The Spirit is Willing, But the Flesh is Weak ~ by Ronnie Archer

Palm Sunday 2009 began with the congregation gathering outside, to the rear of the church, for the blessing of the palms. We processed back inside, led by the choir singing, "Soon and Very Soon" and "Jerusalem."

The first reading was from Isaiah 50:4-7, the Third Song of the Suffering Servant. It tells us of accepting suffering because of the love of God or others and in obedience to God.

The second reading from Philippians 2:6-11, speaks of the humility of Jesus... "Though He was in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, emptying Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; humbled Himself, becoming obedient to His death, even death on the cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted Him." Humility is sometimes another form of suffering.

The Passion of Our Lord today speaks strongly of the character of our Jesus. We are called to take the mission of Jesus Christ, and we should reflect on our own feelings about pain and suffering.

"Hosanna...Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem. He came to us as a Glorious King. Are we going to welcome Him as our King only for a day? ...for life? ...or will we forget? Will we try to "save" our own lives by continuing to live of, and for the things of this world, satisfying our own desires?

Judas wanted to save the lives of the people, so he betrayed Jesus. Peter wanted to save his life, so he denied knowing Jesus. If you want to SAVE your life, you have to serve Jesus Christ.

We humans have a longing in our hearts... for a love that no one on earth can fill. It can only be filled by the love of Jesus. He gave up His dignity to love us.













Let the palms that we received today be a reminder to us that we have chosen Christ as our King.

God offers us a covenant out of love for us. Are we prepared to die and be raised with Jesus Christ?

Jesus is someone who loves us enough to lose His life for us. He gave up His dignity and accepted humiliation because of His love for us.

Accept His cleansing of everything in you. To be strong in the flesh, we need the SPIRIT!
















~ Photographs by Mildred Green ~
~ Palm Sunday 2009 ~