LENT • 6
reading for: 24 March
Mark 11:1-11; John 12:12-16
The Kingly Servant of the Lord
READ
The triumphal entry, also known as Palm Sunday, is a familiar story that has been reenacted countless times in churches all over the world. We know that this event is significant because it is recorded in all four Gospels. It marks the beginning of the final week of Jesus’ earthly life and the darkest week for the Son of God.
Today, let us recount the story again. Jesus has been preparing himself and his disciples for this week (Mark 10:32-34) and he deliberately chose to enter Jerusalem just before the start of the annual Passover festival. It was the busiest week of the year as Jews from all over the world travels to Jerusalem to celebrate the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12).
By this time, many have heard of Jesus and the crowd that has seen his miraculous acts have been bearing witness about him (John 12:17-19). There was great excitement and anticipation that Jesus may indeed be the Messiah that they have been waiting for. Hence, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt, visually fulfiling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, he received a hero’s welcome.
The crowd proclaimed, “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!” (Mark 11:8-10; John 12:12-15). The crowds echoed the prayer of Psalms 118:25-26 and hailed Jesus as the King of Israel who has come to save and deliver them from the tyranny of Rome.
REFLECT
We know how the story ends. Within a week, the same crowd who shouted “Hosanna!” were crying “Crucify him!”. Jesus was not the King they expected. He did not overthrow the Roman empire. Instead of Roman Caesars’ mighty horses and chariots with which Roman rulers entered the city, this king, came riding on a humble colt. In sharp contrast to glorious Roman Caesars who ruled the world from beautiful thrones, this ‘King of the Jews’ would soon be enthroned on a cross and rule His Father’s eternal Kingdom from His throne. Unlike Rome Caesars who ruled through fear, intimidation and oppression, Jesus rules through self-sacrifice, service and love - the way of the cross. And it wasn’t just the crowd who did not understand what Jesus came to do, his own disciples abandoned him and did not get it until Jesus was glorified (John 12:16).
What about us? Do we have wrong ideas about Jesus? Jesus’ disciples and the crowd were right about Jesus being the King but were completely wrong about his kingship. They thought Jesus came to defeat Rome and to rescue them from her oppression. However, He came “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).”
Jesus is the true Servant of the Lord and he came to fulfil the will and the desires of the Father. As we celebrate Palm Sunday this Sunday and enter into Holy Week, let us not miss who Jesus is and what He came to do. Let us prepare our hearts to move with Christ towards the Cross and the Resurrection on Good Friday and Easter. Let us be open to renounce our existing notions about Christ and rediscover who Jesus of Nazareth is.
reading for: 25 March
Isaiah 50:4-9
The Suffering Servant of the Lord
READ
With 66 chapters, the book of Isaiah is a daunting book to read. How do we read the different chapters in light of its expansive history and theology? It would be helpful to know that Isaiah can be roughly divided into 2 major sections. The first section from chapters 1-39 deals with Israel’s disobedience, God’s judgement and a future exile. The second section from chapters 49-66 speaks of God’s forgiveness, Israel’s deliverance and a glorious future.
Our reading today is taken from Isaiah 50:4-9, which falls under the second section of Isaiah. In the latter half of the book, Isaiah begins to prophesy about a Messianic figure, referred to as the “Servant of the Lord”, who would bring about God’s Kingdom. Unfortunately, the identity of the servant is not revealed. Nonetheless, there are several clues as to who this servant is and Isaiah 50:4-9 provides us with one of those clues.
In Isaiah 50:4-9, we read that the servant would listen to what the LORD has to say and will not be disobedient (vv. 4-5). His obedience will lead to suffering and rejection (6). Yet he will not despair (7). He will endure and finish his task because he is confident that in the end, the LORD will vindicate him (vv. 8-9). Putting the pieces together, we can gather that the obedience servant will become a suffering servant in order to fulfil the LORD’s will.
REFLECT
In the time of Isaiah and in the days after, all of Israel wondered about the identity of the Servant and waited for him to come. Today, the identity of the Suffering Servant has been fully revealed. We know him as Jesus of Nazareth. He obeyed the LORD and willingly suffered for our sake. He was rejected and died a criminal’s death on the Cross. It is finished.
Let us pause in our day today and worship our Lord. Listen to “It is finished” by Passion.
