Long Awaited Frenzy / Occasional Truths
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For March 25, 2018:
Long Awaited Frenzy
by Bethany Peerbolte
Mark 11:1-11, Psalm 118
Divisions in America may be at their worst. Nancy Gibbs, formerly of Time Magazine, found “seven in ten Americans say we have reached a dangerous new low point, and are at least as divided as we were during the Vietnam war,” and she is supported by Pew Research Center. Mass movements form around these divisions organizing citizens with similar ideologies. While they help individuals work for change they also make the problem worse by disconnecting people from the larger dialogue.
Crowds crying out for change is not a new phenomenon. Mark recalls the crowd that formed around Jesus when he entered Jerusalem. Some in the crowd had followed Jesus’ ministry closely and were genuinely excited to see him up close. Some had heard rumors of miracles and resurrections and were there to be a witness to what would happen next. Still others were in town for the holiday and were swept up in the energy the crowd exuded not really knowing what they were getting into.
Jesus came into town as the promised King and he received a King’s welcome. The excitement was so turned up even Jesus lost track of time and had to call it a day before the intended work was finished. Jesus knew the crowd was disconnected from God and the purpose of a messiah. His solution was to retreat into prayer and collect himself for the week ahead.
When Jesus returns he will not get the same welcome. Next time he will not hear shouts of “hosanna!” Instead the crowd will cry “crucify!” The fickleness of the crowd stands in stark contrast to the steadfastness of God, but that’s how crowds work. Small ideas slowly feed off the energy of the gathered and grows. Individuals lose their sense of reason and defer decision making to the will of the crowd. Psychologists call this mob mentality, and it has a power of its own.
A fickle disconnected crowd needs to be grounded in something steadfast. For Christian activists today, the example set by Jesus is key. March and organize, but do not forget to retreat into prayer when the rhetoric gets too exhausting.
In the News
Energy and passion are contagious. March Madness and St. Patrick’s Day show how small groups of people fueled by a common goal, and possibly some green beer, can talk each other into all sorts of crazy ideas. Psychologists have named this mob mentality. When someone is on the fence about an issue simply talking to an impassioned supporter can change their mind. Mob mentality can shut down a person’s common sense and convince them that following the crowd is best.
This phenomenon doesn’t only affect the indecisive. Psychologist Robert Cialdini writes, “Whether the question is what to do with an empty popcorn box in a movie theater, how fast to drive on a certain stretch of highway, or how to eat the chicken at a dinner party, the actions of those around us will be important in defining the answer.” Social proof is a shortcut to decide how to act.
Social proof was a matter of life and death for early humans. If everyone else was eating blueberries and avoiding a particular berry, it was a good bet to follow the crowd and not risk the other berries being poisonous. This survival technique became hard wired into all human beings; do as the crowd does and stay alive.
Even today crowds provide protection and support for individuals. They give a sense of belonging to the lonely and organize individuals to influence greater change. The downside is the polarizing nature of these crowds and the realities of mob mentality. The larger these groups get individuals become more isolated. During the last election many American’s shrunk their friend circles by unfriending people who posted opposing views on Facebook, and Democrats were the worst “unfrienders.” Removing the opposing voice from the dialogue only fuels mob mentality.
The threat is the same for groups on the right as it is for groups on the left. National Review pointed out “Two Americas watch different news. They read very different books, listen to different music, and watch different television shows. Increasingly, they now live lives according to two widely different traditions.” In Time’s analysis of our division states, “every day, we learn something new about the ways we are [dividing] ourselves, through the choices we make, the media we consume, the immensely powerful platforms we rely on whose impact we just barely understand.”
The challenge then is how to organize around an issue without creating a mob. Including all voices is one way to keep a balanced outlook. Forbes wrote a few tips on how to avoid mob mentality. Avoid auto pilot, don’t just collect talking points -- actually engage the material and think for yourself. Do your own research and include sources from all sides. Give yourself time to think, take a break to mull things over and get back to your core beliefs. Finally, do not be afraid to stand out. If you find you believe something other than the crowd or need to correct the rhetoric, speak up.
If the crowd that so enthusiastically welcomed Jesus had followed these rules they may not have all turned on him by Friday. Jesus models these tips by keeping a level head even as the crowds around him praise him. He takes a break when he senses the timing is not right. Jesus spends time with friends and with God in prayer to refocus on the mission.
