Weekly Bible Notes
Palm Sunday of Lent - Year B
Liturgical Colour - Red
Introduction
Palm Sunday reminds us of how fickle we can all be as human beings. We see the crowd shouting Hosanna, suddenly calling for the death of Jesus. Pontius Pilate is governed by political expediency, Judas betrays Jesus for the prospect of a cash reward. Yet even the best disciples move away from Jesus at his time of need and leave him standing alone before the Jewish authorities. Jesus is abandoned. Time for us then so stand up and be counted, to be prepared to own our faith and acknowledge Jesus.
Yet there is another lesson for us all. Jesus forgives, he
shows compassion and understanding for the weakness of those
around him. Are we prepared to follow his example of
compassion and forgiveness. Are we willing to keep the faith
and also be understanding toward those who are weak and find
the going difficult ?
Opening Verses of Scripture
Matthew 21:9
Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
Collect Prayer for the Day — Before we read we pray
Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your So our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
True and humble King, hailed by the crowd as Messiah: grant us the faith to know you and love you, that we may be found beside you on the way of the cross, which is the path of glory Common Worship Shorter Collect
First Bible Reading Isaiah 50:4-9a
The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.
I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me. Who is he that will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.
Second Reading Philippians 2:5-11
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Gospel Reading Mark 11: 1-11
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' "
They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.
When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted. "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!"
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Post Communion Sentence
Lord Jesus Christ: you humbled yourself in taking the form of a servant,
and in obedience died on the cross for our salvation; give us the mind to
follow you and to proclaim you as Lord and King to the Glory of God the
Father. Amen
Commentary
Jesus’ passion was the outcome of His obedient delivery of the message of
the kingdom, despite His people’s rejection. The passion story in the gospel
reading starts with Jesus riding into Jerusalem amid the crowds, everybody,
it seemed, has turned up for the occasion of the Passover and many were
there waving the palm fronds as Jesus rode in. The disciples were very
impressed, and even the Pharisees and the Sadducees were beginning to
realise that perhaps they had underestimated this simple Galilean teacher as
word of His teaching and miracles reached them. And just as Solomon had
ridden into Jerusalem as a King and gone to the Temple he had build, so
Jesus rides in and goes to the Temple, the very centre of the Jewish faith,
and began to teach and preach. It was an up and down ride. As Jesus rode
into town people sang His praises. Many looked on in admiration as He turned
over the tables of the money changers in the Temple. But it all changed. A
few short days later He was betrayed and arrested, and on Friday He was hung
him on a cross and killed. Today the palms - tomorrow the passion. The
Romans wanted Him out of the way because He represented a political threat
and undermined the concept as Caesar being King and a god. The Jews wanted
Him out of the way because of the disruption He was causing in religious
circles and His claim to be the Messiah. Both parties disliked Him because
He criticised their duplicity and errant ways. But both were most afraid of
the power that He seemed to wield, however gently. Power over the growing
crowds of followers who seemed to hang on His every word and deed. Power
over sickness as He healed the many sick and infirm who came to Him. Power
over creation itself, as he calmed the wind and the waves. Whilst they may
have not recognised Him as the Messiah, they could clearly see that Jesus
was no ordinary person and things had to be stopped before they got
seriously out of hand.
In our Lent course this year we have been looking at the teaching, parable,
miracles and passion of Jesus. All are inextricably linked to the Jesus’
passion, death and resurrection. Jesus lived out what He taught, challenged
the Jews and the Jewish authorities with many parables, especially the
parable of the vineyard. He confirmed that he was the Messiah through the
miracles He performed and His acknowledgement of the role God had given Him,
all of which led Him to enter Jerusalem when He did in the manner in which
He did. Jesus Himself was the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecy which
focused on the coming Messiah. His entry into Jerusalem echoes one of the
Psalms which was used at every Passover, Psalm 118, where loud Hosannas are
cried. Matthew quotes the passage from Zechariah, ‘See, your king comes to
you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a
colt, the foal of a donkey…’ But when Jesus rode into Jerusalem living and
acting out these ancient prophecies, many did not recognise Him as the
Messiah they longed for. He was no ordinary person that was for sure. The
crowds asked who it was that had such an impact as He rode into the city.
