Palm Sunday: Entry
Palm Sunday: Entry
As Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem to embrace the final acts of his earthly ministry, he leads a parade. Those following him cry out, “blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
David was Israel’s greatest king. He and his reign feature in the prophets as a type and sign of the coming Messianic age when God’s saving, restoring, renewing authority extends throughout the whole earth.
David is well-known for his battle with Goliath, the Philistine giant. David and Goliath were not merely two men fighting (though David was hardly yet a man); they were representing their gods. Goliath “cursed David by his gods” and David, in return, comes to Goliath “in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” So, when David defies the physical odds to slay Goliath, the Philistine army runs. They saw in Goliath’s death the defeat of the Philistine gods and the loss of their protection in battle. And what does the Israelite army do? They follow David in pursuit of the enemy.
This is what God’s people do: they follow the conquering king, they pursue the enemy in his wake, they triumph in his name.
Like David, Jesus conquers the enemy, and like the armies of Israel we follow in his triumphant path. But Jesus’ pathway to victory is different than David’s and so is ours as we follow him.
What better way to celebrate our entry into our new building than by remembering Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem!
I look forward to a joyous Sunday with you.
Steve Engstrom+
One More Workday (before our opening) at 1309—Tomorrow, 9AM-Noon
With the forecast for rain tomorrow, tasks will be a final cleaning before our big day. Something for everyone.
Parking on Sunday
Our hope is to repave our parking lot later this spring or summer. Till then, the lot will be unstriped, making parking a little more involved. We own the parking area in front of the house (behind the Sanctuary), so if you park there, please park head-in only, in order, leaving a normal amount of space between cars. If you plan to park in the lot, please park head-in, filling the perimeter first. We’re planning to have an attendant in the lot to assist.
Holy Week Services
Palm/Passion Sunday—March 24, 10AM (also, our inaugural meeting in our new and beautiful home!)
Maundy Thursday Service—March 28, 7PM
Good Friday Service—March 29, 7PM
Holy Saturday (a shorter service of prayer and meditation)—March 30, Noon
Easter Sunday—March 31, 10AM
Photo Credit: Brooke Lark/Unsplash
