Jesus saddles up...

Verse for the week: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Mark 13.31

Prayer for the week:  O Lord, teach us how to pray.  Direct the lives of you servants toward the goal of everlasting salvation, that, surrounded by all the changes and uncertainties of life, we may be defended by your gracious and ready help in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  (adapted from Lutheran Book of Worship, Minister’s Desk edition, p.113.)

Bible reading for the day:  Mark 11.1-11 (note: the word “hosanna” means “Lord, save us!”)

 ¹ Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples ² and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. ³ If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” ⁴ And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. ⁵ And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” ⁶ And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. ⁷ And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. ⁸ And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.⁹ And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! ¹⁰ Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

¹¹ And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Prayer (based on TRIP** method):  Gracious and almighty Father, thank you: your Son turned not away but in order to save us saddled up and road right into where he knew he would find hell’s dull fires burning. Thank you! Repent me and my congregation of our pride that would rather save ourselves than call on you. Daily, hourly, grant us the faith that cries out “Hosanna!” …and welcomes your help and salvation, your coming kingdom above ours. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Hymn: sing or read these verses from the hymn “Savior of the Nations Come”

Savior of the nations, come;

Show the glory of the Son!

Every people stand in awe;

Praise the perfect Son of God.

God the Father is his source,

Back to God he runs his course;

Down to death and hell descends,

God’s high throne he re-ascends.

He leaves heaven to return;

Trav’ling where dull hellfires burn;

Riding out, returning home

As the Savior who has come

God the Father’s precious Son

Girds himself in flesh to run

For the trophies of our souls,

Longer than this round earth roles.

“Thy kingdom come…”

What does this mean?  

The kingdom of God comes indeed by itself, without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may also come to us.

How is this done?

God's kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy Word and live a godly life now and in eternity. (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

Benediction:  Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21) 

*There are many patterns for devotions.  This pattern has been followed by God’s people for centuries.

**The T.R.I.P. approach to prayer is based on the way Martin Luther prayed and taught others to pray.  It was later developed by Walter and Ingrid Trobisch and then adapted by Mount Carmel Ministries (Alexandria, MN www.dailytext.com).  The method is founded on scripture and easy to remember:                                                                                        T: thanksgiving

                                                          R: repentance

                                                          I: intercession (asking God to take a specific action)

                                                          P: plan or purpose

Reading a biblical text and then applying this method gives one a sound, simple way to form one’s prayers...not to mention that it helps one learn how to faithfully reflect on God’s Word and talk to God.