Palm Sunday

March 14, 2016

Opening Hymns:
492 Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh492.sht

Scripture Reading:

Luke 19:28-40
19:28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

19:29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,

19:30 saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

19:31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it.'"

19:32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them.

19:33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

19:34 They said, "The Lord needs it."

19:35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

19:36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.

19:37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen,

19:38 saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!"

19:39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop."

19:40 He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."

Message:
Next Sunday is Palm Sunday! We celebrate, and sometimes reenact the parade that was made for Jesus. Jesus has a lot of people who are following him. There are so many people who are praising Him that it makes the Pharisees uncomfortable.

The Pharisees were afraid of the power He had as His followers grew in number. They saw Him as a threat that had to be dealt with. Yet on this day there was nothing that they could do to stop the parade or the praises. The crowd has seen or heard of so many miracles from Jesus that it cannot keep silent. Many of them must have heard of how he had raised Lazarus from the dead. Some people in the crowd were looking for a savior, others were hoping for a warrior. Yet, regardless of who they hoped Jesus would become, they all saw Him as a man of God.

To me Palm Sunday seems like an oasis of joy during our season of Lent. It is a time to sing praises to God. We recount how the crowd was praising Him, laying down their coats and palm branches for Him. Our King was riding in triumph, humbly on a donkey.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, You are worthy of our praise. Thank You for coming down to earth to teach us how to live and to show as the way to eternal life. Let us never forget to sing Your praises. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
569 We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh569.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God