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Mark 11:1–19 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ” They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!” Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. When evening came, they went out of the city.

On Palm Sunday, after being welcomed with palm branches and cries of “Hosanna,” Jesus returned to Bethany that evening. The next day, Holy Monday, He returned to Jerusalem without all the fanfare. It was on this day that He cleansed the Temple.

Matthew’s account (Chapter 21) could be understood to say that Jesus cleansed the Temple on Palm Sunday, but the language is not precise, and simply indicates that Jesus cleansed it after coming to Jerusalem. Mark’s account is very specific in stating it happened on Monday.  Either way, He did it. It was part of pointing out how far many of God’s people had wandered from Him, calling people to repentance, and carrying out His mission of fulfilling all righteousness for us.

The Jewish leaders and officials resolved to get rid of Him, which was also part of God’s plan to redeem the world through His promised Messiah. He came to be the sacrifice for sin, and would be the replacement for the Passover Lamb just a few days later, the embodiment of th prophetic words of John the Baptizer:  ^“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! “ (John 1:29)

Glory be to Jesus, Who in bitter pains
Poured for me the life-blood From His sacred veins!

Grace and life eternal In that blood I find
Blest be His compassion Infinitely kind!

 Blest through endless ages Be the precious stream
Which from endless torments Did the world redeem!

Abel’s blood for vengance Pleaded to the skies
But the blood of Jesus For our pardon cries

 Oft as earth exulting Wafts its praise on high,
Angel hosts rejoicing Make their glad reply.

 Lift we then our voices, Swell the mighty flood,
Louder still and louder Praise the precious blood.

Today we begin what has come to be known as Holy Week. About a quarter of the information we have about the life of Jesus here on earth has to do with the events of this week: His entry into Jerusalem, many of His parables, celebrating Passover with His disciples, the betrayal, the arrest, the trials, the beatings, the crucifixion and burial. All of this was part of the plan, the way He would pay for the sins of the world. We can remember all of this with a profound sense of awe and gratitude, and also with the joyful confidence that comes from knowing what happened on the third day. Jesus rose to conquer death not just for Himself, but for everyone who trusts in Him.

My devotional thoughts this week, just like the Sundays during Lent, will be guided by some of the great hymns of this season. I hope they will help you prepare to remember and rejoice as well.

Hosanna, loud hosanna, The little children sang;
Thro’ pillared court and Temple The lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, Who had blessed them, Close folded to His breast,
The children sang their praises, The simplest and the best.

 From Olivet they followed Mid an exultant crowd,
The victor palm branch waving And chanting clear and loud.
The Lord of men and angels Rode on in lowly state
Nor scorned that little children Should on His bidding wait.

 “Hosanna in the highest!” That ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer, The Lord of heav’n our King.
Oh, may we ever praise Him With heart and life and voice
And in His blissful presence Eternally rejoice!

If you have ever moved, you know it can be a stressful time. One of my daughters and her family are in the process of relocating to Texas. They have a nine-year old son and a three-year-old daughter. They sold or gave away a lot of their belongings in order to downsize the amount of things they would have to move. They reserved a U-Haul that would accommodate the things they were going to take with them.

They made all the preparations, but when they went to get the truck, it was not the size they had wanted. There was a mix-up and all they had available were smaller trucks. It took a couple of hours to find a combination of truck and trailer that would be large enough. When they finally headed back to the house to start loading, the emergency brakes on the trailer locked up and the tires started smoking. Our son-in-law was sitting on the side of the road with a empty moving truck, a disabled trailer, and our daughter was right behind him in her car with the two kids. You might be able to imagine the frustration level was very high at this point.

My wife and I had received multiple phone calls as this situation developed. When things reached their worst, our daughter was crying as she called us. I reminded her that Jesus was in control. Because she was on speaker, our grandson heard what I said. He chimed in, “That’s right mom! If Jesus could rise from the dead, He can certainly take care of this!”

To say I was a proud and happy grandpa at that point would be a gross understatement. That young man continues to amaze me. He is by no means an angel or perfect child, but his faith is strong and genuine and sincere. And he is not shy about bringing it up.

