Tag: Holy Week

The Tomb – Given with Courage and Commitment

March 30, 2024 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

A visual of a tomb to depict the tomb given by Joseph of Arimathea for Jesus' burial.

This reading based around Joseph of Arimathea, is from Day – 21 of the Devotional titled, “Reflections on Passion Week”. The e-book can be purchased on Amazon.com here. (Available on Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited).

Scripture: “As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.” (Matthew 27:57-58)

After Jesus’ death, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a prominent and upright member of the Jewish Council, went boldly before Pilate and requested permission to bury the body. In the process, he had to go through the tension of first facing an unscrupulous and treacherous governor, and thereafter, a battle-hardened centurion (Mark 15:43-45, Luke 23:50). After checking with the centurion whether Jesus was already dead, Pilate eventually released the body to Joseph (Mark 15:45).

Reflections on Passion Week – A 21-day Devotional

March 7, 2024 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

A visual of a palm leaf to highlight the theme which is "Reflections on Passion Week".

Our 21-day Devotional, “Reflections on Passion Week, is now available on Amazon Kindle. It would be a very useful tool to be used in small groups and devotional groups, and for personal reflection during this Season. Get your copy today from the Kindle Store on this link.

Palm Sunday Sermon – A Colt, a Command, and a Cleansing (Mark 11)

February 17, 2023 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

A visual of palm leaves to highlight the topic of the sermon outline which is Palm Sunday.

Introduction to Sermon Outline:

Draw a comparison between a royal wedding and Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem as King on Palm Sunday. What are the similarities you see? What are the differences?

This sermon outline is based around 3 events that are connected to the Palm Sunday story.

1. Palm Sunday is symbolized by a colt (Mark 11:1-10)

*Jesus sent two disciples to a nearby village where they would find a colt that no man had ridden. (verse 1-2)

* They were to untie the colt and bring it to Jesus. If anyone were to ask what they were doing, they were to say that the Lord needed it and would return it shortly. (verse 2-6).

*It is noteworthy that Jesus was going to return the colt to its owner (verse 3).

* Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt in the midst of praise (verse 7-10), fulfilling an Old Testament prophecy confirming that He was Messiah and King. This is what the prophet Zechariah said.

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

* Highlight that Jesus’ kingship began with humility and sacrifice

Application from point 1 :

This Palm Sunday is Jesus the king of your entire life? If not, allow Him to be so.

Illustration: Share the moment when Jesus became your Savior.

The Victorious Power of the Cross Is Yours Today (Colossians 2:13-15)

March 28, 2018 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

A visual of 3 crosses to show the power of the cross of Jesus Christ

Introduction: It is said that Billy Graham once attributed the large number of responses to his sermons on one central theme. It was, that he always drew attention in his sermons to the Lord Jesus Christ and to ‘the power of the cross’.

As we draw close to Good Friday, it’s good to remind ourselves of the power of the cross and what the Lord accomplished through His mighty sacrifice. Although the cross was a symbol of execution at that time (much like an electric chair today), God’s saving power in full was revealed at the cross. It symbolized the greatest rescue mission the world has ever seen!!

From Colossians 2:13-15, I would like to leave 3 thoughts about ‘The Power of the Cross’ in this sermon outline. They are:

Devotional: Responding to God (Palm Sunday)

March 12, 2018 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

We are glad to bring you ‘Responding to God – Lessons from Palm Sunday’. This 4 Day Devotional Plan for Palm Sunday is now available on YouVersion . Click here to start reading. The Reading Plan shows 4 practical ways we can honor God during the season that leads up to Palm Sunday.

Sermon: 5 Ways God Spoke to Pilate

May 6, 2015 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 2 Comments

Sermon: If God could speak to Pilate, He can speak to you too (Good Friday)

Image credit: Rogerio Cunha

Introduction: Sermon on Pontius Pilate

There is a story about a man who was concerned about what he felt was his wife’s loss of hearing. So, he decided to test it out one day while she was seated, doing some work. The man went behind her and from two separate distances called out “Can you hear me”? There was no reply on either occasion and he determined that her hearing was really bad. He finally came within earshot & once again called out, “Can you hear me”? His wife, sounding rather irritated said, “Yes John, for the third time, I can hear you”! The problem was not with his wife’s hearing, but his own hearing!