Beloved in the Lord,  We've been looking at the final hours of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark.  This week we celebrate Palm Sunday, the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  We will read from Luke's Gospel, and the sobering words of Jesus in response to the Pharisees for their unbelief.   The Triumphal Entry Luke 19:28-44 28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he

Mark 15:1-15 Beloved,  As we follow Jesus to the cross, we see the path of injustice, and scapegoating he had to endure.  And we see how much this reveals about God's mercy and steadfast love for us.  Look to Jesus our Savior! 15      Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. 2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “Ye

Beloved,  as we go through the sacred account of the final hours of Jesus before he is sacrificed, he is showing us the gospel as he claims himself to be the good news of salvation.  Let us look to Jesus as the author and perfecter of the faith we've been given.   Mark 14:53-65 53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There h

Beloved, we are looking at the final hours of Jesus before the cross.  This week we will look at his arrest and how Jesus remains faithful to his mission while everyone abandons him.   Mark 14:43-52   43  Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him an

Brothers and Sisters,  We are going to spend some time in the Lent season walking with Jesus in the last hours of his life and ministry before he goes to the cross. Jesus teaches us all the way through life, sacrifice, death and resurrection how to follow him in this life.  May we listen together as we are his holy people.    Mark 14:32-41 32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John alon