In the Scripture
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem this time is very different from other visits. The differences point to a deliberately thought out entrance meant to call the people to attention. The message has been preached and now is a time to see. One distinguishing difference is the choice to abandon his regular mode of transportation, walking, for a donkey ride.
Riding a donkey held meaning for the people Jesus would encounter. William Barclay proposes Jesus planned to borrow the donkey from a friend in Bethany long before he needed a ride. Additionally, Jesus understood the images he would be evoking in the crowd’s mind. Donkey’s were ridden by kings on their coronation day, and by conquerors when they wanted to ensure the newly occupied people that they came in peace. Jesus knew these traditions and willingly put on the mantle of the peaceful conqueror king coming for coronation.
Jesus’ entry this time around was very public as well. He had come and gone in less noticeable ways before, as David Garland points out in his commentary. This time Jesus chose to make a fuss and draw attention. Jesus wanted the crowd to see him as a king and they got the message. The part they missed was the message of peace.
The king the crowd expected and wanted was more conqueror than peaceful. This is evident in their cry “hosanna” which is simply translated as “save us.” This cry is taken from Psalm 118, referred to as the conquerors Psalm. William Barclay writes that it was “written to commemorate the day Judas Maccabaeus cleansed the temple.” The word “hosanna” has lost the ring of aggressive action and sounds more docile to a modern ear. Passivity was not the intent of a crowd who cried “hosanna” -- “save us now.”
The messiah this crowd had been waiting for was going to tear down the current government and establish a new kingdom. The Psalms people rallied behind promised shattered rulers, trampled sinners, broken substance, and rebuked nations fleeing from Israel’s path. It is no wonder the crowd greeted Jesus with such enthusiasm. To them his dramatic entrance meant he was finally claiming this kingship, which he was, but they did not understand the kingdom would not come about the way they expected.
The frenzy that developed around Jesus comes to an anti-climactic end. Jesus looks around the temple and decides it’s too late to continue, so he leaves without shattering, trampling, breaking, or rebuking. Jesus decides instead to reconnect with the steadfastness of God. The exciting rhetoric of the day’s parade melts away and Jesus prepares for the week ahead.
In chapter twelve of Mark, Jesus will also use Psalm 118 (the rejected stone) but in a much different way. To Jesus Psalm 118 does not call for a conquering king but a rejected messiah. The only thing the crowd and Jesus can agree on is that God keeps his promises. God is steadfast even when the crowd is fickle. God will send the messiah.
In the Sermon
If a church is planning the full holy week of services one may decide to stay in the Palm Sunday moment. Leaving the passion and betrayal of the crowd for Friday’s worship. Then for Sunday two major players one can choose to focus on are Jesus or the crowd.
William Barclay’s The Gospel of Mark commentary in the Daily Study Bible Series does an analysis of how this entrance is different than the rest of Jesus’ visits to Jerusalem. The donkey, the route, and timing all add up to a dramatic statement that will set off the events of the coming week.
If one chooses to focus on the crowd The NIV Application Commentary breaks down the expectations of the people. It also talks about the role of the disciples in hyping the crowd up even though they know this is a suicide mission for Jesus.
If the worship schedule does not allow, or if many congregants will not be able to attend Holy Week services, it may be shrewd to hint at the coming passion. Again, the choice between focusing on Jesus or the crowd will lend itself to different sermons.
Congregants may feel cheated by the abrupt ending of Mark’s account. Jesus just turns around and heads home, but he doesn’t do this to be a buzz kill. N.T. Wright’s commentary Mark for Everyone explains the long road to get back to Bethany, and the logistics of the day’s events. More likely Jesus was genuinely tired and needed some peace and prayer before he started off again. The wherewithal to know it was time to reconnect with God is what makes the ending seem unfulfilling. The crowd wants action, but Jesus is dedicated enough to do this the right way with thought and spiritual maturity.
The crowd may be a meaningful focus with scenes of marching crowds crying for change fresh in the minds of congregants on Palm Sunday. The Saturday before is the March for Our Lives, which will take place in Washington and in cities across the nation. The crowd in the text serves as a warning to those who cry for change today. It is tempting to hold up whatever ideology we have as the ultimate solution. The crowd Jesus rode a donkey through thought they knew what was needed, too. The world needed a conquering messiah to topple the status quo. When that was not what they got, they abandoned the cause all together.