He knows, as I hope you do, too, that Jesus is His Savior. He believes that Jesus lived for him, died to pay for all his sins, and rose to give him victory over sin and death and the grave. He lives with that confidence.

How much would your life improve if you would face each day and each situation with this confidence: “If Jesus could rise from the dead, He can certainly take care of this!”

Lord, give us such a faith as this.

The sun was just coming up. The motorcycle cop turned on his flashing lights and followed the red pickup that ran through a stop sign. As he pulled up behind the slowing truck, he thought, “This guy is probably late for work.” Little did he know that this man had just robbed an all-night grocery store. The driver had his nervous hand on his gun, thinking, “the cop already knows.” The officer approached the driver’s side of the pickup and said, “Good morning sir. May I see your…” He didn’t get to finish the sentence. The driver stuck his arm out the window, the barrel of his gun two inches from the center of the officer’s chest. He was knocked to the ground seven feet away. For a moment, all was silent. Then, to the horror of the gunman, the officer stood up. He brushed himself off, then realized what had happened, drew his own revolver and fired two shots into the side of the pickup. One shattered the windshield. The other ripped into the robber’s leg. “Don’t shoot” he screamed, throwing his gun and money out the window.” How did it happen? The officer was saved because he was wearing his Kevlar vest. Only 3/8 of an inch thick, this Kevlar fabric layered together is strong enough to stop a bullet.

A few months later, another officer went to serve a search warrant on a well known drug dealer. As his partner knocked on the door, he yelled “Police” and started to kick down the door. From inside the apartment four slugs were fired through the door. One hit him the same place the motorcycle cop had been hit, right in the center of his chest. The bullet ruptured an artery and he died in less than a minute. He was 27 years old. He left behind a wife, three children, and a Kevlar bullet proof vest in the trunk of his car parked 30 feet from where he was shot.

Police officers believe in bullet proof vests. They work. It would be hard to find a cop that does not believe those vests save lives. But that is not enough. An officer must do more that believe in the vests. He must live out that belief. There must be personal commitment. He must be willing to wear that vest at all times.

The same is true for those who express faith in Jesus. We must live out that faith, taking it with us in every aspect of our lives. We dare not leave it behind as though we do not always need our Savior. If Christ does not go with you, you leave yourselves wide open to the attacks of the Devil, the World and your own corrupt nature. But if you clothe yourself with Christ, you are protected. Put on the risen Christ every day of your life. Let Him be the one that guides and directs and influences everything you say from this point onward.

A few years ago, someone shared with me a list of the “Top Ten Statements Your Pastor Would Like to Hear.” I modified and updated it a bit and share it with you now:

10. There is nothing that inspires me and strengthens my commitment to the Church like attending a Voter’s Meeting.

9. I was so enthralled by your sermon I didn’t even notice it was 20 minutes longer than usual

8. Personally, I find sharing my faith much more enjoyable than golf or fishing.

7. I wish our pastor wouldn’t spend so much time in the office!

6. Pastor, I’ve decided to give the church the $500 a month I used to spend on the Home Shopping Network.

5. I volunteer to be the permanent Sunday School Teacher for the Junior High Class. When can I start?

4. Your last Bible Class was great! When does the next one start?

3. I love it when we sing hymns and songs we’ve never sung before!

2. Pastor, we want to send you to that Bible seminar they are holding in Hawaii. You and your wife pack your bags.

1, Hey, it’s my turn to sit in the front pew!

Truth be told, I don’t want you to worry about what the Pastor wants to hear. Don’t worry about what your family and friends and coworkers want to hear. Ask yourself “What does Jesus want to hear?”

I asked that question over the years to those who were being confirmed in their faith. They would publicly say they believed in Jesus as their Savior from sin, that they would be faithful to Him, that they wanted Him to be the Lord and Master of their lives. That is exactly what Jesus wants to hear! And He wants us to strive to live in keeping with that declaration.

