PALM SUNDAY / SUNDAY OF THE PASSION
The Hour Is at Hand April 5, 2020
AS WE GATHER
Palm Sunday begins with unbridled joy as we recall how Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, while being acclaimed by the crowds with loud shouts of “Hosanna” and boisterous waving of palm branches. So today we begin with songs of praise and waving of palm branches as we hail Jesus as the One worthy of all glory, laud, and honor. But then the solemnness of Holy Week also begins. With a time of silence, the service shifts our focus to Jesus’ path to the cross. As foretold by prophets long ago, Jesus was stricken and afflicted, beaten and spit upon, crucified, and He died. He did this out of divine love for all of humanity, taking on Himself the sins of all people for our forgiveness. Today’s worship reflects the pattern of our lives. At times we experience unbridled joy and celebration. And then, sometimes in the next moment, we experience heartbreaking suffering. Jesus is there with us—in the joyful celebrations, in the heartbreak and suffering. He alone can transform it all into deeper love for God and neighbor. The hour of Jesus’ death on the cross is the hour of our life and salvation.
PREPARATION
INTROIT Psalm 24:7–10; antiphon: Psalm 118:26
P: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
C: We bless You from the house of the Lord.
P: Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
C: that the King of glory may come in.
P: Who is this King of glory?
C: The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!
P: Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors,
C: that the King of glory may come in.
P: Who is this King of glory?
C: The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory!
P: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
C: We bless You from the house of the Lord.
PROCESSIONAL GOSPEL John 12:12–19
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twelfth chapter.
C: Glory to You, O Lord.
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ!
BLESSING OF PALMS
P: We praise You, God, for redeeming the world through our Savior Jesus Christ. Today we remember that He entered the holy city in triumph and was proclaimed Messiah and King by those who spread garments and palm branches along His way.
Bless these palm branches and those who carry them. Grant us grace to follow our Lord in the way of the cross, so that, joined to His death and resurrection, we may enter into life with You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
HYMN “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” [LSB 442]
Refrain
All glory, laud and honor, To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the king of Israel, Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s name comest, The King and Blessèd One. Refrain
The company of angels Are praising Thee on High,
And mortal men and all things Created make reply. Refrain
The people of the Hebrews With palms before Thee went;
Our prayer and praise and anthems Before Thee we present. Refrain
To Thee, before Thy passion, They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted, Our melody we raise. Refrain
Thou didst accept their praises; Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King. Refrain
[After the hymn and when all have arrived in their places, a time of silence is kept to mark the transition from the joy of the palm procession to the solemnity of the Passion. During the silence, palm branches are lowered. From this point forward in Holy Week until Easter, worship is more contemplative, somber, and subdued than usual.]
HYMN “Jesus, I Will Ponder Now” [LSB 440]
Jesus, I will ponder now On Your holy Passion;
Let Your Spirit now endow Me for meditation.
Grant that I in love and faith May the image cherish
Of Your suffering, pain and death That I may not perish.
Make me see Your great distress, Anguish, and affliction,
Bonds and stripes and wretchedness And your crucifixion;
Make me see how scourge and rod, Spear and nails, did wound You,
How You died for those, O God, Who with thorns had crowned You.
Let, O Lord, not thus alone Make me see your Passion,
But its cause to me make known And its termination.
For I also and my sin Wrought your deep affliction;
This the shameful cause has been Of Your crucifixion.
Let me view Your pain and loss With repentant grieving,
Nor prepare again your cross By unholy living.
May I give you love for love! Hear me, O my Savior,
That I may in Heav’n above Sing your praise forever.
X WORD X
SALUTATION
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 50:4–9a (Isaiah foretells One who would “give His back
to those who strike” and His “cheeks to those who pull out the beard.” Yet Jesus sets His face like flint to secure our salvation.)
4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. 5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. 6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. 7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! 9 It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me?
P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
GRADUAL Hebrews 9:12a, c, 15a; Psalm 111:9a
P: Christ entered once for all into the holy places, by means of His own blood,
C: thus securing an eternal redemption.
