pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: celebrate


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The Parade

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday.  Many children in many churches will parade into places of worship waving palm branches and singing songs.  It will be festive.  It will be joyful.  It will be like a good parade.

Parades usually accompany a special holiday or a special event.  It can range from a holiday like St. Patrick’s Day to an event like winning a big championship.  Parades are a celebration of something or someone.  The folks along the route cheer, encourage, and support those in the parade.  The folks in the parade wave, smile, thank people for coming, and maybe pass out candy.

On that first Palm Sunday, there certainly was a parade, although it was kind of an accidental parade.  The Jewish people were gathered to celebrate the Passover, a remembrance of great significance in the Jewish faith.  The spontaneous parade that broke out was for this prophet Jesus.  He too was born and raised a Jew so many in the crowd would assume He was also coming to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.  And partly He was.  Even the disciples and followers who went along with Jesus did not really know what was about to unfold in the week ahead.

As Jesus rode along He must have smiled and waved to the crowd – you know, the parade wave.  Upon entering the city He went to the temple.  He took it all in and then went out to Bethany for the night.  He would return to the temple the next day, but, for now, He was just observing.

For us, Palm Sunday is a little like that.  We see and observe but know what is coming too.  Tomorrow may we celebrate with Jesus, the King.  May we be a part of the parade and may we celebrate His willingness to walk into the week ahead.

Scripture reference: Mark 11: 8-11 and 15-18


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Celebrate and Share

John the Baptist seemed to be focused in on one thing: repent of your sins.  Many people came to John to confess their sins and to be baptized with water.  But John also had a much bigger picture in mind.  His mission had much more to do with the “why” of people needing to repent.  John knew Jesus was about to change the world forever and he knew people’s hearts had to be right to accept Christ.

It is fitting to find this scripture and its message at the start of Advent.  In Advent we look forward with anticipation as we say, “Jesus is coming!”  The same feeling to need to be prepared for celebrating Christ’s birth is a part of our waiting.  We need to be at our ‘best’ to welcome into the world this newborn King.  He needs to find us ready.

So John’s message to repent calls out to us too.  In this challenging time of year where the world says to buy more, be busier, live it up, celebrate the presents – John says to slow down, focus in on Christ, repent of sin, prepare for the coming gift of Christ.  This gift comes bearing hope, peace, joy, and love.  He comes bringing justice, forgiveness, and inclusion.  May we be in Advent a vessel that is clean and full of all that Christ has to offer.  May we celebrate the gifts of Christ and share them with a world so in need.

Scripture reference: Mark 1: 1-8