Friday, October 15, 2010

Palm Sunday

PALM SUNDAY
5 of 12
Luke 19:32-44
vv.37-40: “When He came to the place where the road goes down to the Mont of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the King Who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!’ ‘I tell you,’ He replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’”
“Tell me more about how you and your family go on after such sad holy days like our Ash Wednesday and your Yom Kippur, Jules. I’d really like to know” Bobby said, throwing her the ball.

Jules, eager to share her faith, smiled when replying, “It’s never too long before we celebrate another feast. Like now, there’s seven days of Unleavened Bread.” She threw the ball to Miguel next.

“What’s unleavened bread?” Miguel asked, throwing the ball back to Bobby.
“Unleavened bread is like pita, or flat bread—made with no yeast” Jules answered, catching the ball that Bobby tossed. When she threw it to Miguel, she added, “yeast represents sin.”

Miguel caught the ball, and said, “Our entire Lenten season deals with sin…but Palm Sunday is our joyous celebration—when Jesus was cheered coming into Jerusalem—what fun, with Jesus riding on a donkey.” then he threw the ball back to Bobby.

Miguel is right to show Jules that her Jewish ancestors welcomed Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As the opening Scripture says, if Jesus would have hushed the crowd, the stones would have cried out. He would know—He created them! Jesus is not blowing His own horn, He’s claiming what’s rightfully His—praise and glory. But Jules’ point is well-taken, too. Comparing sin to leaven—or yeast bread—is a good analogy. Yeast saturates every portion of the dough, and ferments, causing the dough to rise. Sin penetrates people prompting their disobedience. Repenting of it is our best path to peace, freedom, and happiness.

Bobby caught the ball, adding, “Jerusalem’s celebration didn’t last long. Jesus knew what was ahead in a few days. Perhaps we should all eat pita or flat bread on Ash Wednesday, like Jules does during Yom Kippur and this “bread” feast, to remind us of our sins!” Bobby said. He passed the ball to Jules, with a smile and a wink.

Take Home Nugget

Palm Sunday, one week before Easter, reminds us Who is at center stage of our lives—our Savior and Redeemer—King Jesus.


Avoid sin’s tempting lures
By dodging sinful thoughts that subdue,
Never allow sinful things to take control
That may one day master YOU!

J.D. Griffith

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