Fellowship United Methodist Church

          Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the beginning of the last week that Christ spent on earth in his human form.  This last week started off great.  As Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time, people lined the path that led from Bethany into the city.  They waved palm branches and covered the road with their cloaks.  I imagine this was quite a celebration as Jesus passed through the throng of people shouting,” Hosanna, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Unfortunately, this was the highlight of the week…everything was downhill from that point on according to our standards.  Jesus shared one last meal with his disciples and was later arrested, tried, and executed.  Thankfully the story does not end here.  Then came Easter morning!
        We don’t know very much about these last days except what is recorded in the gospels.  We know that Jesus did spend some time in Bethany, probably with friends, before the celebration of his last Passover.  We know that he did visit the temple and became angry, even lost his temper, with what he found.  We know that he wept over Jerusalem as he entered the city one day.  We also know that he celebrated this last Passover meal with his closest friends in an upper room within the city.
           As we start into Holy Week, what are your thoughts this morning? What are you looking for in this last week of Lent?  What type of activities will fill your week?  Will this just be another ordinary week, or will you concentrate on the significance of this week which led to an event which has changed the entire world?  Many churches this week will have several different services, Maundy Thursday which remembers the agony of the last night that Christ spent on earth in meditation and prayer and a Good Friday service in remembrance of the day that Christ died.  I pray that you will take some time this week to pause and reflect on the events which led to Easter morning.  Take time to read the account of this week in one of the gospel…think and ponder upon what you read.
Prayer:  In the hustle and bustle of life this week, I pray Lord that I am able to stop and think about your sacrificial death upon the cross.  Let the events of this week be real to me.  Amen