The Journey to the Cross - Week 6
This week we continue our journey aboard the Easter Express through the gospel of Mark. Are you ready to dive back into the Bible with us? Don’t forget there are also tasks and craft ideas to complete in your activity book on the theme of this week as well as the devotionals Mon - Fri. If you haven’t got hard copies of these, you can download them here.
Palm Sunday: Jesus’ Unexpected Arrival
Happy Palm Sunday!
Today is a very special day in Jesus’ journey leading up to Easter. Last week we learned all about Jesus’ revealing His true self to His Disciples by way of the Transfiguration. We learned how Jesus came to save the world and is our King.
In today’s passage, Jesus reveals himself to the people of Jerusalem in a very unique way. He decides to ride into town in a very, er, interesting manner.
What type of transportation do you think a King would have? A limo? A chariot?
Well let's read the bible to find out what Jesus chose…
Let’s read the bible…
Here’s the bible passage from the book of Mark that features Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem.
I wonder if you can find it in your own bibles? Mark 11:1-11 (NIV)
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt [a young donkey] tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. IIf anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Let’s worship
Okay, we are going to pause our story of Jesus riding in on the donkey and worship our King! Just like the people in the bible who recognised who Jesus was, despite His curious arrival, they cheered, worshipped and praised Him. Let us do the same right now! Let’s worship our King!
Let’s roll out the red carpet…
Have you ever seen or head of the Oscar’s on TV? It’s where big movie stars, directors and producers win awards for their work in films. There is a long fluffy red carpet that only the important celebrities get to walk on and lots of photographers are there to snap their arrival and fans cheer and shout.
Jesus’ arrival at the city of Jerusalem was just like that. It was such a special moment where the people got to honour and Praise Him for who He was. Our Saviour and King. It was basically the equivalent of our red carpet premieres today!
Watch this video below where Annabelle tells us more about the ‘Red Carpet’ of bible times.
Wow! What a cool video showing us all the ways that Jesus was honoured. We call this Sunday ‘Palm Sunday’ because the people laid out so many palm branches on the ground to pave a way for Jesus’ arrival and they waved them in the air like flags in an act of celebration. It really is inspiring all the ways they honoured Jesus and took the time out of their day to make sure He knew how important He was to them.
But you know, we don’t have to be able to physically see Jesus as a man to show Him how important He is to us. Just because we can’t see Jesus, it doesn’t mean He’s not here. Actually, Jesus is here right now. RIGHT NOW! Jesus is always with you! And if Jesus is always with you, what should we always be doing? We need to show Him how special and important He really is. Now, that doesn’t mean we need to drag a red carpet with us everywhere but there is one HUGE thing the people of Jerusalem did that we can do too.
They took time out of their day so they could spend it with Jesus. Is that something we can do? Of course we can! It doesn’t have to be huge or fancy like the green carpet into the city. That’s not what’s important to Jesus. We just need to show Jesus how important He really is. He just wants to spend that time with you. It’s that easy. So let’s try it! Just one time this week, let’s turn off the TV and read a Bible story instead. Or chat to him in prayer. All together we can show Jesus just how important He really is to us.
Let’s get crafty
Our very own Katy has made a fab ‘how to’ video to show you how to make a peg leg donkey. You can also find the instructions for this as well as the templates that you’ll need in your Journey to Kings Cross activity book.
Here are a couple of other Palm Sunday craft activities you could try.
Let’s watch even more
Here is some more brilliant video content that brings to life this part of Mark’s gospel and Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The Lumo and Got Questions content is for older children and the cartoon films are for younger children.
Let’s pray
Let’s take some time now to be still with God before we pray. I find it helps if I bow my head and close my eyes so I don’t get distracted.
Dear Jesus,
Please show us how to welcome you into our lives as you were welcomed into Jerusalem.
Help us to invite you into our everyday lives as a testament to how important you are to us.
We worship you today and say “Hosanna”.
You are King!
Amen.
