“As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.” (1 Peter 1:10-12)
For generations, as the prophets “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21)” they knew that God would send a Savior, but just how He would bring salvation lay beyond the horizon. What they did know though was that, before He would bring about glorious things, He would suffer.
What lay beyond the horizon for the prophets has now been clearly revealed to us – things into which angels long to look!
“Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Matthew 13:16–17)
This Sunday we enter into Passion Week, when we remember the sufferings of Christ, as He set his face toward the cross in Jerusalem, and the glories that have followed. Mark’s gospel will lead the way. In our Palm Sunday and Good Friday services we will consider Jesus’ sufferings and on Easter Sunday the glories that have followed.
Palm Sunday – Condemned as Deserving Death (Mark 14:53-65) | Fred Sanders
Good Friday – Crucified as Deserving Death (Mark 15:1-15) | Randy Gruendyke
Easter Sunday – Conquered Death (Mark 16:1-8; Acts 4:10-12) | Erik Thoennes
Would you pray for each or our preaching and sung worship leaders as they prepare? And as we prepare our hearts for Passion Week, ask the Lord to help us “believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:8).”
See you Sunday, Grace. Invite someone to join you and come hungry!
SONG OF THE WEEK
Sunday Is Coming by Phil Wickham
A great light dawns in Galilee
Some say mad man, some say King
Wonder working rebel priest
Jesus Christ the Nazarene
He knew well what it would take
To free us all from sin and grave
A perfect man would have to die
And only He could pay that price