Sunday’s Sermon: Palm Sunday People

4.5.20

Palm Sunday People
Sermon by: Rev. Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff
Sermon 4.5.20

Luke 19:28-40

28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[a

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”


Father God, today is Palm Sunday, a day when Christians all around the world celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  On that amazing day so many years ago, hundreds, if not thousands proclaimed Christ as Lord and King.  And yet only a few days later, many of those same people who were shouting “Hallelujah” on Palm Sunday were shouting “Crucify Him”. 

Lord, every one of us can identify with that crowd.  For there have been times when we too, have proclaimed Christ as Lord and King and then denied Him when the chips were down.  Sometimes we have done those things in small ways – like not praying to You in public and sometimes in bigger ways, like breaking one of the Ten Commandments. 

God, please forgive us for those times and please forgive us for all we have done and not done that displeases You.  Also, Lord, please give us the spiritual strength to stand up for King Jesus, even when the going gets tough.  Remind us that the gate is narrow and the path we Christians must walk is often difficult.  Yet, it’s nothing compared to the glory we shall receive at the end of our journey. 

Between now and then, please lead us to pray more often, to read Your Word more often, to worship You more often and to repent more often.

God of Mercy, please bless the more than a million people who have contracted the coronavirus around the world.  Comfort those whose loved ones have died.  Bring peace to those living with uncertainty after perhaps being exposed to the virus.  Give patience to those who are quarantined and unable to move freely in their communities. Protect your children from catching this deadly virus.  Please protect those who are a part of this church, those we know and love, and please strengthen those who are risking their own lives to care for sick patients.

Now bless, we pray, our friends and loved ones who are in need (2 minutes praying for those people God has put on our hearts)… 

May Your grace, which is sufficient for their every need overflow in each of their lives, and may Your peace which transcends all understanding fill them through and through in Your Holy Spirit.

All this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 
And together pray as He taught us to pray: 

“Our Father, Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the Glory Forever.  Amen. ”

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