Christian Reflection and Prayer

PALM SUNDAY

Scripture:

Mark 11.1-10

As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem,
they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany,
on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on
ahead. "Go into that village over there," he told them,
"and as soon as you enter it, you will see a colt tied
there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it
here. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, '
The Lord needs it and will return it soon.'" The two
disciples left and found the colt standing in the street,
tied outside a house. As they were untying it, some
bystanders demanded, "What are you doing, untying
that colt?" They said what Jesus had told them to say,
and they were permitted to take it. Then they brought
the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and
he sat on it. Many in the crowd spread their coats on
the road ahead of Jesus, and others cut leafy branches
in the fields and spread them along the way. He was in
the center of the procession, and the crowds all around
him were shouting, "Praise God! Bless the one who
comes in the name of the Lord! Bless the coming
kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest
heaven!" (NLT)

Prayer

I worship you Lord! You did not enter your holy city
Jerusalem on the back of a war horse, but humbly and
on a donkey. You knew that you were surrounded by
murderers, yet you came in peace, and by your sacrifice
you would utterly conquer death before the week had
passed. You, oh Lord, are blessed and worthy of my
praise. You have saved your people. I say, "you are my
king!" ... I long to live in the city where you sit on the
throne! Establish your Kingdom, so that your people
can live in peace. Jesus, I bow before you, and I will
sing your praises until your Kingdom comes and is
established, and forever after.

Scripture:

Read Luke 23:35-39

"Those who were crucified with Him also
reviled Him." (Mark 15:32)

Reflection:

The physical pain of being beaten, flogged
and nailed to a Roman cross is bad enough.
But Jesus also experiences the bitter pain
of emotional abuse. He watches the people
pass by on the road turn and fling their
ridicule at Him. He hears the mockery and
laughter of the chief priests and scribes.
Beneath Him the Roman soldiers cruelly
taunt His thirst by holding up wine vinegar
just outside of reach (Luke 23:36-37).

Perhaps two people can actually sympathize
with Him. After all, the criminals hanging on
His left and right are condemned criminals too.
They are going through much the same
excruciating physical pain He is suffering. But
their great pain and suffering drive them to lash
out against Him too. The Greek word we
translate "revile" means to insult or belittle
someone- like a couple of schoolyard bullies.
Wherever Jesus turns He is under attack.

Jesus is literally suffering what all of us deserve
for our sins- everlasting punishment in hell.
Throughout the Bible hell is described as a place
where people are bound hand and foot and cast
into utter darkness (Matthew 22:13) where they
suffer great pain from the inside and the outside
(Isaiah 66:24). That is exactly what Jesus is
suffering with His hands and feet "bound" to the
cross by the nails, the great pain racking His
body- and as we will see tomorrow, thick
darkness which will leave Him alone in His great
suffering.

He did it all for you and me- so we can live with
Him in the perfect peace, joy and light of heaven
forever.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You were surrounded by countless
enemies who mocked and laughed at Your distress.
Thank You for taking my place in hell and giving me
Your place in heaven. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries Lenten Devotional)

Scripture:

Read Mark 15:31-32a

"Also the chief priests with the scribes mocked
Him, 'He saved others; He cannot save Himself.'"
(Mark 15:31)

Reflection:

The Jewish religious leaders were not satisfied
with beating up Jesus after their illegal night trial.
And it wasn't enough for them to see Jesus bleeding,
beaten, humiliated and nailed to a cross. They want
to add to His disgrace and distress by mocking Him.

Mockery is one of the most vicious ways to lash out
at someone. They turn Jesus' own words against Him
to point out His powerlessness and to prove they were
right to reject Him. And striking deepest they make
fun of His name. The name Jesus means "the Lord
saves". They find it funny that Jesus is famous for
saving others from demons, disease and death itself-
but He's powerless to save Himself.

From the time Jesus was conceived and born in that
little town of Bethlehem, He had held back His power
as God's Son. He had displayed a little of that power
performing miracles to verify His message about God's
Kingdom, but He never used it for His own benefit. Had
He chosen to, Jesus could have floated down from the
cross and destroyed His enemies with a breath.

But Jesus was being Jesus on the cross- He was
saving us by sacrificing Himself. He was dying even for
those who made themselves His enemies- these Jewish
leaders gathered around Him to gloat and celebrate their
apparent victory. He would leave it to God His Father to
prove Him right. And He wouldn't have to wait long- just
three days. All who trust in Him will enjoy His salvation
forever.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You remained silent through the gloating
mockery of those religious leaders who opposed You.
Thank You for dying to offer them and all of us salvation.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries Lenten Devotional)