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A Risky Royal

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13 April, 2025Pastor John Strelan

Sermon Pastor John Strelan Sunday 13 April 2025 A Risky Royal (Unley).pdf
22 Palm Sunday C

The share-market has been in the news a bit lately. Sounds like it has been a rollercoaster ride for investors and retirees as they watch their nest eggs diminish by the day. Maybe you’re a little nervous too? It’s enough to make someone want to pull all their money out and stick it under the mattress where it’s safer. Which may well be a good strategy for some, but for most people by playing it safe they will lose out, and even go backwards. There’s always a risk in investing. Even in Jesus. You see, you could play it safe and not talk at all about Jesus. That may well be a good strategy for some, but for most people it means you will lose out on the full benefits of a relationship with God, and even go backwards spiritually. Worse than that, others will lose out by not hearing about Jesus. There’s always a risk in investing. Even in Jesus. But, there’s also rewards. Big rewards. Why not have a crack?

* The above comments should not be taken as personal financial advice. Before making any decisions I recommend you obtain your own advice and consider the Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Services Guide. However, I take full responsibility for any perceived spiritual advice and recommend it heartily. Unfortunately, yours and my past performance is a reliable indicator of future performance which is why it’s worth investing in Jesus. He’s a good saver.

 

 

Luke 19:29-40

28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” say, “The Lord needs it.”’ 32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ 34 They replied, ‘The Lord needs it.’ 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’ 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ 40 ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’

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This is one hit that makes me wonder.

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Fishermen are generally considered masters of the tall story. The ‘one that got away’ is always the biggest fish they might have caught. Perhaps Jesus’ rubbing shoulders with too many fishermen meant their tale tales rubbed off on him as he told the story of a king who wished to settle his accounts. One of the king’s slaves owed him 10,000 talents. Now, just one talent was worth more than 15 years’ wages of a labourer! My maths was never any good, but by my calculations that slave would have to work for 150,000 years to pay off the debt! Now what kind of God king would be kind crazy enough to allow someone to get into that kind of debt in the first place? And, what kind of God king would be kind crazy enough to cancel that sort of debt?

Ha! Good one, Jesus.

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