Palm Sunday

Sunday Reflection – Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023

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Jesus enters Jerusalem

Matthew 21 When Jesus and his disciples came near Jerusalem, he went to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives and sent two of them on ahead. 2 He told them, “Go into the next village, where you will at once find a donkey and her colt. Untie the two donkeys and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks why you are doing this, just say, ‘The Lord needs them.’ He will at once let you have the donkeys.”

4 So God’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said,

5 “Announce to the people
    of Jerusalem:
‘Your king is coming to you!
He is humble
    and rides on a donkey.
He comes on the colt
    of a donkey.’ ”

6 The disciples left and did what Jesus had told them to do. 7 They brought the donkey and its colt and laid some clothes on their backs. Then Jesus got on.

8 Many people spread clothes in the road, while others put down branches which they had cut from trees. 9  Some people walked ahead of Jesus and others followed behind. They were all shouting,

“Hooray for the Son of David!
God bless the one who comes
    in the name of the Lord.
Hooray for God
    in heaven above!”

10 When Jesus came to Jerusalem, everyone in the city was excited and asked, “Who can this be?”

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Performed by Margaret Whisselle

Kids Korner: Hosanna, loud hosannas (Palm Sunday, April 2nd)

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Read Matthew 21:1-11 with your family.

Jesus entry into Jerusalem was a celebration and is one of the few places in the Bible where children are active in supporting Jesus.

The word Hosanna means “please help us”. The children in Jerusalem knew the Romans guards were not nice people, and they believed Jesus would get rid of them so that everyone could live in safety and peace. It didn’t work out the way the children and adults around them thought it would, but we can still celebrate Palm Sunday for being a celebration of hope and promise.

Wave branches high, parade around your home and outside, jump on and off the furniture (if you are allowed) and yell “Hosanna”.

Sunday Reflection, Palm Sunday – April 10, 2022

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Jesus Enters Jerusalem

Luke 19 28 When Jesus had finished saying all this, he went on toward Jerusalem. 29 As he was getting near Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples on ahead. 30 He told them, “Go into the next village, where you will find a young donkey that has never been ridden. Untie the donkey and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks why you are doing this, just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”

32 They went off and found everything just as Jesus had said. 33 While they were untying the donkey, its owners asked, “Why are you doing that?”

34 They answered, “The Lord needs it.”

35 Then they led the donkey to Jesus. They put some of their clothes on its back and helped Jesus get on. 36 And as he rode along, the people spread clothes on the road in front of him. 37 When Jesus started down the Mount of Olives, his large crowd of disciples were happy and praised God because of all the miracles they had seen. 38  They shouted,

“Blessed is the king who comes
    in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven
    and glory to God.”

39 Some Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, make your disciples stop shouting!”

40 But Jesus answered, “If they keep quiet, these stones will start shouting.”

Performed by Margaret Whisselle

Kids Korner: Palm Sunday (April 10th)

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Read Luke 19:28-40 with your family.

Sometimes we have to think about Jesus in opposites, and this story is a good place to start: Everyone was expecting Jesus to enter Jerusalem as a mighty king, Jesus really came as someone humble and did not claim earthy power. A king would enter the city on a horse, Jesus went into Jerusalem on a donkey. A king would have a huge group travelling with him including soldiers, people carrying banners, and maybe musicians, Jesus came into Jerusalem with only some friends and local people with children, carrying palm branches and singing while they danced on the street beside him.

There are a lot of people in the church who keep expecting Jesus to be a King, and have all the fanfare and pageantry around him that humans think is important for Christ the King: parades, banners, guards, people crowding the streets but never allowed to be close. Jesus shows us that he was the opposite of all of that. He wanted people close, especially children. Jesus did not want people treating him like he was a king.

As we follow Jesus we have to remember to always push aside the things our world values, like money and power, and do the things that Jesus values, like helping others and spending time together.