“When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” (Mark 11:7-10, NIV)
This feels like it’s going to be the high point in Mark’s gospel. Mark has spent all of the book so far convincing his readers that Jesus is God’s chosen king. Now Jesus enters the capital city, Jerusalem, and is greeted like a king. Is this the happy ending? We know that it’s not, but it is a moment where we see a glimpse of Jesus as the king of everything. I hope that you’ll be able to join us online at 10:30am for our Sunday morning service.
Virtual Coffee Shop
This Wednesday, at 10:30, we'll be having our regular Virtual Coffee Shop, if you can join us for that, it would be great to see you.
I hope that these prayers are useful, and that you are able to spend a few minutes at noon each day, as we pray together as a church family. Please do keep sending your prayer suggestions to me, so that we can make sure we are praying around the needs, burdens and encouragements of our whole church family. This week, we have also added readings covering Mark chapters 1-10, and, on Saturday, the reading for Sunday morning (Mark 11:1-11).
“When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, [the blind man] began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ … ‘Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” (Mark 10:47, 52, NIV)
The healing of the blind man in Mark 10 is the last of Jesus’ miracles recorded by Mark. It occurs straight after James and John seek positions of power and authority. All Bartimaeus, the blind man, wants is to see. His cry is not for status, but for mercy. When he sees, he immediately begins to follow Jesus. It’s no accident that this healing is recorded here - the picture is not just physical eyes needing sight, but spiritual eyes as well. Do we see clearly who Jesus is? Do we seek his mercy? Will we follow him? I hope that you’ll be able to join us online at 10:30am for our Sunday morning service.
Virtual Coffee Shop
This Wednesday, at 10:30, we'll be having our regular Virtual Coffee Shop, if you can join us for that, it would be great to see you.