“They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it.  And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields” (Mark 11:7-8).

An unusual response to a situation, but the Lord knew what was coming.  This is a fulfilment of the prophecy of Jesus being the One who would take possession of the throne.  Peace comes through Jesus and the scepter passed to Him, the One who brings peace.  This was His coronation, humble and prophetic.  Our Lord and God is not like the tyrants of this age but seeks repentance and humble submission.

Lord, there are so many things I need to learn.  Only in You is there hope and a future, for You must be the One who leads me in the way of life according to the Father’s will.  Guide me now and always to obey as You would have me respond.  Teach me to give my “coat” for Your will to be done.  Teach me to use Your creation wisely, and see that Your hand is upon my life.

Come, Holy Spirit, and help me to rejoice in all that You guide me to do.  Let me not think in terms of small or large acts, but simply in terms of seeking to be obedient in all things.  Guide me according to the Father’s perfect will to do this day what You give me to do.  Help me to learn more about living out my faith, which is mine in the salvation of Jesus.  Help me to always be a willing servant.  Amen.

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning everyone! Is it still, Easter, Pastor?

Pastor: Yes, it is still the Easter season, Sammy.

Sammy: Oh good! I just love Easter.

Pastor: Me too, Sammy. The Easter message is very special to us as believers in Jesus.

Sammy: Why is that?

Pastor: Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again after three days. These events are important because Jesus paid the price for our sins with his blood.

Sammy: You know, Pastor, I noticed that even though Jesus talks a lot about his death on the cross and how he will rise again after three days, a lot of people were not paying attention.

Pastor: Yes a lot of people either were not paying attention or they heard the message and they didn’t understand. 

Sammy: Just like Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas.

Pastor: Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas?

Sammy: You know? From the Gospel reading today? There was a man walking to a place called Emmaus.

Pastor: Yes that’s Cleopas.

Sammy: Mr. Cleopas. And the other person was his wife. Mrs. Cleopas.

Pastor: That’s a good theory, Sammy. The second person with Cleopas isn’t mentioned by name, so there are a lot of guess about who it could be.

Sammy: Well, I like Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas. But you know, I don’t understand what happened. How come they didn’t recognize Jesus until he broke bread and blessed the bread?

Pastor: That’s a really good question. Jesus breaks bread with many people all throughout the Gospels. He eats with his disciples, with tax collectors, and with over five thousand people, on two separate occasions. That’s a lot of people.

Sammy: And all of those people saw Jesus bless and break the bread before they ate it with him.

Pastor: That’s right. So Jesus talked to Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas a long time, but they didn’t truly see who he was until he blessed and broke the bread. And then he disappeared.

Sammy: He did?

Pastor: Yes, but he appeared to many others. 

Sammy: I just love Easter. I love that we can find Jesus in unexpected places.

Pastor: Yes we can. Boys and girls, will you please pray with me? Will you please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, Thank you for Easter. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Thank you for rising to life so that we may have life in you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning everyone!

[Enter Bartholomew (we use a bunny puppet)]

Bartholomew: Good morning!

Sammy: Hello, Bartholomew! Happy Easter! 

Bartholomew: Happy Easter, Sammy! Hi Pastor! Happy Easter!

Pastor: How are you holding up, Bartholomew?

Bartholomew: I’m doing great. Last weekend was so much fun. I got to hide eggs for boys and girls all over the place. Did you all find some eggs? What did you find inside the eggs?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: These are great answers.

Bartholomew: I hid a lot of eggs–you guys found some really good ones. I wonder–did any of the adults find leftover eggs with the lawnmower? I try to leave some eggs in extra-challenging places so the moms and dads can have fun finding them too.

Pastor: I found a few lying around here and there. You are definitely good at your job, Bartholomew.

Sammy: Pastor, why does Bartholomew hide eggs? I mean, chickens lay eggs, not bunnies.

Pastor: That’s a great question, Sammy. Bartholomew is a bunny, and bunnies are symbols of new life. Eggs are symbols of new life, too.

