28 March - Jesus the Lord: Humble and riding a donkey.

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28 March, 2021

Jesus's entry into Jerusalem is recorded in all four gospels and marks the beginning of Easter week.  


READ: Mark 11:1-11 

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then 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, 

“Hosanna! 

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 

Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! 

Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 

Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.  


 DISCUSS 

  1. How has your week been?  
  2. How have you seen God at work in your life this week? 
  3. Read the passage again.  
  4. What does this passage tell us about Jesus? 
  5. What does this passage tell us about the Father? 
  6. What does it tell us about our relationship with Him? 
  7. What is challenging in this passage? 
  8. Is there anything else the passage is saying to me? 
  9. What am I going to do about it? 
  10.  Who am I going to share it with? 
  11.  Be prepared to share back next week. 


PRAY 

Let us pray 


Lord Jesus Christ, we praise you with heart and life and voice, not only with outward signs such as palm branches or the occasional “Hosanna”, but with lives truly turned towards you. It seems such a distance from this Palm Sunday in Australia to that day when you entered Jerusalem with the shouts of the crowd ringing in your ears. Welcomed as a king, yet riding on a lowly donkey. Greeted with cheers and acclamations that were so soon to turn to jeers and condemnation. From this side of the resurrection, we confidently believe that we could never have been part of the jeering crowd - but would we, if we had been there? 

silent reflection  

Lord Jesus Christ, when our words and actions reflect a reluctance to confess you publicly as Lord of our lives: 

   Forgive us. 

When we fear that humbling ourselves, would be seen by others as weakness, some kind of defect in our character: 

    Forgive us.                 

When we have betrayed your love for us through our lack of love for you, for others, and for ourselves: 

    Forgive us.                 

When we find ourselves glossing over the events of your passion and death because we look forward to Easter as a time to enjoy holidays and have fun. 

   Forgive us.                  

 Lord Jesus Christ, fix your mind in us;  

   remake us in your likeness; 

empty us of all that hinders us from following you to where pain and suffering, exploitation and injustice exist. 

Gracious and loving God, empower us with the Holy Spirit so that our lives continually glorify you and 

   our tongues forever confess Jesus as Lord.  

This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen  




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See the attached document that outlines the various stations for the prayer service this week.

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10 April 2022

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WALK THROUGH HOLY WEEK

Prayer Stations Aim:

To enable people to engage with the last week of Jesus’ life on earth in a multi-sensory way

Biblical Reference(s):

Matthew 6:21, 20:28, 21:8-10, 26:6-7, 26:12, 26:14-16, 26:36-39, 26:57, 26:59-60, 27:15-17,

27:21b, 27:26b-31, 27:32-34, 27:37-38, 27:51-52a, 27:54, 27:57-60, Luke 23:21, Luke 23:34, John

13:1, 13:3-5, 13:14-15, 14:6, 20:1-2, 20:18, 20:19-20, Galatians 5:1, Isaiah 53:5

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Outline of Prayer Stations

Station 1: Hosanna to the King

Station 2: Mary and Judas

Station 3: The Servant King

Station 4: Not my will but Yours be done

Station 5: Jesus in Chains

Station 6: Jesus Suffers

Station 7: The Cross

Station 8: Dead and Buried

Station 9: Jesus is Alive

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

1. Hosanna to the King!

Our journey to the cross begins as Jesus entered Jerusalem, riding on a donkey.

“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

(Matthew 21:8-10)

The people hoped that Jesus had come as their conquering king to kick out the occupying Romans. A few days later, because Jesus didn’t fulfil their expectations, the same people shouted: “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

(Luke 23:21)

i) Look at the palm leaves on one side of the table and the palm crosseson the other side of the table. As you look at these symbols of love and hate, think about your own relationships. Can you be fickle; loving one moment and not the next?

ii) Jesus, the King, invites each one of us to faithfully follow Him. If you would like to respond to His invitation, take the first letter of your name from the basket, and stick it on the paper as you pray something like:

“Jesus, You are King.

Help me to faithfully follow You. Amen.”

2. Mary and Judas

“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman (Mary) came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.”

(Matthew 26:6-7)

Jesus said to those in the room: “When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.” (Matthew 26:12)

“Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on

Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” (Matthew 26:14-16)

i) Jesus said: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) Mary and Judas show us how true that is…..one loved Jesus and the other loved money. As you smell the fragrant oil and look at the silver coins ask yourself the question:

“Who or what do I love the most?”

ii) If you would like to, take a heart and on it write a prayer asking Jesusto become your greatest treasure, and then place it in the treasurebox.

3.

The Servant King

“It was just before the Passover Feast……Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (John 13:1, 3-5)

Jesus said to His disciples: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:14-15)

i) Jesus’ greatest act of service was to lay down His life so that dirty lives, rather than dirty feet, could be washed clean. As you look at the bread and the wine, symbolic of His body and blood given for you, thank Jesus for the incredible way that He has served you.

ii) Who is Jesus inviting you to serve? Whose “feet” can you wash? Wash your hands in the water as a way of offering your hands in service to Jesus.

4.

