March 13, 2008 Youth Group News

JESUS:THE HUMBLE KING
Imagine Jesus riding into Jerusalem on his feeble donkey, surrounded by a small group of peasants and outcasts who cheer on their messiah king with simple things: palm branches and shouts of "hallelujah" that sing on the wind. Now imagine another procession taking place on the other side of town: Pontius Pilate leads a thunderous procession, riding a war-horse, surrounded by his armored cavalries, bearing weapons, banners sewn with gold, and loud trumpets proclaiming the power of the Roman Empire to thousands of onlookers who both fear and cheer, "Lord! Savior! Son of God!" --all common names for the emperor. This is the tension of the Passion. Here we have two different pictures of what it means to be a king: one will kill to have power, one will lay down his life to have power. Both will have to face death. Which king will you follow? How will you use power in your life?