Palm Sunday

CALL TO WORSHIP - Rosa Jacobs Give thanks to the Lord, who is good; Psalm 118:1, 19-20 God’s steadfast love endures forever! Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; let the faithful come and worship God.

OPENING PRAYER

Pocket Dictionary of Liturgy & Worship (Palm Sunday)

Palm Sunday. The first day of Holy Week, commemorating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mk 11:1–11; Mt 21:1–11; Lk 19:28–40; Jn 12:12–19). It was celebrated in Jerusalem as early as the late fourth century. In the Byzantine Rite, the day before Palm Sunday is Lazarus Saturday. Color: violet or red.

PROCLAMATION OF THE ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM Luke 19:29-40 (1) When [Jesus] had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, „Why are you untying it?‟ just say this, „The Lord needs it.‟ (2) So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord needs it.” Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. (3) As [Jesus] rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” (4) Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” HYMN Hosanna in the highest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8xHr8krAII&list=RDLVYApEIjvE6S4&start_radio=1 PRAYER OF THE DAY God Most High, gracious and glorious, Blessed are you, Holy God, for in Jesus Christ you came to rule in our lives, not as a king, but as a humble servant, riding on a donkey. Enter into our hearts this day with your glory, that we may greet you with shouts of praise; through Christ, our Sovereign and Savior. Amen. CALL TO CONFESSION The Lord GOD helps us; therefore we have not been disgraced. Isaiah 50:7-9a We know that we shall not be put to shame; our redeemer is near! If it is the Lord GOD who helps us, who will declare us guilty? With confidence in God‟s redeeming love, let us confess our sin. CONFESSION OF SIN We will observe a time of silence for personal confession God of mercy, you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from you and turned aside from your way. We are misled by pride, for we see ourselves pure when we are stained, and great when we are small. We have failed in love, neglected justice, and ignored your truth. Have mercy, O God, and forgive our sin. Return us to paths of righteousness through Jesus Christ, our Savior. DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS Let the same mind be in you Phil. 2:5-11 that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, * but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Friends, hear and believe the good news of the gospel: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. Thanks be to God! SERMON Prayer before the sermon

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

John 12:12–19 NASB95

12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” 14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. 17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. 18 For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”

The triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

On the day after the feast at Bethany, Jesus entered the city under circumstances of unusual public enthusiasm.

I. THINK ABOUT THE PERSONS WHO GAVE HIM THIS PUBLIC MANIFESTATION OF FAVOR. "On the next day a great crowd of people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was come to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the Name of the Lord."

1. They were not Jews of Jerusalem, who were almost entirely hostile to Jesus, but Galilaeans who had come up to observe the Passover. These people were far more receptive of truth than the people directly under the guidance of the religious chiefs of the nation.

2. The palm branches were emblematic of triumph, strength, and joy.

3. The exclamation of the people, which is taken from Psa_118:1-29., was a recognition of the Messiahship of Jesus.

II. CONSIDER OUR LORD’S RESPONSE TO THE SALUTATIONS OF THE PEOPLE. "14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15 “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.”

1. The action was a Messianic sign of humility. The ass is as despised in the East as in the West. The entry of Jesus upon it set forth the essentially spiritual aspect of his Kingship.

2. The quotation from ancient prophecy might assure the Jews that this King would be no tyrant.

3. Yet the true import of the sign was not directly understood even by the disciples. "16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first;"

(1) The disciples were often "slow of heart" to believe all that the prophets bad spoken.

(2) But, in the light of our Lord’s ascension, they saw the import of his action, and understood the part which they themselves had contributed to it.

III. THE EXPLANATION OF THIS DEMONSTRATION. "The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare him witness; and for this cause also the multitude met him, because they had heard that he had done this miracle." Both the Jews of Jerusalem and the strangers bore witness to the miracle which led to the demonstration it shows how profound was the impression made by the miracle.

IV. THE EFFECT OF THE DEMONSTRATION ON THE PHARISEES. " 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”

HYMN All glory laud and honour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TZgIGEIfAw&list=PL0jg8CxWUN_c6k4t4jJTq2iqeXqzNGAzB Notices By Mr. John Oberholzer

Collection

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

CHORUS benediction SUNG BY CONGREGATION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz1RWcbmB84&list=PL7YIEhvIObrm6EY8wglHBw4RLx80B_657&index=53