Palm Sunday

Tag

Palm branch parades

Matthew 21:6–9 (ESV) The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the…

King of what? (Palm Sunday)

There’s a famous scene from the movie Aladdin, where the poor peasant boy of the same name pretends to be a prince, and rides into town trying to impress His desired princess. There are horses, soldiers, a monkey, and even a marching band. They wave flags, sing a song, shoot off fireworks and march into town with a big to-do. “Prince Ali” sits atop his majestic animal throne and is paraded into town as the biggest deal since sliced bread,…

Palm Sunday – How do you know He is a King?

I know it’s cliche, and it might out me as a former youth pastor, but I really enjoy the movie ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail.’ It’s just the right blend of stupid funny, religion and history that speaks to a former history major turned theology major like me. One of the best scenes in the entire movie starts with a guy banging a wooden spoon into a pot asking people to bring our their dead relatives who have been…

Riding on a donkey

John 12:12–19 (ESV) ~ The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,“Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting…

Entrances are important (Palm Sunday)

Entrances are important. People spend exorbitant amounts of time planning how they will enter a room, come out onto the stage, or walk up to the plate. The music, the mood, the magic that surrounds and entrance has the power to change everything that happens after it. The tension swells. The crowd goes wild. The drop hits. Everything culminates in that one specific and perfectly planned moment - and let the party begin. Entrances are important.  This is not that.…

Palm Sunday – The King has come

Mark 11:1–10 (ESV)Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send…

He is choosing – you and me

Have you ever walked into a place you didn’t want to? Late to an important meeting. Needing to have an uncomfortable conversation. Having to see someone you just don’t get a long with. These are life’s seemingly unavoidable situations. No matter how long we wait or how hard we try, they just seem to keep coming up. I remember one such occasion in my life. An important and influential member of not just my life but my community had wronged…

Palm Sunday

It was quite an entrance. I mean I have always dreamed of riding into the big city on a baby donkey, haven't you? Then there were the palms. Branches and cloaks spread out for Him to ride over. Not quite a red carpet, but I guess it would have to do. The shouts of the people ‘Hosanna!’, ’Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’, ‘Hosanna in the highest!’ The crowd lining the streets, His closest friends…