Harsh Confrontations
On Tuesday of The Holy Week, Jesus goes right back to Jerusalem to confront the religious, entrenched establishment. The institution of the church had overgrown the mission of the church and Jesus confronts it with a veracity and a tenacity that is unsettling – even shocking.
In vain attempts to trap and embarrass Jesus, three political opponents unite to trip Jesus up on the hot-button religious issues of the day! As each public questioning is thwarted and rebuffed by Jesus, the tension in the air gets thicker and thicker, tenser and tenser. Jesus’ anger expressed by overturning tables yesterday, continues today in a series of “woes” that are designed to pierce through the armor of those most resistant to love.
With the insight of history, we can observe Jesus setting the trip wire of his crucifixion. We can look back and study the seemingly mathematical precision of his movements and conversations. But this insight was not available to his disciples and believers. To them, it certainly looked like things were out of control! They could have hardly perceived Jesus was executing a plan God had conceived before the first day of creation! (Ephesians 1.4f)
It looks to me like I need a Savior for every time I doubted the Lord was present in my confusion or chaos. It looks like I need to pay the price for every time I worked harder for the institution rather than mission; every time I allowed more conversation on style of worship than reaching the lost and hurting (for example). How about you?
The tumultuous events of Tuesday and the “Olivet Discourse” (about the “end times”) are recorded in Matthew 21:23–24:51, Mark 11:20–13:37, Luke 20:1–21:36, and John 12:20–38.
Thank You
For Contributing Your Tithes and Offerings
Thank you and thanks be to God for those who have sent in their gifts to the Lord while we’ve been in our “Church @Home” mode. Gifts last week totaled over $6000! Your faithfulness is a blessing during difficult times!
For those of you yet to contribute, please either: 1.) mail your offering in: Attn Suzanne or 2.) give online. Follow this link. Our weekly offering goal is over $4000. Thanks for doing your part!
Food Drive for PELC Staff/Teachers/Families
This week from Monday 6th – Thursday 9th
9am – 1pm
Thank you for your generous participation! The last time I walked through the Fellowship Hall there were three tables full of gifts of love and a number of $25 Publix gift cards! Way to go saints of God!
Our purpose is to provide some relief for those who would appreciate it. Please bring dry goods, canned goods or other non-perishables by Peace next Monday – Thursday between 9AM and 1PM.
Just pull under the portico, place your gifts of love by the bench near the entry and drive away. Ms Jasmin, our PELC Director will manage the distribution and disbursement at her discretion.