The adrenaline of this march will fade; another cause will rise to ignite the crowd. The trick is holding onto a cause even when it dies or seems to die, or, not turning our backs on the cause when it does not move in the way we want.
Occasional Truths
by Mary Austin
Mark 14:1--15:47
As Mark tells the story of Jesus’ last week, his skillful storytelling puts us right in the middle of all the chaos around Jesus. The main characters in the story keep moving from place to place, restless with rage, sorrow and panic. The frantic rush to put Jesus to death is filled with accusations and abuse. Everywhere Jesus goes, people mock him.
Our national conversation has a similar level of frantic energy these days, with claims and counter-claims about what’s true and what’s not. Mockery and insults are traded, along with occasional glimpses of the truth.
For Jesus at the end of his life, amid the sarcasm and insults, certain truths shine through. Some moments in the last week of his life bring the truth to life, and we find moments of clarity amid the pain. There is truth there, for those who seek it.
In the News
The President said recently that he had “invented a fact” when he met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and the resulting surprise was not about the lie, but that he so readily admitted it. Trump admitted to making it up, and then doubled down on the false information. “The Office of the United States Trade Representative says the United States has a trade surplus with Canada. It reports that in 2016, the United States exported $12.5 billion more in goods and services than it imported from Canada, leading to a trade surplus, not a deficit. In response to this story, Trump on Thursday went on Twitter to reiterate his false assertion that the United States has a trade “deficit” with Canada and said it was other countries that refused to accept that such imbalances exist.” No deficit, a surplus. He says he made it up, and then makes it up again. Where are the actual facts in a story with two levels of lies? The facts about the trade deficit and the facts about the misleading (and repeated) statement together make for a complicated story.
The President has taken his rage at Special Counsel Robert Mueller up a notch, tweeting over the weekend about Mueller and his team. “Under instruction from his attorneys, Trump has in the past been careful not to publicly criticize Mueller by name or otherwise directly antagonize the special counsel, but rather to make more general criticisms. On Saturday night, in an apparent change of strategy, Trump for the first time tweeted the name of the special counsel.” Lawmakers and political figures in both parties responded. “Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie (R), an informal adviser to Trump, said it would be inappropriate for the president to try to fire Mueller. The special counsel has “conducted this investigation so far with great integrity, without leaking and by showing results, and I don’t think the president’s going to fire somebody like that,” Christie said on ABC’s “This Week.” Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) warned that a move by Trump to order the firing of Mueller would be a step too far for lawmakers.” However, Congress has been unable or unwilling to pass legislation protecting Muller’s work. Are they speaking the truth, or acting it out? It’s hard to tell.
In public life, a certain level of exaggeration and interpretation are expected, but we rely on some shared realities to function. Truth is elusive in these divisive times.
In the Scriptures
The selected verses from Mark’s gospel take us all through the last hours of Jesus’ life. Lots of words are spoken, and only a very few of them come from Jesus. The drama opens with the religious leaders plotting to kill Jesus, and the unnamed woman anointing him for burial. They all see Jesus’ death coming, but the woman sees Jesus with honor while the religious authorities see him with fear and scorn. They meet in secret, and she takes action in a public space to announce her view of Jesus.
At the Passover meal, Jesus sees two truths about his followers. The group includes the betrayer, and a bunch of people who will desert him. Jesus sees another version of the truth: that these are his followers, people who love him, in spite of their fears and weakness. He sees that they will need something to hold onto after his death, and he makes the bread and cup into a sacred meal of remembrance. The people around him are both flawed and faithful, and Jesus sees both truths.
In Pilate’s courtyard, as people are milling around, anxiously waiting for news, a servant woman and a stray bystander both see the truth about Peter. He attempts to deny it, but they see the deeper truth, that he is a follower of Jesus. As they’re moving Jesus to the palace courtyard, the soldiers also speak the truth about Jesus, although they don’t realize it. Their mocking words are actually reality. Mark tells us that “they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him.” The mocking hides the truth, but it’s there.
The centurion standing at the cross sees the reality of who Jesus was after he breathes his last breath. An affirmation of faith comes from his unlikely lips: “Truly this man was God’s Son!” The most unlikely people see the truth about Jesus. Not the disciples, but the unnamed woman, the centurion, and the soldiers, in their own clueless way. Jesus sees deeper into the disciples than they do into themselves, choosing to see them as followers, even when he knows of their coming lapses.