Not my will but Yours be done “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little

farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:36-39)

After Jesus had prayed, Judas appeared in the garden with a crowd, armed with swords and clubs, and Jesus was arrested.

i) Jesus was willing to drink the cup of suffering in obedience to His Heavenly Father. Dip your finger into the little cup with wine vinegar and taste it. As you taste its bitterness, think about the agonising decision Jesus had to make in the garden; whether to obey HisHeavenly Father or not.

ii) Do you have any difficult decisions that you need to make? Can you pray, “yet not what I will, but what You will Lord”? Now drop your little cup into the bin provided.

iii) Pray for anyone you know today who has a difficult decision to make.

5.

Jesus in chains “Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders hadassembled................................................................ The

chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence

against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.” (Matthew 26:57, 59-60)

Jesus was then bound and taken to the Roman governor Pilate who questioned Him and also found that that He had done nothing wrong.

“Now it was the governor's custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or

Jesus who is called the Messiah?”............. “Barabbas,” they answered”

(Matthew 27:15-17, 21b)

i) Feel the coldness and the hardness of the large chain and thinkabout how shocking it is that Jesus, God’s Son, was willing to surrender His freedom.

ii) Jesus took Barabbas’ place. He gave up His freedom, and Barabbas was set free. Jesus has taken our place too, giving up His freedom so that we can be set free from the invisible chains of our sins. Take a piece of playdough and mould it into a symbol that expresses freedom. As you lay it on the tray, thank Jesus for the freedom He has givenYou.

6. Jesus suffers

“Pilate had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.

After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.”

(Matthew 27:26b-31)

i) As you look at the crown of thorns, the nails and the scarlet robe, and touch the sharpness of the thorns in the basket, think about the suffering that Jesus was willing to go through for you. Jesus suffered not because of His own sins, but because of your sins.

ii) Even though Jesus suffered so greatly He never stopped loving the people He came to save. As you light a candle thank Jesus that His love for you is so great.

7. The Cross

[A picture containing curtain, indoor, rack

Description automatically generated]“As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it…….Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.” (Matthew 27:32-34, 37-38)

After Jesus had hung on the cross for six hours, Jesus gave up his spirit. “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open……

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”” (Matthew 27:51—52a, 54)

i) Jesus died on the cross so that your sins might be forgiven and so that you can have a restored relationship with your holy, Heavenly Father. Take a piece of red wool. Think about the sins that you have committed and now want to turn away from. When you are ready, lay the piece of wool on the cross symbolising the fact that the punishment for your sins has been paid for by Jesus.

ii) Take a piece of white wool from the cross – and receive God’s forgiveness. Hear Jesus say to you: “Your sins are forgiven. Go inpeace”

iii) As Jesus was hanging on the cross He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Sometimes we need to forgive other people when they have sinned against us. Pick up a tack and as you feel its sharpness, let it remind you of someone who has hurt you and who you need to forgive. As you choose to forgive that person, pray a prayer of forgiveness then lay the tack at the foot of the cross.

8.

Dead and Buried “As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.”

(Matthew 27:57-60)

i) It is hard to imagine how devastated Jesus’ disciples were after Jesushad died. Spend a moment thinking how they must have felt, believing that they would never see Jesus again.

ii) If you would like to, sprinkle a few drops of water (containing myrrh) onto the body and smell the “stench of death.” Use the hand-wipes to clean your fingers.

9. Jesus is alive!

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!”” (John 20:1-2)

Peter and John looked inside the tomb and found that Jesus had gone but the strips of linen that had been wrapped around His body were still there. The disciples left but Mary stayed by the tomb weeping. Jesus appeared to Mary and said: “Mary.” After Jesus had spoken with her, Mary went to the disciples and said: “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18)

“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood am-ong them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:19-20)

Over 500 people saw the risen Jesus over the next 40 days before He went back to be with His Father in heaven.

i) Death could not hold Jesus. He is alive! Jesus’ resurrection proves that He is who He said He is; the Son of God who came to be our Saviour. Take a chocolate egg and as you eat it, thank your Heavenly Father for His goodness in sending Jesus for you.

ii) Heaven’s door is now unlocked and open wide to all those who believe and trust in Jesus. We are offered the gift of eternal life. Pick up a key and as you hold it, thank Jesus for opening the door to eternal life that begins here and continues when one day He will raise us to be with Him forever.

iii) As you lay your key on the tray, ask Jesus to help you to keep following Him day by day.

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27 March 2022

27 March, 2022 Nathan Robertson

READ

Bible Reading (NRSV): Acts 12:6-19

6 The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. 11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

12 As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. 13 When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. 14 On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16 Meanwhile Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed. 17 He motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and described for them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he added, “Tell this to James and to the believers.” Then he left and went to another place.

18 When morning came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

DISCUSS

1. How has your week been?

2. How have you seen God at work in your life this week?

3. Read the passages again.

4. Summarize what happened in your own words.

5. What does the passage tell us about God?

6. What does the passage tell us about followers of Jesus?

7. What does the passage tell us about prayer?

8. What is challenging in this passage?

9. Is there anything else the passage is saying to me?

10.What am I going to do about it?

11. Who am I going to share it with?

12. Be prepared to share back next week.

PRAY

Lord Jesus, teach me how to trust and pray in all circumstances. Help me to be more consistent in prayer and to trust you more and more. Lord teach me to pray. Amen

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