your trust in him, and if you've not done so, I invite you to make this your day of decision to put your faith in Jesus Christ. The Scriptures say at times like this we should examine our self and so I would like to invite you, if you are physically able, to join with the now as we kneel in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

Lord, the elements that we hold remind us that you're a God who keeps his promises, not in the timetables of mankind, but in your own. For it was in the fullness of time, your time, you sent forth your only begotten Son, Emanuel, which means God with us. And Lord it is going to be in your fullness of time that Jesus returns. May it be Lord that each and every one of us be prepared for your surprise return.

Lord, each and every one of us sins each and every day, and each and every day we are in need of your forgiveness and your cleansing. Your word says if we confess our sin you are faithful and just, and will forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Lord we ask you to forgive us and cleanse us this day as we now partake of these elements in remembrance of you. Let's partake of the bread and also the cup.

Lord, the only reason that we can even address you, the Almighty, as friend is because we've been invited to do so by Jesus who said no longer do I call you servants, but I now call you friends. Thank you Lord for making it possible for us to be friends of Almighty God. Thank you Lord, in Jesus' name we pray...Amen.