24-March-24 (Mark 11:1-11)

We already know that God's idea of power is not much like our own.  Yet it's a hard lesson to really learn, so today we get two very clear examples:
First, we get Jesus, riding on the back of a donkey, surrounded by ordinary people, making his way into Jerusalem.  If this were Herod or Pilate, they would be on the back of a white war-horse and surrounded by troops with polished shields, spears, and swords.  Ready to take on any rival to power with force of war.
Jesus comes, knowing full-well that the earthly powers are conspiring against him and he won't live out the week.  Yet Herod and Pilate are the pretenders here.
Second, we get Jesus, gathering with his disciples in the upper room to celebrate the Passover meal and telling him, though they don't really get it yet, that he's about to give his life to open the way to God for them and us.
Here is true power:  Though it seems like failure and death, Jesus is about to win the ultimate victory over sin and death itself.
Let us pray.

Prayer:

God, whose power is perfect when it seems the weakest, we thank you for Jesus, who took on the true powers of sin and death and defeated them once and for all.  We thank you for these symbols of bread and cup that remind us of that gift.  We pray, that as we take this bread and cup, you would also fill us with the same Spirit that empowered Jesus to do your will in all things, so we might take the Good News of your love and grace to our world.
In the name of Jesus, our Christ, AMEN