What they were witnessing was not some war lord riding into battle to smash
the opposition and take it captive but a radically subverted model of power,
exercised in gentleness and compassion which would challenge the systems and
structures of the political and religious world, and continue to do so
throughout history. They were confused. Jesus proclaimed peace, not war; set
people free rather than taking them captive; and restored rather than
plundered. It’s this subversive, radical power that Christ unleashes on the
world through the events of the coming week, and continues through the
imperfect, but forgiven and redeemed band of people called the Church. Jesus
was the last emissary from God, bringing with him God’s final and decisive
word to his people and we are called to be His disciples. As He was led out
to crucifixion His followers must have wondered what was happening. Kings
and Messiahs don’t get crucified; they conquer and rule, smashing the powers
of sin and darkness on the way. And in His own way, Jesus did just that. It
would take some time before the world would come to realise that the
humiliated artisan from Nazareth who was crucified truly had changed lives,
nations and world history. As we look to Easter it’s important that we too
sing His praises and wave our palm fronds of adoration. It’s important that
we marvel at His words, His parables and His teaching. It’s important that
we open ourselves to the miracle of the resurrection in our own lives and
the power of His Spirit to lead and guide us day by day. We know that
sometimes we’ll let Christ down; we’ll deny and disown Him, as did the
disciples. We’ll do the things we don’t want to do which are counter to
God’s ways. The events of Easter week are a microcosm of our own lives, our
up and our downs, the times of great happiness and the times of deepest
sadness and despair, the things we can be proud of and the things for which
we are deeply sorry and ashamed. As the time of Lent comes to a close and
Easter comes upon us we are visibly reminded that whatever might happen, God
is in control. Through the sacrifice of the cross and the glory of
resurrection, God shows His love for the world and all His creation by
reconciling all things to Himself, He demonstrates His ultimate victorious
power over all the forces that oppose His will, and He invites us to share
in the risen life of His Son.
Sam Cappleman
Meditation
Historians tell us that each year over many thousands people
went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover at the time of Christ, swelling
the population by as much as 10 or 20 times the normal. The place would be
heaving, and into all this excitement and fervour Jesus rides slowly into
Jerusalem on a donkey. And amid all these thronging people Jesus rides into
town and Jerusalem is literally to be shaken to its foundations. There's
going to be a spiritual showdown with the Jewish authorities and a political
showdown with the Romans. Jesus' Galilean ministry is at an end, and shortly
the journey to Jerusalem will be complete. The Messiah, the servant King of
Isaiah, rides into town. Jesus, a man of supreme holiness, the perfect
Israelite, the one who has come to set all people free has come to fulfil
His calling. He knows His time has come. But Jesus died when He did, not
because of the Romans and their insistence on crucifixion for a person who
they thought was claiming to be the King of the Jews. He died not because
the Jewish authorities charged Him with blasphemy and condemned Him to
death. He died because God had decided that it was time for His Messiah Son
to be revealed. Ultimately it didn’t matter what any earthly authorities
thought they had the power and mandate to do, because God was, and is, and
always will be, in loving control over His creation and it was He who made
the decision.
