Johns Gospel: Palm Sunday - Encounters with the King

The writer of Johns Gospel continually presents us with the question, “How do we receive joy?". Does it elicit thankfulness, or does it reveal emptiness? Does it draw out grace, or does it bring condemnation with judgment? Our response to these questions should seem simple, but it can often reveal the complexity of our “humanness”, and show that just below the surface, there is much more lurking than it might first seem. Lazarus has been raised from the dead, and in one electric, life-changing instant, everything in Mary shifts and a blinding new reality enters. Her thankfulness flows in excess, and in contrast Judas’ response is inward, selfish and hard-hearted. Johns Gospel excellently provides answers on how to take our inner dialogue and that inner awareness, to create a diverse community of oneness. It’s answers on ecstasy, diversity, and union remain wisdom for us today. NewLife regular speaker Stuart Grant leads us to the cross this Palm Sunday, and shows us a universal truth, as Christ was welcomed with glorious refrain riding in on a colt - the truth that when we receive joy something illuminates inside of us. How will you respond to joy? NewLife @Morning service.   [bible passage="Zechariah 9:9-17" heading="h3"]   [bible passage="John 12:1-36" heading="h3"]