Lord Jesus, help us remember that You have already paid the price for our sins and earned our forgiveness. Help us to live according the promises we made in our confirmation vows. Forgive us for the times we fall short, and give us the joy of living in keeping with your will for us. Help us to match our actions to what we profess to believe.

 James Taylor sings a song that tells us to “Shower the people you love with love.” That sounds well and good, but it might also be understood in a wrong way, namely only loving the people who love you.  Jesus spoke about that in Luke 6.

Luke 6:27–36 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Simply loving those who love you is not what Jesus is after. He tells us to do a hard thing: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you. In other words, Jesus wants you to love everyone the way He loves everyone. Not just your family. Not just your friends. Not only those who are kind to you. Everyone. Love everyone completely. Shower EVERYONE with love. Don’t hold back or withhold it from anyone. Be loving to everyone with the kind of love God has shown to you.

As I said, that can be difficult. In fact, it is impossible for us. It goes against our natural tendencies. Some people are unlovable.

• How can you love someone who has hurt you terribly?
• How can you love a child molester?
• How can you love a terrorist who blows up innocent people?

That is tough stuff. What we need to remember is that God loves everyone.  Everyone. And He wants everyone to be saved by believing that Jesus has taken care of sin for us, allowing us to be forgiven for everything we have done wrong.

The Son willingly came to be one of us, to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45), and to be raised on Easter as your way to eternal life. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2: because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. . .consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household (4-5,19). Shower everyone with love.

You don’t do this in order to be saved. You show God’s love to everyone because you have been saved. Jesus did that for you. You respond by living the life to which Jesus has called you. Shower the people you love – which should be everyone – with love. The love of God in Christ.

Today I am travelling to Colorado to help my daughter’s family move to Texas. That includes my nine-year-old grandson and three-year-old granddaughter! Yesterday I read the news of three nine-year-olds being shot and killed at a school in Nashville, along with three adults. My eyes filled with tears as I prayed for the families impacted by this unspeakable tragedy. And I thought of the words from Jeremiah that are quoted by Matthew in his Gospel:

Jeremiah 31:15 This is what the Lord says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more.”

I will hug my children and grandchildren more tightly each time I see them. And the longer I live in this vale of tears, the more I understand and appreciate the lament, “How long, O Lord?”

Psalm 6:3 My soul is in anguish. How long, O Lord, how long?

Psalm 94:2–3 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. How long will the wicked, O Lord, how long will the wicked be jubilant?

Habakkuk 1:2 How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?

Revelation 6:10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”

We wonder how long, because we live in a fallen world. But we should remember that we, too, are the ones who are sinning. God could rightly ask, “How long will you continue to be disobedient?” Yes, living in this world of sin in terrible, but we contribute to the awfulness with our failure to follow God’s ways.

That is why we should appreciate just HOW LONG and deep and broad and high God’s love is for us, love that was determined to rescue the world from its deserved fate, love that would open heaven for those who believe in Jesus, love that will not let us go, even in the face of gut-wrenching events like school shootings. I found comfort in God’s promises recounted in this hymn:

Oh, love, how deep, how broad, how high,
Beyond all thought and fantasy,
That God, the son of God, should take
Our mortal form for mortal’s sake!

 For us by wickedness betrayed,
For us, in crown of thorns arrayed,
He bore the shameful cross and death;
For us he gave his dying breath.

 For us he rose from death again;
For us he went on high to reign;
For us he sent his Spirit here
To guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.

 All glory to our Lord and God
For love so deep, so high, so broad;
The Trinity whom we adore
Forever and forevermore.

(Lutheran Service Book #544, stanzas 1,5,6,7)

 Lord, have mercy. And thank you for having had mercy on us.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

You have probably heard and sung those words: It is well, it is well with my soul. Do those words accurately describe your attitude?  It is not always well with my soul and I know it is not always well with your soul You want your soul to feel well, but it is often in anguish!

