Mark 11:1-25
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Jesus Enters Jerusalem audio (3MB)
I wonder how many of you were around for the opening of Parliament house in 1988. We were living in Canberra at the time so it was a big event for us. The weekend before we took part in a prayer walk around the Parliament House hill with thousands of other Christians, but the big event was the arrival of the queen to do the opening. People flocked to Parliament house to get a look at her. Schools took their students along – in fact our daughter Katherine was in the front of the crowd and was able to give her a rose as she went by. That really impressed her grandparents!
Well that’s a bit like what it must have been like when Jesus entered Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday. The city was buzzing. The word had got around. Jesus, the great teacher and healer was coming to Jerusalem, despite the danger from the Jewish leaders. Word was that he'd even been talking about death, predicting that he was going to be crucified, and saying that people had to be willing to take up their cross if they wanted to follow him. Yet at the same time he was still teaching and healing people and he was still arguing with the Pharisees.
So when Jesus came to the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem, the crowds were ready. When he appeared at the gates of Jerusalem riding a donkey they got really excited. They took off their cloaks and threw them on the ground in front of him. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. They started crying out "Hosanna". That is "God save you". Just like her loyal subjects saying "God save the Queen" at Parliament house that day. And then they added "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" They clearly recognised that here was an important figure, someone to be revered.
Mark 10:32-52
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Jerusalem Looms Ahead audio (5MB)
I got a new pair of glasses this week. Not my everyday glasses. These are ones that are made so I can see what's on my computer screen without ending up with a cricked neck. They're fantastic. They make the characters on the screen look perfectly in focus. They just have one drawback. If I forget to change them over when I leave the office I can't see anything clearly unless it's right in front of me. It's not that I'm totally blind. It's just that I can't see clearly.
Of course being unable to see things clearly doesn't just apply to physical sight, does it? There's an even worse affliction of sight that some people suffer from. That's the sort of blurred vision that comes from prejudice or from unthinking acceptance of a particular set of presuppositions or perhaps from listening to too much talk back radio. For example it's the sort of blindness that might prevent us from understanding the various issues in the debate over asylum seekers. It's the sort of blindness that leads some people to suggest that the Churches have no right to speak out about social issues.
Mark 10:13-31
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
The Key to Gaining the Kingdom audio (3MB)
I was at a local clergy gathering last week and the subject of children's ministry came up. One of the other ministers there commented that they'd had people complain that the children made too much noise. I'm afraid I had to admit that I too had heard the same complaint at St Theo's a number of years ago.
Of course it's true, isn't it? Children these days are much too noisy! And undisciplined! And disrespectful of their elders! It wasn't like that in my day! When I was a child we were perfectly behaved, as you can imagine!
I mean, everyone knows that children should be seen and not heard? Don't they?
Well, as George pointed out earlier, Jesus has something to say about that in today's reading. The disciples clearly thought that children should be ignored. They were a bit like Lucy in this Peanuts cartoon strip.
Mark 9:30-50
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- Written by: George Hemmings
Death & Discipleship audio (5MB)
This morning we remember those who served, and who gave their lives, in not just the Great War, but in all wars. We remember and give thanks for their dedication and service, their bravery and commitment. I know there are some here who have lost friends or family to war, or who have experienced it firsthand for themselves. I know it’s a little early, but let’s stop and take a minute of silence to reflect, to remember and to pray.
Mark 9:2-29
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Mountain Top Glory and the Descent audio (4MB)
Mountains play a large part in the history of Israel. It was on a mountain that Abraham proved his faith in God in preparing to offer his son Isaac to God as a sacrifice. It was on a mountain top that God showed Abraham all the land of Canaan and promised him all he could see in every direction. It was on a mountain that Moses encountered God for the first time and then later received the 10 commandments; and on the same mountain God later revealed himself to Moses. It was on a mountain that Elijah overcame the prophets of Baal and on a different mountain again that he encountered God himself. And of course Jerusalem was established on Mt Zion. So it’s not by chance that Jesus takes his inner circle up a mountain to witness what will be a most significant moment in their apprenticeship.
He takes them up a high mountain by themselves. This is not for the crowds to witness – not even for the other 9 disciples. This is an event that’s mainly for him but that needs to be witnessed by these three so they can tell people about it after his resurrection.
Series: 41: Mark 8-12 - Why Did Jesus Come?
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Why Did Jesus Come?
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Physical & Spiritual Perception |
Mk 8:22-9:1 |
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Mountain Top Glory & The Descent |
Mk 9:2-29 |
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Jesus Death & Discipleship |
Mk 9:30-50 |
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The Key to Gaining the Kingdom |
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Jerusalem Looms Ahead |
Mk 10:32-52 |
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Jesus Enters Jerusalem |
Mk 11:1-25 |
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Debate In The Temple |
Mk 11:27-33; 12:28-34 |
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Living in the Vineyard |
Mk 12:1-12 |
Mark 8:22-9:1
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- Written by: George Hemmings
Physical & Spiritual Perception audio (5MB)
Last week I had an experience I’m not keen to repeat anytime soon. I had to go into VicRoads. After forty-five minutes I was still waiting for my number to be called. I don’t know how you pass the time in situations like that, but I found myself trying the eye-testing charts that they had up behind every counter. Even sitting far away I found I could do pretty well. The sad truth though is that if I took my glasses off, I couldn’t even see the charts, let alone the letters on them!
