mySundaySermons

Theme: God uses all gifts and talents for God’s will. Be ready, be useful with what you have.

28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 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. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’" 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34 They said, "The Lord needs it." 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 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, 38 saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!" 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop." 40 He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out." NRSV

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord”

The message we have to share:

The message of Palm Sunday is to announce to the world, that

our hopes are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

“ok fine, but who do we say it to? Just anyone, Tell everyone?”

Corporate, Collective message: all the people who followed, lined the streets and actively took part in the parade.

Part of the pageantry of Holy Week attempts to capture this Celebration:

Think about Palm Sunday – Acknowledging and Telling Jesus is King.

Maundy Thursday – Jesus gives us a means of grace in Holy Communion

Good Friday – Jesus died OUR death and PAID for our sins

Easter Sunrise – Meeting Jesus in OUR lives

To get ready…

Shopping List for worship

Pair of disciples, friends, Colt, Cloaks, Stones

 Involve your friends in your faith work…. Share the work.

 Transportation…. For celebration.

 Clothes….. for worship.

 Stoned Singers… God is willing to use whatever is around for praise.

Order your Disciples to Stop what they are doing..

Some folks will tell you what NOT to do… Don’t do this or don’t do that..

You who Do, do what God says to do, are often too few

…We cannot stop the work and witness of God, but we can stop it through us.

"Going up to Jerusalem" is literal, since Jerusalem is at a higher elevation than most of the towns of Palestine. The road Jesus is traveling rises from 850 feet below sea level at Jericho, to elevation of 2,100 to 2,526 feet above sea level at Jerusalem. Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan is set along the Jericho Road (Luke 10:25-37), though Jesus is in little danger from bandits, since he is traveling with a large number of followers and the roads are crowded with pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for Passover.

The Mount of Olives, located just east of Jerusalem, is a ridge about 2-1/2 miles long, part of the north-south mountain chain. If you stand where the Jericho Road crosses the ridge, to the west is the city of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley, and just to the east of the summit lie the towns of Bethphage and Bethany.

Bethphage is a suburb of Jerusalem, its name in Aramaic meaning "house of the early figs." Scholars aren’t sure of the precise location. But the medieval Crusaders accepted a site about 1 km east of the summit where a Franciscan chapel is now located. The site had been occupied between the Second Century BC through the Eighth Century AD.

Bethany is the town where Jesus’ friends live — Lazarus, Martha, and Mary — at whose home he was a welcome guest whenever he was in the City. It is also the place of the Ascension (Luke 24:50-51), located about 2 miles east of Jerusalem on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, identified by early Christian tradition with the Palestinian town el-Azariyeh.