P: Therefore He is the mediator of a new covenant,
C: so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.
P: He sent redemption to His people;
C: He has commanded His covenant forever.
EPISTLE Philippians 2:5–11 (Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.)
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
VERSE Philippians 2:8b
P: He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
C: even death on a cross.
HOLY GOSPEL John 12:20–43 (Jesus says that the hour is near for the Son of Man to be glorified.)
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twelfth chapter.
C: Glory to You, O Lord.
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. 34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” 35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. 37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. 42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
HYMN OF THE DAY Ride on, Ride on in Majesty
Ride on! ride on in majesty! Hark! all the tribes Hosanna cry!
O Savior meek, pursue Thy road, With palms and scattered garments strowed.
Ride on! ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die!
O Christ! Thy triumph now begin Over captive death and conquered sin.
Ride on! ride on in majesty! The wingèd squadrons of the sky
Look down with sad and wondering eyes, To see the approaching sacrifice!
Ride on! ride on in majesty! Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh;
The Father on His sapphire throne, Expects His own anointed Son!
Ride on! ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die;
Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain! Then take, oh God! Thy power, and reign!
SERMON
CREED APOSTLES CREED
I Believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son , our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
P: Having set out with Jesus, our Lord, on His journey to Jerusalem, let us bring our prayers to God in humility and love.
Silence for reflection
P: For the renewal of the Church in the coming holy days; for those preparing for Baptism, that they come to the waters of Baptism with joy; for all missionaries of the Church; for pastors, teachers, and all the people, let us pray to the Lord,
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For leaders throughout the world, that they seek the well-being of the poor, practice good stewardship of creation, and work for peace and freedom for all; for refugees and those who provide hospitality, safety, and sustenance to victims of wars; for those who serve in harm’s way, and for our enemies; let us pray to the Lord,
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For the sick, the suffering, and dying, [especially . . .], that they find hope in their despair, patience in their suffering, and healing according to God’s will; for those who mourn, that they find comfort in the death and resurrection of Jesus, let us pray to the Lord,
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For newcomers to our congregation, that they find a warm welcome among God’s people; for the families of this congregation, that we care for one another with the mind of Christ; for the safety of all who travel, let us pray to the Lord,
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For this Christian assembly, that our eating and drinking in remembrance of Jesus fill us with faith, gratitude, and love for our brothers and sisters, let us pray to the Lord,
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For the faithful departed, we give thanks. For us who still walk by faith, that we remain faithful until that day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, let us pray to the Lord,
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: Hear our prayer, Lord God. Transform our hearts and minds during this Holy Week to be more like the heart and mind of Christ, in whose name we pray.
C: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
C: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
PAX DOMINI
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: Amen.
BENEDICTION Hebrews 12:2
P: Let your eyes be fixed on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace. Numbers 6:24–26
C: Amen.
HYMN Go to Dark Gethsemane
Go to dark Gethsemane, ye that feel the tempter’s power;
Your Redeemer’s conflict see, watch with Him one bitter hour,
Turn not from His griefs away; learn of Jesus Christ to pray.
See Him at the judgment hall; view the Lord of life arraigned;
O the wormwood and the gall! O the pangs His soul sustained!
Shun not suffering, shame, or loss; learn of Christ to bear the cross.
Calvary’s mournful mountain climb; there, adoring at His feet,
Mark that miracle of time, God’s own sacrifice complete.
It is finished! hear Him cry; learn of Jesus Christ to die.
Early hasten to the tomb where they laid His breathless clay;
All is solitude and gloom. Who has taken Him away?
Christ is ris’n! He meets our eyes; Savior, teach us so to rise.
Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series A, Quarter 2. Copyright © 2019 Concordia Publishing House.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Dave R. Rutz says
Very good, Pastor Larmie. Appreciate this a bunch considering our situation. Have a fine day & week, & Leesa & family.