Jubilation!

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations. - Psalm 100 ESV

I love this time of year. The apex of the basketball mountain has just occurred. 68 of the top teams playing for one thing - The NCAA National Championship.

March Madness is like a basketball lover’s heaven. And this year, with really no clear favorite(s) to win, the tournament is wide-open.

In the men’s tournament, we have seen a number of the top seeds fall in exciting upsets. Adding to the excitement, we have seen all but a handful of games come down to the wire, many won by last second heroics.

And after each victory, we’ve seen the winning players dance in jubilation as they took another step toward the Final Four.

Victory... Memories that will last a lifetime… One Shining Moment.

As we face The Passion of Christ.... as we begin to prepare our hearts and minds for Easter... we ultimately know that victory is at hand.

We recall the triumphant entry into Jerusalem with clothing and palm leaves laid down before Him.

“Hosanna”

“If they don’t, the stones will cry out.”

We remember the cleansing of the temple and His righteous indignation.

We recall the many parables and Greatest Commandment.

We recall the plot against and betrayal of Jesus, the Lord’s Supper, Gethsemane, the kiss and Jesus’ arrest.

We remember the trials, Peter’s denial, the beating, the mocking, the whip, the crown of thorns.

We can’t help but see in our mind’s eye - the cross, the blood, the nails, the crucifixion

The Death.

The Grave

The Stone... The Guard

The End

Or rather... The End of the Beginning

Three Days later

The Resurrection

The stone rolled away

The empty tomb

“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?”

“He’s Alive!”

Let the celebration and jubilant dancing begin - He’s alive indeed!

Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord All the Earth

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem