Return to Year B: 2008-2009 Resource Index

Sunday, April 5, 2009
Enter Humbly

Scriptures: Isaiah 50:4–9a/50:4–6 IV; Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29; Philippians 2:5–11; Mark 11:1–11/1–13 IV; Psalm 31:9–16; Mark 14:1—15:47/14:1—15:51 IV;
Mosiah 2:16–21; Doctrine and Covenants 10:6

Prelude

Welcome

Call to Worship:

Leader: When they were approaching Jerusalem…they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,

People: Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Leader: Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!

People: Hosanna in the highest heaven!

—Mark 11:7–10 adapted

“We Open Ourselves to the Spirit” see page 27

*Opening Hymn: “As We Gather” NS 3
OR “O Lord, Grace Our Communion” HS 1

*Invocation

*Response

Prayer for Peace see page 27

Communion Message

Scripture Reading: Mosiah 2:16–21

Blessing and Serving of the Bread and Wine

Hymn: “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” HS 31
OR “Hosea” NS 15

Disciples’ Generous Response

*Closing Hymn: “Hosanna” NS 14
OR “Here I Am, Lord” NS 12
OR “Your Cause Be Mine, Great Lord Divine” HS 420

*Sending Forth: Doctrine and Covenants 10:6

*Postlude

Scriptures: Isaiah 50:4–9a/50:4–6 IV; Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29; Philippians 2:5–11; Mark 11:1–11/11:1–13 IV; Psalm 31:9–16; Mark 14:1—15:47/14:1—15:51 IV

Today begins the week known to Christians around the world as Holy Week. The telling of the events remembered during this week takes up about one-third of the gospel story. This is because of the significance these events had on the disciples who shared the story of Jesus with others. May our telling of the Holy Week story also guide and shape faithful disciples.

Arriving in Jerusalem as Jesus did fulfilled the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9 and identified Jesus as Messiah: “Your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Jesus’ method of arrival symbolized his message and redefined his meaning of Messiah. Leaders who came to town on a horse were full of pride and focused on war. In contrast, leaders who arrived on a donkey were humble and arriving in peace. Consistent with his humble arrival in the manger, Jesus returned to Jerusalem in the same manner and pursuing peace.

Those who took part in Jesus’ arrival that day seemed genuinely relieved that he was finally claiming his place as the Messiah. People celebrated his arrival and displayed deep respect for Jesus by spreading their garments as they had done for kings in their history (see II Kings 9:13). Unfortunately, Jesus’ humble entry into town—riding a symbol of peace—went unnoticed as people saw what they expected to see as a Messiah, a person of power seeking to conquer.

Those who joined in the celebration were enthusiastic that Jesus was making a formal entry into Jerusalem and allowing his followers to openly honor his position. They missed his subtle yet clear redirection of what it meant to be a Messiah. As a result, they were not prepared for what would unfold in the days ahead as the Messiah became the crucified Prince of Peace and not the conquering king over Israel’s enemies.

How often are we like the enthusiastic followers, at Jesus’ reentry into Jerusalem, celebrating when God finally arrives the way we expect? Too often we allow our preconceived notions of what we believe would be best for the community to limit our understanding of God’s transforming presence in our midst. Our expectations blind us from seeing what God would have us see.

We unintentionally limit our unfolding understanding of God’s truth by connecting it with our own experience, tradition, reasoning, or scripture interpretation. We expect Jesus, the Messiah, to ride into our lives to save and lead us, but we want to be saved and led the way we expect. We sometimes miss the messages and messengers that God sends us, because they do not arrive as we expect nor do they carry the message that we want to hear.

The apostle Paul taught the Philippians (2:5–11) to imitate Christ Jesus: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” He reminded people that even though Jesus was one with God, he still humbled and emptied himself so he could fulfill God’s purposes even by succumbing to the cross. It was God’s will and not his own that he pursued. These words speak to us in our time and circumstances.

Today we are invited to humbly enter the Communion experience. We are encouraged to remember the One we are called to imitate. We are asked to lay down our own agendas and visions for the world and take up Christ’s vision of shalom. Like the disciples in Jerusalem, may we sing “Hosanna!” But unlike those disciples, may we see and experience all that God has prepared for us today without being blinded by our limited, or even sometimes misguided, expectations.

1. Jesus publicly reentered Jerusalem as Messiah on Palm Sunday but with a new definition for Messiah: Jesus entered humbly pursuing peace.
2. The crowd celebrating his arrival was blinded by their own expectations for a Messiah.
3. We are invited to humbly enter the Communion experience and to be open to all that God has prepared for us.

1. How does the Holy Week story guide and shape faithful discipleship?
2. What can you learn from the disciples who were part of Jesus’ reentry into Jerusalem?
3. How does your experience, tradition, reasoning, or scripture interpretation inadvertently limit your expectations for God?
4. How can you be open to the limitless possibilities of God?
5. What would your life look like if you were faithful in imitating Christ?

Return to Year B: 2008-2009 Resource Index