A scan of headlines makes it worse. War in Ukraine. Human trafficking here at home. And if the border crisis wasn’t bad enough, throw fentanyl into the mix. Yet it is not just what is happening to others. You have had people gossip and lie about you. You have real problems in your life and family and relationships.  We all struggle with our personal demons. We have good reason to say, “It is NOT well with my soul!” Who wrote that hymn anyway?

In the 1800’s Horatio Spafford was a successful Chicago lawyer, a rich man with many real estate holdings. But wealth is fleeting and the great Chicago fire of 1871 wiped out much of Spafford’s wealth. He and his wife needed to get away and still had sufficient resources for a good vacation, so they planned a trip to Europe. When the time came to set out on their vacation, some last minute business detained Mr. Spafford. He sent his wife and four daughters ahead of him on the S.S. Ville Du Havre. On November 22 disaster struck. The Ville Du Havre was struck by an English ship and sank almost immediately. The four daughters were lost. Only Mrs. Spafford survived from their family. When Horatio sailed across the Atlantic to join his grieving wife, the captain called him to the bridge and reported that they were at the place where the Ville Du Havre had gone down. Can you imagine the feelings? I can’t, but shortly thereafter Spafford wrote his famous words.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way;  When sorrows, like sea billows, roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.

Difficult times can prove to be times of special blessing. I’m not suggesting that we should enjoy the difficult times. In such times you are experiencing first-hand your sinful mortality. However, when you’re getting “crucified,” you get a better appreciation for the One who really was crucified. Jesus Christ knows what you go through. He went through that and much more. He took your sins and the sins of those who sin against you, he took all sins upon Himself and paid for them to God. Our Christian faith is knowing that in spite of the problems here on earth, we are promised glory with our Lord in heaven. Someday in glory “God will wipe away every tear our eyes” (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 7:17). In spite of the cares of this world, it can indeed be well with your soul!

Think about that as you look at the rest of Mr. Spafford’s hymn.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
A song in the night, oh my soul!

Another powerful Lenten Hymn to guide your thoughts this Sunday.

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, See Him dying on the tree!
‘Tis the Christ by man rejected; Yes, my soul, ’tis He, ’tis He!
‘Tis the long expected Prophet, David’s Son, yet David’s Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it: ‘Tis the true and faithful Word.

Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning, Was there ever grief like His?
Friends thro’ fear His cause disowning, Foes insulting His distress;
Many hands were raised to wound Him, None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him Was the stroke that Justice gave.

Ye who think of Him but lightly Nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly, Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed, See who bears the awful load;
‘Tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed, Son of Man and Son of God.

 Here we have a firm foundation, Here the refuge of the lost;
Christ’s the Rock of our salvation, His the name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded, sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded Who on Him their hope have built.

(The Lutheran Hymnal #153)

Our God is an awesome God!

You already know that, I’m sure, but I had more evidence of that in my life this week. My cataract surgery on my left eye, my “good eye,” went very smoothly. The follow-up visit yesterday morning confirmed everything was just as it should be. A lot of healing still needs to take place, but I am grateful to God for the results of the surgery.

Right now, the biggest adjustment for me is that after more than 35 years of being near-sighted, I now see clearly far away but cannot read my computer screen or phone without some help. My right eye needs about a 10x magnification to be able to read, which is impractical, but a 2.5x pair of “readers” is enough to let me read with my left eye. I was told my near vision will improve somewhat over the next month, so we will wait and see (Pun intended).

Thanks for all the prayers. I felt your love and support. When I asked my surgeon if I could pray with him before he started, he said, “I’d love to! In fact, let me say the prayer.” It was wonderful to hear this young man that I have known for most of his life voice his faith and confidence in our loving God and ask His blessing on the procedure.

The day of my surgery I shared part of Psalm 31 with you. I’m sharing a bit more of that Psalm today, the first 5 verses.

Psalm 31:1-5  1 In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. 2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! 3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; 4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. (ESV)

Our awesome God is my Rock and Fortress. I know He has redeemed me from sin and death. I thank him for preserving my physical vision, and I will try to keep my eyes focused on Him.