Hymns
- All glory, laud and honour 9
- Make way, make way 457
- Crown Him with many crowns 109
- O worship the King 528
- Ride on, ride on in Majesty 580
Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead
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Prayer is a plant, the seed of which is sown in the heart of every Christian,
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if it is well cultivated and nourished it will produce fruit, but if it is neglected, it will wither and die
As we journey this week with Christ and celebrate the paschal mystery of his death and resurrection, let us earnestly pray to God for those following the way of the cross and for all peoples everywhere. Blessed are you, Lord our God, who sent your Son among us to bear the pain and grief of humankind. Receive the prayers we offer this day for all those in need in every place and as we near the holy mountain grant us strength on our journey. Glory to you for ever. Amen
O Lord, whose way is perfect, help us always to trust in your goodness, to walk in the way of faith, and to follow in the path of simplicity. Teach us to cast our cares on your providence, that we may possess a quiet mind and a contented spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Holy Father, you have shown us that the brave bearing of the cross is the beginning of wearing your crown: help us by your grace to bear patiently our pains and disappointments, as your beloved Son bore His; and to offer them to you as the pure gift of our faithfulness to our crucified Lord. Amen
As on this day we keep the special memory of our Redeemer's entry into the city, so grant O Lord than now and ever, He may triumph in our hearts. Let the King of Glory enter in, and let us lay ourselves and all we are in full and joyful homage before Him, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Bishop Moule, 1841-1920
Father God, During Lent we have been preparing for the celebration of our Lord's Paschal mystery. On this day Jesus Christ entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph. The people welcomed Him with palms and shouts of praise, but the path before Him led to self-giving, suffering and death. Today we greet Him as our king, although we know His crown is thorns and His throne a cross. We follow Him this week from the glory of the palms to the glory of the resurrection by the dark road of suffering and death. Unite us with Him in His suffering on the cross; may we share His resurrection and new life. Amen
May Christ crucified draw you to himself, to find in him a sure ground for faith, a firm support for hope, and the assurance of sins forgiven; and may the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen
Additional Material
Commentary
Our Gospel reading this week recounts Christ’s entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of the last week of His earthly life. His whole ministry thus far had been one of teaching and healing as He had travelled the surrounding countryside. Over the past weeks we have seen how Jesus had been determined to go to Jerusalem and to be there in time for the feast of the Passover. From our recent readings from the gospels we realise that Jesus was fully aware of the fate that was to befall Him; He had explained this to His disciples many times, although it is doubtful if they fully understood. Why should they? Had not Peter declared that Jesus was indeed the Messiah and their understanding of such a person was that he would have had the power to overrule the machinations of evil-thinking people even if they were high priests.
This week’s reading from Isaiah highlights the dangers of being a prophet.
Called by God to be a messenger, he does not shirk from proclaiming the
message of repentance and a return to the ways of a God-fearing nation, even
though this subjects him to personal abuse and physical attacks. There is an
interesting comment in verse 6 of chapter 50, where the prophet states that
‘he gave his cheeks to those who pulled out the beard’. To pull hairs from a
persons beard was considered to be a great insult in those days, (it was
also quite painful too, I imagine). The whole passage shows that the prophet
did not shirk from his duty but put all his trust in God to see him through.
Would this passage have been in Jesus’ mind as He made His way toward Jerusalem? By the end of the week Jesus had received plenty of verbal and physical abuse for His words and actions. Could we have faced such treatment? We may be laughed at occasionally for our beliefs but I doubt if we have ever had to face that sort of behaviour.
The story of ‘Palm Sunday’ or the ride into Jerusalem from Bethphage, is
a very familiar one. The cheering from the large and noisy crowds, the quiet
and gentle plodding of the donkey, the cloaks and branches thrown onto the
stony path in an attempt to carpet the way to make it fit for a royal
person. But what was really going through Jesus’ mind as He looked at the
crowds on both sides of the road? Did He recognise any one in the sea of
faces? Was there someone or something familiar to Him? All we are told, in
Luke’s gospel, is that as Jesus ascended the slope into Jerusalem he wept.
When we survey the state of the world around us, both near and far, how does
it make us feel? Do we weep for the state of the people around us or for our
own inability to do anything about it? Mr Alan Davis
Prayers
Be with us, Lord, to defend us; within us to refresh us; around us to
protect us; before us to guide us; behind us to encourage us and above us to
bless us; for your own name's sake. Amen Celtic, 10th century
Christ crucified draw you to himself, to find in him a sure ground for
faith, a firm support for hope, and the assurance of sins forgiven; and the
blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among
you and remain with you always. Amen
Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those things which last for ever; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
O God our dance, in whom we live and move and have our being: so direct our strength and inspire our weakness that we may enter with power into the movement of you whole creation, through our partner Jesus Christ. Amen
O God, you are my rock, my rescue, and my refuge, I leave it all quietly
to you. Amen. George Appleton (1902-93)
Lord may I prefer the truth and right by which I might seem to lose, to the
falsehood and wrong by which I might seem to gain. Amen.