After Palm Sunday

March 22, 2013

Opening Hymns:
526 What a Friend We Have in Jesus http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh526.sht

Scripture Reading:
Luke 19:28-40

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!”^[b]

“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.”

Message:
Has anyone ever taken their coat off for you so that you could walk on top of it instead of over mud? It has never happened to me… but I imagine it would be an amazing experience. That person would be showing you a great deal of honor and respect. Here the crowd is spreading their cloaks on the road for Jesus’ colt to walk on. This scripture truly depicts the entrance of a king! The crowd is giving Him their praise, and honoring Him.

I don’t want to let go of this moment in scripture. It is so beautiful to see Jesus being recognized for who He is. He’s riding into Jerusalem in triumph… He hasn’t yet been betrayed, the crowd hasn’t turned on Him, and He hasn’t been killed for all of us… I don’t think that I can truly grasp what that means. I have never been in the military, and I probably take my safety and privileges as a US citizen for granted. Can you imagine fighting in a war and having someone save your life at the price of their own? That is what Jesus did for us… in this spiritual war God sent His only Son to take our sin away through His death. It makes me so sad to know that Palm Sunday is the prequel to betrayal and death. I’m even sadder when I remember that each of us, through our sin, has played a part in His death. However, Jesus loved each of us so much that He was willing to lay down His life for us. Through His death Jesus is telling us that we are loved, and we too can be children of God.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, the world can be full of so many sad things. There are wars, killings, thefts, diseases, famine, and all sorts of losses. I pray that You will be with each of us through our own struggles. Guide those who are in the midst of suffering. Surround those in Your loving arms who are going through loss. Heal those who are sick… and give strength to the weak. Thank You for being there for us in every moment of our lives. Thank You for Your forgiveness and for sending Your only Son to die for us on the cross. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
673 God Be With You Till We Meet Again http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh673.sht

God of our joy, you cleanse our hearts and renew our spirits. Have mercy on us according to your steadfast love, that we may sing aloud of your goodness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.