Holy Week: Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020

Read Luke 19:41-48

The Gospel of Luke makes nice bookends for our meditations.  We heard from Luke on Ash Wednesday, and as we begin the Passion Week we hear from the good physician once again.  Luke is the only one of the four Gospel writers to record our Lord weeping over Jerusalem.  Jesus wept “because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

St. John tells us in the prologue of his Gospel, that “the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (1:14).  And Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).  “Thy Word is Truth” (John 17:17). The Word of Truth came to His own, and His own received Him not (John 1:11).  It broke the heart of the Lord.  He knew what their rejection of Him would mean.  Jesus wept.

As we enter the events of this Holy Week, what are the things that break your heart?  Are they the things that break the heart of God, or are they the more selfish things, things that we want but cannot have for ourselves?  As we look at our city and those who live here, what is our response?  Do we weep for those who do not know God?  Is our heart broken with the things that break the heart of God?

Mark has shown us through the action sequences, the parables, and the teachings of Jesus, how our Lord has brought restoration and redemption to all who turn to Him in faith.  Now, as we move with Mark from these early chapters into the Passion of our Lord, we make the transition with him from personal redemption to our Lord’s sacrifice for the salvation of all mankind.

Jesus is standing on the Mount of Olives.  He is gazing at the east gate of Jerusalem.  He knows what is ahead.  He has accurately predicted His Passion.  Will you go with Him now?  To Calvary?