Welcome to the Pastor’s Workshop this Monday. It’s a blessing to be with you in the Scripture!
This week we’re preparing for the most special and central celebration in the life of the church. We’re getting ready for Holy Week. The Scriptures will be leading us into the climax of our Lord’s saving work as we draw near to the Cross and the Crown.
All the Gospels reflect the significance of this week In Christ’s life. Just the sheer amount of “coverage” provided to the events witnesses to its preeminence. Matthew devotes a quarter of his Gospel, seven of twenty-eight chapters; Mark, five of sixteen chapters; Luke, five of twenty-four chapters; and John, eight of twenty-one to what happens between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.
As you know Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. We’ll be using Luke 19:29-38 as the primary source for our Palm Sunday message.
The story is very familiar. Jesus made his royal ride from the Mount of Olives at Bethphage and Bethany into Jerusalem. A lowly donkey carried the humble king. Jesus’ followers rejoiced, waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna. The religious leaders fumed with anger. The crowds of the city wondered, who is this who is coming?
Many of us have heard this story since our childhood. With Scriptures like this there are times when you wonder, what’s new for me to experience?
To answer that question it can be helpful to “immerse” yourself in the setting of the Palm Sunday parade . What do you See? Hear? Smell? Touch? Taste? Feel? Jot down your observations.
Experience the events of the day from perspectives of different people in the scene. What it’s like to be the disciples sent to loosen the donkey? A follower on the way singing Hosanna? A city dweller wondering what’s all the excitement about? Even the leaders plotting how to suppress the surge of support? Again, write down your experiences.
If you were a playwright (or the Gospel writer) how would you portray this scene? How would you tell this opening of Holy Week?
Use your devotional time today to “connect” on lots of levels with the Palm Sunday story. Out of this time ask God to bring something to your attention, some detail, some new insight, some fresh word of faith that will draw you to experience this “old story” with grace giving power.
Prayer: Lord, as we start to get ready for Holy Week, as we revisit Palm Sunday, open our minds and inspire our hearts to the ways you would fill your Holy Word with your Holy Spirit to refresh and renew our faith. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our coming Lord. Amen