March 27, 2021

Dear Road Church Friends,

     In Jewish tradition Palms were a celebratory symbol of victory. Passover was an annual remembrance of national deliverance. Israel was in need of deliverance once again, this time from Rome.  Many people followed Jesus from Galilee on his Passover Pilgrimage to Jerusalem with bated breath. Some followed him for political reasons, some, like Peter, followed him for Love. Others, like Judas followed for money. How deep was their devotion? Where was the Palm Sunday crowd just five days later on Good Friday? The stories of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and his final week there were written to help us see ourselves in his disciples, and examine our own motives for following Jesus. The Palm Sunday sermon is a lesson in discipleship.

SERMON TITLE:  For Love or Money

SCRIPTURES

Mark 10:32-34

They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “Listen, we are going up to Jerusalem, and I will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn me to death; then they will hand me over to the Gentiles; they will mock me, and spit upon me, and flog me, and kill me, and after three days I will rise again.”

Luke 22:31-32

All of you will be sifted like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.

HIS LAST WEEK

Sunday, the shout of hosannas, the triumph of palms in Jerusalem.

Friday the cross on Golgotha, the mocking of thorns in a diadem.

Highest to lowest, in only a five day’s span,

Hailed the Son of God, and made the derision of man.

Sunday again and the grave, and the seal strangely broken,

And those who had doubted remembering words he had spoken.

by Elinor Lennen

PRAYER

    O God, our Father, as on Palm Sunday a multitude welcomed our Savior by casting their garments before his feet, enable us to cast our garments of pride before him, to learn of him and his passion, to receive inspiration and power, that in the spirit of humility every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen.

Blessings to all,

Pastor Norm

Palm Sunday worship on YouTube, March 28, 2021: https://youtu.be/nErfuIq8fqA