Pastor Carl (John 12:9-19) December 4, 2022
9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus[d] was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
The Triumphal Entry
12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
15
“Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”



The great Messiah left us here, in this very day, to BE THE LIGHT! He calls us to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) It is not what we say, it is what we do that shines brightly and opens the eyes of all who “walk in darkness”. Our neighbors do not see Jesus, nor understand the gospel. But, they understand that giving gifts to their kids, family, and friends is what love is. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” Our neighbors saw love when they came to our fall festival and received our free gifts of friendship, kindness to their children, and food. We were the light when darkness was celebrated. The neighbors who do not know Jesus, but brought shoe boxes to our church for needy kids across the world, saw we love others. We were the light! In December we will continue to be the light of the world. When we take our focus off of our own pleasures and turn our eyes to our neighbors who live in Port Saint Lucie, we shine brightly. “… if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5)
