Description
Mark 14:1-15:47
Palm Sunday, or Passion Sunday as it is sometimes known, is a combination of polar opposite events in the life of Jesus Christ. We commemorate his triumphant entry into Jerusalem (often with palms), and we re-present his bodily demise in The Passion. A mountain peak and a rock-bottom. Yet, the subtext of both events is the meekness of Jesus. Meekness, within the context of The Passion, is submission to the Will of God. We enter into The Passion with Christ every year. In this passage of Mark’s Gospel he details the last hours of Jesus’ earthly life. Mark takes his readers from Jesus’ anointing at Bethany, to the celebration of the Passover with his disciples (the Last Supper), to Jesus’ betrayal, trial, and crucifixion. Jesus on the cross, the ultimate picture of suffering, beaten, abandoned, dying in what was meant to be disgrace, cries out and breathes his last. It’s all over. What we see in Jesus’ death by earthly standards is a miserable defeat. But, seen through the lens of Heaven, we see a much different picture – his death is actually the power of God triumphing over the power of sin and death once and for all. We mourn now, but we know that His is the victory. We know that this is not the end, but the seed of a beautiful and glorious beginning for our reigning God and those who believe in Him. May we grow closer to our Lord through the suffering to which he submitted Himself to be closer to us.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Pastor / Worship Leader
Good morning and thank you for joining us today for worship – it is good to have you with us. We hope and pray that today each of you experience the love and grace of Jesus Christ and know the peace and joy that comes from him.
Time of Praise and Worship
Blessed is He Who Comes
Michael Neale | Paul Wilbur | Steve Merkel, © Integrity Worship Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG (Integrity Music, David C Cook)) Integrity’s Praise! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook))
The Lion and the Lamb
Brenton Brown, Brian Johnson, Leeland Mooring, © 2015 Meaux Mercy (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) The Devil Is A Liar! Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Bethel Music Publishing
Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)
Paul Baloche & Brenton Brown, ©2005 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
[Traditional Options]
All Glory, Laud, and Honor
BH 91, 126; CH 300; EH 154, 155; ELW 344; HWC 173; HFG 249: HLC 131; LBW 108; LSB 442; LW 102; NCH 216; PH 88; RH 155; UMH 280; WC 204; WR 265
Lord Of Glory, You Have Bought Us
ELW 707; LBW 424; LW 402; LSB 851
Ride On, Ride On In Majesty
CHH 191; EH 156; ELW 346; HLC 132; LBW 121; LSB 441; LW 105; NCH 215; PH 90,91; WC 205; WAR 268; WIS 120
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
O God, who by the Passion of Christ your Son, our Lord, abolished the death inherited from ancient sin by every succeeding generation, grant that just as, being conformed to him, we have borne by the law of nature the image of the man of earth, so by the sanctification of grace we may bear the image of the Man of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
Worshipers
Amen.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Your Word reveals to us a simple truth, that sin entered this world through human folly in believing we could be like you, and it permeated history through envy, selfishness, and greed. It was because of this that you suffered and died on the cross. Yet sin, which holds us tight within its grasp, cannot contend with lives that have been covered by the blood of the lamb, Jesus Christ. Your Word reveals to us a simple truth, that sin was defeated on the cross and we can become the people we were always meant to be, by your grace through Jesus Christ.
Worshipers
Your love poured into the heart of Jesus who endured the nails of our sin, defeated death to rise again and causes our hearts to sing Hallelujah! Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Gracious God, We remember with sorrow how people hailed and welcomed your Son on the day we have come to call Palm Sunday, and how so many of the same people were there again, just a few days later, shouting “Crucify him!” We confess that we feel a guilty, uneasy kinship with these people. Our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open us to a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image; through Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
Worshipers
Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ; have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Friends believe the good news of the Gospel.
Worshipers
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Zech. 9:9-12
Zechariah prophesies here about the triumphal entry of the long awaited King. But Zecheriah does not show the picture one might expect, a powerful man riding a war horse, sword in hand, mighty and great. Instead, he paints a picture of a humble king, riding a donkey and bringing peace and hope to the nations.
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. 12 Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you..
