Jesus' Bucket List 5/27/2015
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Many people have a Bucket List, things they want to accomplish before they die. They list things like “I want to parachute”, “I want to see the Grand Canyon,” “I want to learn a new language.” Perhaps you have a Bucket List. There are websites that help you to decide what items to put on your Bucket List. http://personalexcellence.co/blog/bucket-list/ or www.bucketlistjourney.net, or for some crazy ideas, there is www.todayicanchange.com/25-crazy-bucket-list-ideas/. These and other websites can get you started. If you don’t have a Bucket List, maybe you’ll start one now after I have put the thought in your head.
I even have a small Bucket List. It has changed as I have grown older and hopefully wiser. Seeing the Grand Canyon is on my Bucket List, along with doing stand-up comedy on an amatuer night. I know I will be adding and subtracting from the list as I grow older and (hopefully) wiser. You will probably do the same.
But what if you knew you had a week to live on the earth? What would you want? What would you need to do or say? Who would you spend time with? Jesus knew he was riding toward his death on the back of that colt on Palm Sunday, no matter how many “Hosannas! he heard. This week he had some things that needed to be said...things that needed to be done. World-changing events needed to take place.
Just before riding into Jerusalem, in fact, John’s Gospel tells us that it was just six days before the Passover, he was in Bethany reclining at a table. Mary was anointing him with expensive perfume, nard, as Judas protested. Judas said it was a waste, the perfume could have been sold and money given to the poor. Although Jesus knew that Judas didn’t care about the poor. Neither did the Gospel writer, he said Judas was a thief. Jesus said “Leave her alone, she is preparing me for my burial.” Yes, he knew what the week would bring.
The question I want to ask is “What was on Jesus’ Bucket List?” What did he need to accomplish before the week’s end?
I want to suggest Ten Items that were on his Bucket List. Note that these are topical, not chronological.
(1) SPEND INTIMATE TIME WITH AND TEACH IMPORTANT LESSONS TO HIS DISCIPLES: (REASSURE THEM, LESSONS AND WARNINGS)
(2) POINT OUT WHAT TRUE RELIGION IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT: (TO TEACH WHAT GOD EXPECTS)
(3) TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF AS THE MESSIAH
(4) TO TEACH CROWDS WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT
(5) TO WARN
(6) TO FIND OUT AND DO GOD’S WILL
(7) TO FULFILL PROPHECY
(8) TO WITHSTAND OPPOSITION
(9) TO DIE PURPOSEFULLY
(10) TO TEACH ABOUT AND PROVE THE RESURRECTION
0 Comments
Many people have a Bucket List, things they want to accomplish before they die. They list things like “I want to parachute”, “I want to see the Grand Canyon,” “I want to learn a new language.” Perhaps you have a Bucket List. There are websites that help you to decide what items to put on your Bucket List. http://personalexcellence.co/blog/bucket-list/ or www.bucketlistjourney.net, or for some crazy ideas, there is www.todayicanchange.com/25-crazy-bucket-list-ideas/. These and other websites can get you started. If you don’t have a Bucket List, maybe you’ll start one now after I have put the thought in your head.
I even have a small Bucket List. It has changed as I have grown older and hopefully wiser. Seeing the Grand Canyon is on my Bucket List, along with doing stand-up comedy on an amatuer night. I know I will be adding and subtracting from the list as I grow older and (hopefully) wiser. You will probably do the same.
But what if you knew you had a week to live on the earth? What would you want? What would you need to do or say? Who would you spend time with? Jesus knew he was riding toward his death on the back of that colt on Palm Sunday, no matter how many “Hosannas! he heard. This week he had some things that needed to be said...things that needed to be done. World-changing events needed to take place.
Just before riding into Jerusalem, in fact, John’s Gospel tells us that it was just six days before the Passover, he was in Bethany reclining at a table. Mary was anointing him with expensive perfume, nard, as Judas protested. Judas said it was a waste, the perfume could have been sold and money given to the poor. Although Jesus knew that Judas didn’t care about the poor. Neither did the Gospel writer, he said Judas was a thief. Jesus said “Leave her alone, she is preparing me for my burial.” Yes, he knew what the week would bring.
The question I want to ask is “What was on Jesus’ Bucket List?” What did he need to accomplish before the week’s end?
I want to suggest Ten Items that were on his Bucket List. Note that these are topical, not chronological.
(1) SPEND INTIMATE TIME WITH AND TEACH IMPORTANT LESSONS TO HIS DISCIPLES: (REASSURE THEM, LESSONS AND WARNINGS)
(2) POINT OUT WHAT TRUE RELIGION IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT: (TO TEACH WHAT GOD EXPECTS)
(3) TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF AS THE MESSIAH
(4) TO TEACH CROWDS WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT
(5) TO WARN
(6) TO FIND OUT AND DO GOD’S WILL
(7) TO FULFILL PROPHECY
(8) TO WITHSTAND OPPOSITION
(9) TO DIE PURPOSEFULLY
(10) TO TEACH ABOUT AND PROVE THE RESURRECTION