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The not-so-popular side of Passion Week
Palm Sunday. It’s a great day of celebration. And examination. The King has come into his Temple and it’s not a pretty trip. Part of the reading of Holy Week can really grate on a person! 7 “Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!” declares the Lord Almighty.“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand…
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Free Speech
We like to think it exists (and in reality, it still does), but what we really mean is this: “I believe in your right to speak freely as long as it agrees one hundred percent with me. If it does not, I will have your job, or your company, or your product… or something to show how shameful it is that you disagree with…
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He is KING Jesus
Jesus isn’t someone we “elected” and now we present him with a list of our expectations. It is HIS Kingdom. He sets the priorities and our greatest joys aren’t found in him fulfilling our expectations, but in us fulfilling his expectations.
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Jesus is coming after YOU
I am preparing for Palm Sunday and part of that is reading the text in Matthew 21:1-11. I couldn’t stop there. What did he do AFTER making that triumphal entry? He ransacked the Temple. He healed IN the Temple, drawing the weak in… and he blessed children. This is a powerful statement. He is NOT going after Rome, like everyone…
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Our King Will Come to Us
9 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. (Zech 9:9, CEB) Our King comes to us. Do we know how to look for him? Lord, keep our eyes open and our egos out of the…
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Bow Down
It is Palm Sunday! 2 Give to the Lord the glory due his name! Bow down to the Lord in holy splendor! (Psalm 29:2, CEB) The Lord is strong. He is mighty. This is about his Kingdom coming. The week of Holy Week is remembrance. It is remembrance of his suffering. We also remember that this day was triumphant in the eyes of so many in the…
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Who is this King?
7 Mighty gates: lift up your heads! Ancient doors: rise up high! So the glorious king can enter! 8 Who is this glorious king? The LORD—strong and powerful! The LORD—powerful in battle! 9 Mighty gates: lift up your heads! Ancient doors: rise up high! So the glorious king can enter! 10 Who is this glorious king? The LORD of heavenly forces— he is the…
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Expectation
This Sunday is Palm Sunday. The journey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was one of high expectation. Everyone had their view of what Jesus’ coming meant. That entry had implications for everyone… yet not in a way any of them expected. 8 Many people spread out their clothes on the road while others spread branches cut from the fields. 9 Those in front of…
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Triumph Through Tragedy
We enter into Holy Week. The triumphal entry is celebrated today. The triumph only seems to be in the people shouting “Hosanna!” that day. Jesus is determined. He looks over the city and weeps (Luke 19:41). He enters the Temple courts and trashed the place (Luke 19:45). People are excited about his zeal, yet he knows the tragedy that lies…
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Reflections for Palm Sunday
Michael Gorman makes some thought-provoking comments on Philippians 2:5-11. Incredible things to ponder. Some key thoughts: By neglecting the story and confession of Jesus as universal Lord, the Lord who rules as Suffering Servant, the church will substitute the universal Lord for a tribal deity and the Suffering Servant for a conquering king. Sadly, this has too often been the…
Tag: Palm Sunday
