“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Luke 19:38
Dear HBIC Family,
During this Lenten Season, we have focused on walking with God and also with one another. We have remembered Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness before stepping out into ministry, and we have touched on his march towards Calvary’s tree as well. The wilderness teaches us about the value of prayer, self-restraint, repentance, and reconciliation. The march towards Calvary calls us to take up our cross to follow Jesus fully and to live empowered by the Holy Spirit.
This week, my invitation is for us to move on from the wilderness of Lent and to turn our face towards Calvary. In so doing, we march there with Jesus. For us, the journey begins with our celebration of Palm Sunday. This great day unites us with saints today and saints of old to celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the people pronouncing Him as King. We celebrate this with sisters and brothers all over the world – what a great blessing!
Palm Sunday also marks the beginning of Holy Week. Here at HBIC, we normally mark this week with a Maundy Thursday service and meal, as well as contemplative worship stations on Good Friday. Due to our current pandemic protocols, we will not be having our normal Maundy Thursday service for the second year in a row. We will, however, be hosting the prayer stations on Good Friday from 6:30-8:30pm in our Youth Area.
To prepare for this week’s service, I would like to invite you to read and meditate on Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem as detailed in all four gospels (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19). As you reflect, I would like to ask you to focus on the following questions:
What did the people believe about Jesus and what do you believe?
How are the people worshipping Christ as King and how do you worship Christ as King?
How have you been empowered by the Holy Spirit to do God’s will?
Why is it significant to the people that Jesus fulfilled prophecies of old and why is that significant to us?
Why is it important that God says and does what He promises?
Jesus comes to fulfill not our hopes and dreams but God’s plan of salvation for the world. How is God calling you to join in this work?
On Palm Sunday, the people gathered because they believed and they worshipped Christ as King. Jesus fulfills prophecy in coming to Jerusalem and He accomplishes God’s plan for the salvation of the world. What was missed back then (and even still today) is that Jesus came not as a political power, but as the Messiah…God’s chosen Servant King. As we worship together this week, let us remember and hold on to the fact that Jesus is our Servant King.
Praise God that Jesus left heaven for earth to show us how to live and please God. Praise Jesus for serving the people, healing the sick, setting the oppressed free, washing the feet of His disciples, and ultimately laying down His life to save this world and set us free. And praise the Holy Spirit for keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.
God bless you all.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Hank (Luke 19:38)