Join me, Jo, as we embark on the deeply spiritual journey of Holy Week with our special Palm Sunday edition. Experience the unfolding narrative of Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event that set in motion the transformative week leading up to Easter. Hear the echo of Jesus's poignant words to the Greeks on the paradox of life and death, and feel the weight of His compassion for Jerusalem as we weave through scripture from John 12, Luke 19, and Mark 11. The air is thick with anticipation and reverence as we trace His steps into the temple and His quiet retreat to Bethany, preparing ourselves for the week ahead.
As we pause in reflection, I share a prayer for light and encouragement, a beacon for us to become bearers of light in areas of our lives where shadows may fall. Through the cross's power and the Holy Spirit's guidance, we’ll discuss what it means to uplift and strengthen one another in our communities. This episode is an invitation to transform our inner spirit in readiness for the resurrection celebration, to step into the role of women who encourage and elevate others, and to carry the light of hope and change into every corner of our lives. Let this be a time of renewal and connection, as we embrace the profound messages of Holy Week together.
Join me, Jo, as we embark on the deeply spiritual journey of Holy Week with our special Palm Sunday edition. Experience the unfolding narrative of Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event that set in motion the transformative week leading up to Easter. Hear the echo of Jesus's poignant words to the Greeks on the paradox of life and death, and feel the weight of His compassion for Jerusalem as we weave through scripture from John 12, Luke 19, and Mark 11. The air is thick with anticipation and reverence as we trace His steps into the temple and His quiet retreat to Bethany, preparing ourselves for the week ahead.
As we pause in reflection, I share a prayer for light and encouragement, a beacon for us to become bearers of light in areas of our lives where shadows may fall. Through the cross's power and the Holy Spirit's guidance, we’ll discuss what it means to uplift and strengthen one another in our communities. This episode is an invitation to transform our inner spirit in readiness for the resurrection celebration, to step into the role of women who encourage and elevate others, and to carry the light of hope and change into every corner of our lives. Let this be a time of renewal and connection, as we embrace the profound messages of Holy Week together.
Now get out into the world and be a woman who intentionally encourages another!
#women #podcast
Speaker 1:
Good morning Encouragers. It's Jo. Welcome back to the Encourager Community podcast Holy Week series. If you're just signing on for this week, you might be confused as to why I am posting or loading up a podcast on a Sunday. And there's a very special reason.
Speaker 1:
This Sunday marks Palm Sunday and we enter a week of remembrance leading up to Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection, which we get to celebrate on Easter, or as some call, resurrection Sunday. I post it on Friday. You can go back and listen. In regards to the things that Jesus was up to Friday and Saturday of this week, a quick reminder would be that Jesus arrived in Bethany. He was anointed by Mary with an expensive appointment and she used her hair to apply it, and then the crowd began to arrive. This crowd was there for two reasons one to see Jesus, if we remember, and the second to see Lazarus, who had been risen from the dead. Here we find ourselves now, on Palm Sunday.
Speaker 1:
I'm going to be reading from a few different Gospels today. I'll be going in John 12, then I will briefly move to Luke 19, verse 41, and we will end in Mark, chapter 11, verse 11. So, before I open us up in prayer and read scripture, I want to remind you of the events that occur on Palm Sunday. We start off by hearing about the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. We hear that some Greeks seek Jesus out. We see Jesus weep over Jerusalem and then we end our reading by Jesus entering the temple and returning to Bethany with his disciples. If you'll join me, I'm going to open us up in prayer and then we'll be reading scripture from John 12. If you're following along, you can move now to John 12, verses 12 through 18. Dear Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for the ability to read your word, to have an account of our history, a true telling of what you have done. We will never quite understand the incredible sacrifice you made, sending your son, seeing his obedience in fulfilling the prophecy. Lord, for our sake, we're grateful and we want to take this day in remembrance of you. Help us to have our hearts centered on you as we approach Resurrection Sunday. In your name, amen. John 12, verse 12.
Speaker 1:
The next day, the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, so they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out Hosanna, blessed is he who comes. In the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel and Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written Fear not, daughter of Zion, behold your king is coming sitting on a donkey's cult. His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and that he had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign, verse 20. Now, among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him Sir, we wish to see Jesus. Philip went and told Andrew, andrew and Philip went and told Jesus, and Jesus answered them.
Speaker 1:
The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified Truly, truly, I say to you unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me, and where I am there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. Now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven. I have glorified it and I will glorify it again.
Speaker 1:
The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had been thundered. Others said an angel has spoken to him. Jesus answered this voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world. Now will the ruler of this world be cast out and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. He said this to show what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him.
Speaker 1:
We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is the Son of man? So Jesus said to them the light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light that you may become sons of the light. Luke 19, verse 41. Jesus weeps over Jerusalem and when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it. Mark 11, verse 11. And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the 12.
Speaker 1:
Lord, thank you for this day, thank you for the remembrance of your entry, thank you for your word that reminds us of the light. We know that you are the light. We want to be people of the light, daughters of the light. Let us believe in the light, let us walk in the light and let us shine your light upon this earth until you return. Thank you for the work of the cross and thank you for the helper, our holy spirit, whom you left to be with us. Until you return, please be with the listeners. Help them be women who choose to encourage in the areas that you've placed them. Lord, thank you again for this day in your name. Amen. You.
