A common interpretation of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4 is, “if you have faith, then Jesus will get you through the storm to the other side." And that’s true. But when we look at this story in Mark 4 together with the beginning of Mark 5, we see something deeper and more foundational to that truth. When my oldest son was 14, he signed up for an introductory flight course out at Centennial airport. The last day of the course was my 14 year old getting to fly the plane himself, and they said I could go up with him. Which I felt like could mean that his last day of class would be my last day on earth. My son did an amazing job. And as the flight went on I was able to relax, because no one would let either I or my son fly a plane without having a certified pilot up there with us, the one who has complete authority and control over the plane, it’s flight path and all of its systems that keep it in the air. The only way I was ok letting my son fly the plane, letting him ‘cross the lake to the other side’ so to speak, was that I knew that the one who had complete authority and control over that plane was sitting in the pilot’s seat. That is what is being put on display for us to see in our passage this morning.

Today is the Sunday that we call Palm Sunday. As we approach Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus—the joy and triumph we want to get to—we first need to remember all that Jesus went through to get to the other side of that grave. What road did He first have to travel to be raised for our salvation? For our resurrection into eternal life in Him?

Today is the Sunday that we call Palm Sunday, when we remember the day that Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem as King by crowds waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna! We read in John 12 that the crowds were there because they had seen the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus. So how is it that this same crowd that proclaims Jesus as the King who is able to raise the dead is clamoring for His death only several days later? We are in Daniel 8 this morning, and what we find here will help us understand why the crowds crowned Jesus on Sunday and crucified Him on Friday.

Have you ever experienced a case of mistaken identity? Maybe someone mistook you for someone else, or maybe the other way around. Mistaken identity almost always leads to disappointment. Today is the Sunday before Easter that Christians call Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday was a celebration, but really it is all about mistaken identity. Crowds of people gathered outside of Jerusalem waiting for the arrival of Jesus, ready to shout “Hosanna!” But most of them were missing who He really was. Some cases of mistaken identity don’t really matter much, but for the crowds lining the streets on that first Palm Sunday, mistaking the identity of Jesus could cost them everything. In fact it would be many from this same crowd calling for and celebrating the crucifixion of Jesus just one week later. The book of Matthew records the events leading up to Palm Sunday to help us not make the same mistake with Jesus’ identity. So let’s take a look together.

We have been going through the book of Jonah as a church together. We’ve read about miraculous events. A storm sent by God. A fish sent by God to swallow Jonah and save him. But last week we discovered together from Chapters 2 and 3 that the real miracle of Jonah is the changed lives. Nineveh, one of the most violent cities on the planet, legendary among historians even today almost 3000 years later for its violence and evil repents and turns to God as a whole city in less than 40 days. What could have brought on such a change? Equally as baffling is what is it about God’s character that would let Him spare an entire city filled with some of the most heinous sinners on the face of the planet? Let’s look at the final chapter of Jonah together this morning.

We all want to invest in something that will outlast us. But few of us really know how. Join us as we look at what the Bible says about our relationship to our money and possessions and how to outlive our money.

Do you ever feel like you need more than just a change of circumstance? More than just a solution that simply patches you up to get back to normal life again? Maybe the life we have always wanted is not just change, but resurrection. The chance for something completely new. Join us for this three week series exploring what the Bible says about resurrection. It might just be the life you’ve always wanted.