PALM SUNDAY

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

No eye. No ear. No mind. What God has prepared. But Jesus knew.

Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!" Matthew 20:17-19

What God has prepared. Son of Man betrayed. Condemned to death. Mocked. Flogged. Crucified. Raised. But Jesus knew.

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!" ……. At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. John 12:13, 16

What God has prepared. Hosanna. Blessed. King. But Jesus knew.

PALM SUNDAY

Are you getting ready for Easter? Have you purchased new clothes? A chocolate rabbit? Fake grass that you will be finding under the couch next August? A ham for Sunday dinner? How are you preparing? Thinking ahead to Easter made me wonder how Jesus prepared.

Did he have times of absolute joy because he would be seeing his Father? Did he feel anxious over what lay in front of Him? Did he look closely at faces and hold a loved ones hand for an extra second? Did he - - ?

The Bible answers some of these questions. We know Jesus got angry when he entered the temple area and "would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts." We know he washed the feet of his disciples. And we know he was "overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death." We know he wept and prayed.

But how did Jesus prepare his heart?

QUESTION OF THE DAY

How are you preparing for Easter?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Dear Jesus, Help me prepare for Easter. I want to be your humble servant so I may give gentle care to others following your example of tenderly washing the feet of your disciples. I want to receive the bread and wine you offered at the Last Supper. I want to be awake as you pray in the garden and I want to share in your tears. I want to offer praise and be thankful for the blood that washes me clean. I want to raise my hands and celebrate a risen Lord. … Amen