PRAYING ON PALM SUNDAY TO CARRY GOD'S PLAN THROUGH

It’s Palm Sunday as we head into Holy Week.  This is the day where we remember and celebrate how Jesus, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and was given a hero’s welcome.  People wanted Jesus to bring them political and religious freedom and become their physical deliverer and king.  He, however, had a much more significant agenda that He held to despite community pressure and opinion.

Jesus knew what lay ahead for him.  He had already laid down the worship that was rightfully His in heaven, come to earth and taken on human flesh so He could live through all that we face, and now he knew it was his time to die in our place as the perfect sacrifice for our sin.  Even though the journey ahead was going to be more difficult than we could ever imagine, Jesus persevered, did what was needed, was present in loving ways to His friends and the crowds, spoke truth when it was needed - even in inconvenient circumstances - and ultimately endured betrayal, beating and unjust death.

Christ didn’t have any sin. But God made him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.    2 Corinthians 5:21

On this Palm Sunday, as we prepare for Good Friday and Easter Sunday celebrations, let’s remind ourselves of God’s love for us expressed in the death and powerful resurrection of Jesus Christ as our Saviour. 

Remember these important words:

None of you should look out just for your own good. Each of you should also look out for the good of others. As you deal with one another, you should think and act as Jesus did.  In his very nature he was God.   Jesus was equal with God. But Jesus didn’t take advantage of that fact. Instead, he made himself nothing.  He did this by taking on the nature of a servant.  He was made just like human beings. He appeared as a man.  He was humble and obeyed God completely. He did this even though it led to his death.  Even worse, he died on a cross! Philippians 2:4-8

Loving God, Even though people shouted praises to Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem, He knew the suffering that was ahead and He willingly went forward.   He was willing to be banned from the loving care and presence of You, His loving father. 

Help us God, to give our attention and energy to helping others come into the living relationship with You that Jesus won for us that first Easter but what He only saw as a dark time of separation from you when he experienced Palm Sunday.

On this Palm Sunday, we simply pause to say “Thank You” and to recommit ourselves to your care and to Your mission.  Not our own will by yours be done, we pray.  Amen