Bartholomew: That’s right! And each Easter, I hide eggs around to remind boys and girls that Easter is not about the Easter bunny or eggs or chocolate. Easter is about Jesus. Jesus is risen, and we get to celebrate new life in him.

Sammy: I missed seeing you last week, Bartholomew. I wish you could have been here for worship on Easter. It was a beautiful day.

Bartholomew: You know, Sammy, Easter is more than just one week. We have an entire season in the church year dedicated to Easter. It is fifty days long.

Pastor: Get knowledge, Bartholomew. Easter begins on Easter Sunday and ends on Pentecost.

Bartholomew: When you are as old as I am Pastor, you know a few things.

Sammy: How old are you, Bartholomew? 

Bartholomew: I think I have been hiding eggs for children for about four hundred years now.

Pastor: You are definitely older than me, then.

Sammy: Me too.

Pastor: Let’s say a prayer together. Dear Jesus, thank you for the season of Easter. Help us to deepen our faith in you. Thank you for new life. Amen.

Sammy and Bartholomew: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, everyone!

“Some of the bystanders were saying to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”  They spoke to them just as Jesus had told them, and they gave them permission” (Mark 11:5-6).

In a very real sense, this is an even  greater miracle.  Permission was granted for an incredibly unusual circumstance.  But this is the way of the Lord; we call it a miracle, but He knows what is going to happen.  Of course, things will go the way the Lord says, He is the Lord of all.  Do not be caught up in the speculations of this age, but live in the reality that this is our God’s creation.

Lord God Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, all things are in Your hands, for You are the One who made them.  Help me to learn that I am a steward and own nothing, for it all belongs to You.  Guide me in the truth of reality and help me to give permission whenYou call for it.  Help me to be constantly in prayer, trusting the truth that all things have always and always will be in Your hands.

Lord Jesus, You taught Your disciples the principle of binding and loosing.  You are the One who must give the direction; but help me to trust when Your Holy Spirit speaks so that I may do what You tell me to do.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to learn to trust You above every circumstance and not live according to what I understand of the situation I am in.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life.  Amen.

“If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ you say, ‘The Lord has need of it’; and immediately he will send it back here.”  They went away and found a colt tied at the door, outside in the street; and they untied it” (Mark 11:3-4).

The Lord has things lined up to meet the need.  If something as simple as a donkey in the right place at the right time is lined up, why do you worry about things?  Will the Lord not take care of your needs?  The Lord has given us His word.  How many times have you gone from the place of receiving His word to a place where you met the reality that “This is most certainly true?”  Trust the One through whom You have your being.

Lord, I become anxious in this world of continuous consternation.  Each day does have enough trouble of its own and I forget all the little instances where things were lined up just right so that my needs were met.  Help me to see Your hand more clearly in order that I may stop worrying about the events in this age to see that You have all things in Your hands.  You are the Lord of all.

Lord Jesus, You were on Your final march to Golgotha.  You knew what was coming and You marched forward.  We all know that we are heading to the small death.  This world fears death, but although I do not wish it today, I know it is coming.  Help me to learn from You how to live life fully each day.  Help me to see Your hand in my life and the many places where You bless me.  Amen.

“As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here” (Mark 11:1-2).

How does our Lord know these things?  Think about this for a moment.  He who was, is, and is to come knows the outcome of all things.  The Son is always listening to the Father.  The Father knows not only what we will ask, but what will come.  He knows.  He saw Nathaniel under the fig tree.  He sees you now.  He sees all the days in front of you and what you are doing now.  He who knows calls you to come with Him.

Lord, the disciples did not know whether the donkey had been ridden upon, but You did.  A seemingly trivial matter, but You know all things.  You do not coerce or control but beckon us to come with You on an eternal journey.  Lead us away from always worrying about circumstances to follow You who knows all things.  Guide us to live according to Your never-failing word.

Thank You Lord Jesus for marching forward to Jerusalem.  You knew what awaited You and You went anyway.  You will lead us through all the crosses that come our way in this age.  Help me to trust You above every circumstance and live into the life which You are giving me.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to see that my hope is truly in You and what You have done and will do.  Amen.

“Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus.  And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!”  And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road” (Mark 10:50-52).

Ask the Lord and He will ask you.  What is it you want?  This man wanted to see.  When we have faith in the One who created us, we do receive sight and perceive as the unbelieving do not.  We see that this is the Father’s world and that all that is in it belongs to Him.  He made you and me.  Follow the One through whom all things have their being.  Be led by the One who created all things.

Lord, You are my Creator and teacher.  I have learned from the world, but I need to learn from You.  Guide me, Lord, so that I live into the life You give knowing that in You alone is true life.  You know, and there are things You can teach me.  Lead me in this life that You give so that I humbly submit to You.  Lord, give me sight so that I may see things as they are and not as I imagine them to be.

Lord Jesus, healer of my soul, guide me in the way of everlasting life.  Grant me eyes to see and ears to hear the truth of this reality which You have created.  You have come so that I may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me into this new life which You give and help me to live according to Your word.  Teach me this day the things I need to know and help me now and always to follow You wherever You lead.  Amen.

“Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you” (Mark 10:48-49).

Oh, how we place propriety over reality so often.  “This is neither the time, nor the place.”  But the Lord says, “This is the time and this is the place.”  He comes to save and our sense of timing is not the Lord’s sense of timing.  What they said to Bartimaeus they say to us, “Take courage, He is calling you.” The Lord wants you to be with Him.  He calls over the tumult and desires you be with Him.

Lord, this world often tells me what to do and what not to do.  It must look good.  Amidst the clamor of this world, guide me to see that You have come to call all who will hear Your voice to come to You.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I may humbly stand up and come to You.  Thank You for the abundance of grace and mercy which You give to us all.  Lead me always above and through the noise of this world.

Lord Jesus, You are the One who calls.  I have heard Your call.  Guide me, O Lord, to humbly follow where You lead.  Lift me up and give me eyes that see things as You see them.  Help me to be willing to reach out to others as You reach out to others.  Take from me worldly propriety and grant me a heart that willingly loves my neighbor.  Be the One who is always leading me, and teach me to follow.  Amen.

“Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.  When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:46-47)

Not knowing who He is, but hearing of the healing that happened through Him, the man cried out.  Our Lord hears the pleas of all.  He knows.  Our Lord hears you when you pray.  He will do what He will do, so do not be conditional with the answer, but trust unconditionally that our Lord will hear you when you pray.  Lord, have mercy is the humble cry.  Our Lord is compassionate and is always merciful.

Lord, there are so many times when I am conditional with my prayers.  If You give me what I want, I believe.  If You do not give me what I want, I struggle to believe.  Take this conditionality away from me so that I trust You no matter what the answer is that You give.  Guide me in Your goodness to trust that You know all that is needed.  Give me courage to come to You, first and always, in prayer.

Come, Holy Spirit, and minister to my heart.  Let my cries come before You day and night.  Help me to see that only in You can I trust, knowing that You are my constant companion.  Lead me in the way You know I need to go.  Help me to receive every answer You give with joy and thanksgiving.  I thank You for all of the healing You have brought into my life.  You are leading me to become like Jesus.  Thank You Lord.  Amen.

“But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-44).

I believe that God made me.  This is what Luther gave in the explanation of the meaning of the first article of the creed.  God made you and me to be where we are, as we are, who we are, and will make us to be whom we will be.  We are in God’s hands.  We are servants of the Lord.  Whatever you do, do it as serving the Lord.  Our Lord came to serve, and we too should serve when and where He calls us to serve.

Lord, this world promotes getting ahead, being on top, accumulating, and sees leadership as belonging to the one on top.  Teach me to serve You.  You served me first and You have called me to be like You.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to live into the life You have given me so that I may humbly walk in Your ways.  Let me not worry about position but be humbly  thankful for the life You have given me.

Lord Jesus, You have served us all.  You, through whom all things were made, have come into the world bringing life and hope.  Teach me what it means to serve You by serving others.  Lead me to not be concerned with where I am or what position I hold, but serve with all that I am.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy so that others may accept the opportunity of coming into Your kingdom of love.  Amen.