sacrifice and stoning

Good morning brothers and sisters,
On this Palm Sunday morning we welcome our Lord Jesus into the city of Jerusalem as king and redeemer of Israel. Our telling of this story from Luke (our second reading, especially for those who can't join in worship today) features loud crowds of disciples singing praise to God. The donkey Jesus rides in on is a royal symbol, thanks to a prophesy from Zechariah (9:9) that foretold the King of Israel riding in on a donkey. Neither Jesus nor the disciples nor the Pharisees missed what Jesus was saying by allowing (in fact organizing) a parade like this. Jesus is king and Lord; our job is to follow him with faith and joy.

Our first reading from Acts this morning continues the story of Paul and Barnabas in Lystra. If you remember from yesterday the crowd was starting to sacrifice animals to Paul and Barnabas because they thought they were gods after seeing Paul heal a man. Paul and Barnabas are horrified at the thought of being worshiped in place of the God they serve and they manage to stop the crowd and proclaim the truth.

This striking influence doesn't mean the opposition to their word is over; on the contrary a crowd opposed to them stones Paul and leaves him for dead outside the city. Fortunately, Paul isn't dead and he and Barnabas continue their journey eventually returning to Antioch where this journey had begun. They share their joyful journey, especially the new faith of the gentiles with the church in Antioch. Praise God for the ministry of faithful servants across history who have brought us to the opportunities in ministry we have today.

Palm Sunday blessings,
Sam


Acts 14:14-28

14When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 15“Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; 17yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.” 18Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
19But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20But when the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the city. The next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, then on to Iconium and Antioch. 22There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.

24Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed. 27When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. 28And they stayed there with the disciples for some time.


*Palm Sunday Luke 19:28-40
28After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it'" 32So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34They said, "The Lord needs it." 35Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38saying,
"Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
And glory in the highest heaven!"

39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop." 40He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."