Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Mar 19th, 2013 Just for Women by Camille Stahl

Today’s Passage – Joshua 22 – 24 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Hebrews 5 – 8; Proverbs 19; Psalms 91 – 95

Scripture Memorization for March – 1 Corinthians 6:9 – 20

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –  Psalm 25

Read a great article by Pastor Cary Schmidt  – “Eight Ways to Help Those Who Grieve“

Read the “0319 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

A Study Of Women Of The Bible

Fickled Women

“Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus. On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”     (John 12:9-13)

“The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.”   (John 12:17-18)

The fame of Jesus spread quickly.  People of Jerusalem flocked to see Him, hear Him, and to be healed by Him.  Jesus just raised Lazarus from the dead and the people were amazed and excited.  Men, women and children lined the street and waited with great anticipation.  Mothers gathered their children and pushed their way to the front of the crowd to get a better view of Jesus.  There were palm leaves being cut down by the dozen to be placed in the road and for waving in the air.  “Look here comes Jesus.”  The crowd goes wild.  Mothers and Fathers putting their young children on their shoulders so they could see better.  Everyone shouting ‘Hosanna, Hosanna’!  What excitment!

“When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.”     (Matthew 27:19-24)

Wow!  What happened?  We went from winning the world series parade, to throwing rotten tomatoes at the players.  This was the same crowed that was just screaming Hosanna.  It seems that the people caved in to the pressure of the leaders. They wouldn’t stand for what was right.  They all knew Barabbas was guilty of his crime, but no one would stand for truth.  How could they change their excitment to anger so quickly?  If there were more people then leaders, they could have out voiced them.

Athough there was no mention of a woman’s name or even the fact of any women were there at all, there is still a lesson we can learn from these passages.

You don’t have to look too deep to see that the time is near for the Lord’s return.  Things will get rougher as we approach that day.  We will have to take a stand for what we believe.  We teach our children to be grateful that we live in a country where we can carry our Bibles, and go to church openly – HOSANNA!  We can hand out gospel tracts to them too – HOSANNA!   We can take our children to church where the  preachers have liberty to preach aganist sin – HOSANNA!  We can freely say “I am a follower of Jesus Christ” – HOSANNA!  But very soon this freedom will be taken away, and we’re seeing this on a small scale already.  Church doors will be locked and they will burn our Bibles – CRUCIFY HIM!  We will be arrested for handing out gospel tracts – CRUCIFY HIM!  Preachers will be thrown in jail or even put to death, for preaching against sin – CRUCIFY HIM.  The pressure of the shouting voices of our leaders will try to shame us for being followers of Christ – CRUCIFY HIM.

When the pressure comes, what will you be shouting?  Will you shout with the crowd, or will you shout for Truth?  It’s up to you!