- Gospel: Mark 11:1-11
- Second Reading: John 12:12-16
- Psalms Correspondent: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
- Roundtable 2: Holy Week
- Thursday Night Special: Holy Week
- Holy Week Resources
- Last Year's episode on Palm Sunday (episode 58 - Matthew 21:1-11)
Episode 108- Palm Sunday
Welcome to the Pulpit Fiction Podcast, the lectionary podcast for preachers, seekers and Bible geeks. This is episode 108 for Sunday March 29, Palm Sunday, Year B.
- Gospel: Mark 11:1-11
- Second Reading: John 12:12-16
- Psalms Correspondent: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
- Holy Week is coming!
Featured Musician - Richard Bruxvoort Colligan - “Christ is Coming, Ever Coming, Coming Again” from his 2004 album, Worldmaking. Find more of Richard’s great music at worldmaking.net, psalmimmersion.com and follow him @pomopsalmist.
Primary Scripture - Mark 11:1-11 and John 12:12-16 Triumphant Entry
Initial Thoughts
- Two versions of the same story, remarkably similar.
- Small differences are telling in the greater theology of each.
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- Mark - Coming Kingdom
- John - Jesus is King
- Mark - Coming Kingdom
- Colt
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- Colt is a name for a young donkey or a young horse. Matthew says it is a donkey and a horse, but John points back to Zechariah 9:9 which tells of a king coming "humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
- Jesus behaving like a King
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- The Colt that “no one has ridden” is a Kingly prerogative.
- Disciples are to go and “obtain” a horse. They follow without question.
- If they are pressed, they are to exercise his authority.
- Disciples are asked to make a great act of faith on behalf of Jesus’ authority.
- The Colt that “no one has ridden” is a Kingly prerogative.
- Mike Baughman has another interesting take on the “colt that no one has ridden”
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- An unridden colt would be unneutered and untrained. Riding and unbroken donkey would be a dangerous task, and the exact opposite of what a conqueror would ride - a trained and seasoned war horse.
- Jesus coming to Jerusalem in a new way - with a new ride. He is bringing in an untamed, unknown way of doing things.
- An unridden colt would be unneutered and untrained. Riding and unbroken donkey would be a dangerous task, and the exact opposite of what a conqueror would ride - a trained and seasoned war horse.
- Colt is a name for a young donkey or a young horse. Matthew says it is a donkey and a horse, but John points back to Zechariah 9:9 which tells of a king coming "humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
- Zechariah 9
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- eschatological proclamation which “breaks” the militarism of human nations and will “speak peace to the nations”
- Not a foretelling the coming of Jesus but the coming of a divine kingdom (on earth as it is in Heaven) ruled by God not by human interests
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- Mighty will be brought low and the low will be exalted- for the purpose of liberation and peace
- What does God want? Zech. 8:16-17 “Speak the truth to each other; make truthful, just, and peaceable decisions within your gates.Don't plan evil for each other. Don't adore swearing falsely
- Mighty will be brought low and the low will be exalted- for the purpose of liberation and peace
- eschatological proclamation which “breaks” the militarism of human nations and will “speak peace to the nations”
- Proclamation
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- Hosanna - “save us” - translated in the Psalm, but remains in the Gospels
- Proclamation alludes to Psalm 118 and the steadfast love of God
- What do we want to be saved from? what to be saved for?
- Both Gospels share “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” then they take slightly different angles.
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- Mark: “Blessings on the coming of our ancestor David.
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- The theme of the coming Kingdom is an important one in Mark. Does not point as much to the person of Jesus as it does to the Kingdom that is at hand.
- The theme of the coming Kingdom is an important one in Mark. Does not point as much to the person of Jesus as it does to the Kingdom that is at hand.
- John: “Blessings on the King of Israel”
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- The theme of Jesus being the “King of Israel” is an important one in John as the passion plays out. Pilate asks, “Are you the King of the Jews?” The sign above his head on the cross reads “King of the Jews.”
- The theme of Jesus being the “King of Israel” is an important one in John as the passion plays out. Pilate asks, “Are you the King of the Jews?” The sign above his head on the cross reads “King of the Jews.”
- Mark: “Blessings on the coming of our ancestor David.
- Hosanna - “save us” - translated in the Psalm, but remains in the Gospels
- Branches?
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- practical application - to keep the honored guest above the messiness of the road, but Jesus enters into the messiness of life.
- practical application - to keep the honored guest above the messiness of the road, but Jesus enters into the messiness of life.
- Save us! Too often we proclaim these same words in a variety of ways- Jesus does not enter to save the Jews form the Romans, but to save people from themselves. Instead of expecting to be saved from outside influences- how might we invite Jesus in to save us from ourselves (inclinations away from God)?
- The parade Jesus sparks is a new kind of parade. It is not the conquering hero entering the city, or the Emperor coming in on the war horse. As he enters, the people recognize that he is a king, but he is a different kind of king.
- Are we content to enter with Jesus into the messiness of life or do we try to raise ourselves, Jesus and the church “above” the messiness of life?
- Zechariah proclaims the Reign of God as one where God subdues all the nations- one nation does not bring about God’s will but instead all nations including Judah are subjected to God’s reign of peace. How do we practice humble repentance.
Psalm Nugget: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 with Richard Bruxvoort Colligan
Tasty Wafer of the Week:
CLOSING
TY listeners
Shout Outs:
- @EPC_PastorJoe “loving Holy Week Round Table - keep pausing to make notes. re: ecuminism in HW, check out bit.ly/1AhHjaw. This is my 1st yr.”
- @ChatSalad “Love the name #PulpitFiction and the branding! Let us know the details nearer the time and we'll happily list it for you :)”
- Hillary Campbell: Just found this site, which looks great. Thanks for the debate on Holy Week. In terms of Palm Sunday, I have moved to focussing on Palms only. I feel the dynamics of the story need to be respected and we need to take one step at a time.
- Deb Washer: Thanks for recognizing both male and female pastor's spouses. Even within our United Methodist tradition, my husband is constantly asked if he is a pastor too, as if a female pastor must be accompanied by a male pastor husband. We take it in stride and he often introduces himself as the "pastor's wife." We have both learned to keep perspective on the issue of acceptance - especially when dealing with people from other denominations. I have had people from both my own denomination and other denominations tell me, "Well, if enough men had stepped up to be pastors, there wouldn't have to be any female pastors." - Really? <sigh> I am extremely fortunate in my current appointment to be seen as no different than a male pastor when it comes to leading the flock. Thanks again for all that you do!
Featured Musician - Richard Bruxvoort Colligan - “Christ is Coming, Ever Coming, Coming Again” from his 2004 album, Worldmaking. Find more of Richard’s great music at worldmaking.net, psalmimmersion.com and follow him @pomopsalmist.
Thanks to our Psalms correspondant Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (psalmimmersion.com, @pomopsalmist) Using Psalms in Lent? Check out Richard’s great album “Sharing the Road” the first album of the Psalms Project which is full of Psalm songs for Lent!
Thank you to Scott Fletcher for our voice bumpers, Dick Dale and the Del Tones for our Theme music (“Misirlou”), Nicolai Heidlas (“Summertime”) and The Steel Wheels for our transition music(“Second of May” from their album Live at Goose Creek) and Paul and Storm for our closing music, “Oh No”.
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