“The cross is my beginning
The line drawn in the sand
The end of all my striving
Now I am born againThere, Jesus was forsaken
So I will never be
His grace is my salvation
The gift of God, the work of CalvaryIt is done, it is finished
Christ has won, He is risen
Grace is here
Love has triumphed over death foreverThe cross needs no addition
His mercy is complete
His love is not in question
The Son of God has spoken over me”
reading for: 26 March
Philippians 2:5-11
The Obedient Servant of the Lord
READ
Philippians 2:5-11 has often been referred to as the “hymn of Christ.” In this song of praise, Paul delivers a stirring confession regarding the person of Jesus and the example that he has set before us to follow. The reason Paul wrote this theologically rich song was to demonstrate the possibility of having one mind and humble love for one another (2:1-4).
It all begins with Christ and specifically, the mind of Christ (5). What is the mind of Christ? How does Jesus think? According to Paul, Jesus did not think of his equality with God as something to be held onto (6). Instead, he willingly gave up his privileges as a God and humbly became a human (7).
That would have been enough but Christ went further still. Not only was he humble, he was obedient to the point of death and death on a cross (8). As a result of his obedience, God exalted Christ and honored him by giving him the name that is above every name, the name by which every knee shall bow and by which every tongue will confess that He is Lord to the glory of the Father (9-11).
There is no greater humility than that of the Son of God emptying himself of his heavenly glory and becoming a mere human. There is no greater obedience than that of an innocent human dying on a cross. This obedient Servant of the Father, allowed himself to be ‘lifted up’ on the cross, exulted for all to see, drawing all men to himself. Hanging there, he would glory in his nakedness & shame if that would glorify His Father.
That is how Jesus thought of himself. That is the mind of Christ and that is the mind that Paul wants the Philippians and us to have. The only way to be of one mind and to humbly love one another is to think of ourselves the way Christ thought of himself and to be obedient the way Christ was obedient.
REFLECT
There is no death like death on a cross. The cross is the ultimate expression of Christ’s humility and obedience. Would a CEO give up his position to become a coffee boy? Would an innocent judge die for a crime he did not commit? These examples are not adequate but it should give us sufficient imagination.
Christ has set an example of humility and obedience for us to follow. Therefore, let us look to the interests of others and not just our own. Let us learn to obey the Father and do what he is asking of us, even if it means a certain death. For some of us, it could mean watching out for each other in the Life Group. Or it could mean committing ourselves to eating, praying and growing together. Or it could simply be showing up on Sundays.
Each of us has a cross and a cost to bear. If there is any time in the year to contemplate the cross and consider the cost, now is the time. Take some time today to prayfully seek the Lord in this matter and share it with your LG for mutual encouragement and accountability.
reading for: 27 March
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
The Blessed Servant of the Lord
READ
Psalm 118 begins and ends with a call on all of God’s people to give thanks to the LORD because he is good and his steadfast love endures forever (vv. 1, 29). Sandwiched between the psalm is a testimony of God coming through in times of distress (vv. 5-18) and people entering through the gates in order to give thanks to the LORD (vv. 19-28).
In light of this week’s readings, Psalm 118 is significant because it is the psalm that the crowd used to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem (Mark 11:9; John 12:13). The imagery in psalm 118:19-28 also shares some similarity to that of the triumphal entry. Furthermore, psalms 118:22 was quoted by Jesus himself (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17) and the apostles echoed it after his ascension (Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6-7).
Jesus was the stone that was rejected, which became the cornerstone. The blessed one who comes in the name of the Lord came to save his people but he was rejected by his own. They were wrong about Jesus but it was all part of God’s plan. And it is the steadfast love of Christ that drove him to the cross and kept him there.
REFLECT
2000 years later, we know Psalm 118 rings true. God is good and his steadfast love endures forever. As we celebrate Palm Sunday tomorrow, let us boldly enter through the gates of the LORD to give thanks and speak of his goodness and love. It is the day that the LORD has made! And together with our brothers and sisters, we can proclaim “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!”. Salvation has come and it is the LORD’s doing.
And because He has saved us and given us new life, we are able to wake up strong and not go to bed wrong. May God help us and lead us from Palm Sunday into Holy Week and through Good Friday to Resurrection Sunday.