Opening Reflection
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion. Sing aloud, Daughter Jerusalem. Look, your king will come to you. He is righteous and victorious. He is humble and riding on an ass, on a colt, the offspring of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9 (CEB)
What do you love about a parade?
What would Jesus’ Palm Sunday “parade” look like today?
Song of Praise: “Jesus Messiah,” Chris Tomlin
Words of Scripture: Mark 11:1-11
Interpreting God’s Word Together
- Consider all the people who saw Jesus enter Jerusalem that day (i.e., the crowd, the disciples, the religious leaders). Who did they think Jesus was? How did they respond?
- What would have happened if Jesus had listened to all of those people to decide who he was? What if God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, but the Son forgot who he was or why he came?
- How do we know who we are because Jesus knew who he was?
Prayer of Confession and Assurance: from Psalm 139
You have searched us, Lord, and you know us. You know when we sit and when we rise; you perceive our thoughts from afar. You discern our going out and our lying down; you are familiar with all our ways. Before a word is on our tongue you, Lord, know it completely.
Creator God, we know our thoughts are not always pure – but harbor anger, jealousy and pride. We know our ways are not always loving – but are selfish, hurtful and rebellious. Search us, O God, and know our hearts; examine us and know our anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in us, and where this, make it known to us, and lead us in the way everlasting.
Everlasting God, where can we go from your Spirit or flee from your presence? Whether we rise as high as the heavens or are in the depths of despair, your hand will guide us and hold us fast. You created our inmost being. We praise you because we are fearfully and wonderfully made. In Jesus Christ, even the night will shine like the day. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Benediction
You are my God—I will give thanks to you! You are my God—I will lift you up high! Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever. Psalm 118:28-29 (CEB)