“Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”
“Alas! and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die! Would he devote that sacred head for sinners such as I? Was it for crimes that I have done, he groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree! Well might the sun in darkness hide, and shut its glories in, when God, the mighty maker, died for his own creature’s sin. Thus might I hide my blushing face while his dear cross appears; dissolve my heart in thankfulness, and melt mine eyes to tears. But drops of tears can ne’er repay the debt of love I owe. Here, Lord, I give myself away; ’tis all that I can do. At the cross at the cross where I first saw the light and the burden of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day.” Thank you, Lord!
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. John 13:14
Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Praise the Lord!
“We have heard the joyful sound, Jesus saves! Spread the tidings all around, Jesus saves! Bear the news to every land, climb the steeps and cross the waves, onward! ‘This is our Lord’s command, Jesus saves! Jesus saves!”
Lord, there are still so many who have never heard the joyful sound, that Jesus saves. “Let us pray therefore, for all those who have never received the gospel of Christ, for those who have never heard the word of salvation, for those who have lost their faith, for those hardened by sin or indifference, for the contemptuous and the scornful, for those who are enemies of the cross of Christ; that God will open their hearts to the truth and lead them to faith and obedience.” All this we ask in thy precious name. Amen.
All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! Numbers 14:2
“And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them? But they continued to sin against Him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High. They disobeyed Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert.”
Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.” Hebrews 3:5
“For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. Therefore, today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? For we have come to share in Christ, if we hold firmly to the end, the assurance we had at first.”
I will send a messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way. A voice of one calling in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Mark 1:2-3
Palm Sunday – Jesus comes to Jerusalem as King. As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt by her, untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet. Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See your King comes to you, gentle and riding on donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the palm 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 come 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?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the Prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. Matthew 21:1-11
For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
Break forth into joy, sing together, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem, the Lord has made bare his holy arm, and all the ends of the earth shall see, the salvation of our God. Isaiah 52:9-10
See, I have taken out of your hand the cup of trembling, the dregs of the cup of my fury, you shall no longer drink it, but I will put it in the hands of those who afflict you. Isaiah 51:22-23
“You who bear the vessels of the Lord, you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel shall be your rear guard.”
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help, my help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121
“The Lord is your keeper, the Lord is your shade at your right hand, the sun shall not strike you by day not the moon by might, the Lord shall preserve you from all evil, he shall preserve your soul, the Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in, from this time forth and even for every more.”
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. John 14:27
Dear God, there is so much anxiety in the world, so much to cause us fear; but you have reminded us, that we should accept the peace that you give to us, and not let our hearts be troubled. Therefore, today we will cast all of our anxieties on you, and we will not be afraid; for when we are weak you are strong, and we will draw on your strength. Thank you, Lord, for your protection, and keep us in your care. All this we ask in your precious name. Amen!