In the Sermon
The sermon might explore how we see the truth about God. Lillian Daniel, author of Spiritual But Not Religious, contends that one problem with constructing our own personal faith is that it becomes all about us. She says, in an interview, “Often some shallow combination of exercise and caffeine, coffee shops as spiritual community, hikes as pilgrimages, The New York Times as sacred text, and sunsets -- don’t ever forget the sunsets. These people are always informing you that they find God in the sunsets. Well, excuse me, as if people who go to church didn’t see God in a sunset. You know, my take is that any idiot can find God in the sunset. What is remarkable is finding God in the context of flawed human community, and a tradition bigger than you are with people who may not reflect God back to you in your own image.” She adds, “Life is not a picnic, and the people who finally dig in and put down roots in one tradition bigger than themselves figure that out. There is a middle ground between the rigidity of touchdown theology and the superficiality of make-it-up-yourself spirituality. It is called a mature faith, practiced in community over time, reasonable, rigorous, real, grounded in tradition, centered in worship, called to serve and free to dream.” We need something outside ourselves to come to the truth about God.
Or, the sermon might look at who, in addition to Jesus, sees the truth about us. Our partners, children and co-workers know things about us that we don’t even see about ourselves. After a decade of marriage, my husband once told me, “You come from a very quiet family.” He was right, but I wouldn’t have had the words to say it because I’m so familiar with their habits. Over the years, colleagues have surprised me with their observations, seeing strengths in me that I wouldn’t have given myself credit for. And kids are always an excellent mirror for our flaws. There’s no self-delusion if you have kids in your life.
In our world, just as in the passion narrative of Mark’s gospel, truth pops up in unlikely places, spoken by unexpected people. As followers of Jesus, we have a calling to turn away from shiny distractions and to search for a deeper reality. Jesus sought, saw and spoke the truth, and he invites us into a life where we do the same.
Illustrations
From team member Tom Willadsen:
Please welcome new team member Tom Willadsen. You can read more about him here.
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Palm Sunday
Mark 11:1-11 and John 12:12-16
There are some interesting contrasts between Mark’s & John’s accounts of Palm Sunday. Both have Jesus riding a young donkey. In Mark the text specifies that it’s a colt that had never been ridden. I’m a city kid, so someone explained that the colt would be “a bucky little devil.” Also this text can support that Jesus was a horse thief, or perhaps he was guilty of conspiracy to steal a colt.
John’s text makes it clear that the ones who are accompanying Jesus to Jerusalem are the people who saw him raise Lazarus from the dead.
John’s text is alone in having the Pharisees note that they could do nothing about Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem because “the whole world has gone after him.”
But their futility turned to “triumph” a few days later -- which ties back to the fickleness that Mary and Bethany are describing in the main article.
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Mark 11:1-11
“Some rides don’t have much of a finish, that’s the ride I took.” From “29” by Gin Blossoms
Some parades end with pageantry and excitement. Others sort of peter out in the town park, where there’s a bored guy selling lemon shake ups, and if the budget isn’t too tight this year, the town fathers rent a bouncy castle.
I spent a lot of my cavity-prone years marching behind a trombone in a wide array of parades. There’s something about a marching band that turns an event into An Event. My high school and college bands were for hire. So when the next town over dedicated the new Amtrak station, my band was there. When the strip mall celebrated its 20th anniversary, I was there.
The West Peoria, Illinois, Fourth of July parade ends with a bang. After the Cub scout troops and Shriners have done their bit, a member of the state legislature or the county highway commissioner stands on the steps of the Congregational church and reminds the crowd why America is the land of opportunity, or the City Shining on the Hill. Then they cue “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
On the other hand, the Hopedale, Illinois Independence Day Parade isn’t even on the Fourth of July, larger towns have booked the Shriners and marching band for the Fourth. The Hopedale parade reaches its end at the town park. No speeches, no patriotism, no kids with bunting in the spokes of their bicycles. Some of the more ornery band members try to have a go in the bouncy castle, but they’re ruled too large, so the band just gets back on the bus and heads home. Yawn.
In Mark’s gospel Jesus rides a colt up to the temple. It’s a few days before Passover. There’s a crowd. The people spread clothes on the road; they cut branches and put them on the road. They shouted “Hosanna!” (That is “I beg you to save!” or “Please deliver us!”) They didn’t see a guy riding a borrowed colt, they saw the arrival of the Kingdom of David. Those stories they’d heard all their life? The signs were unfolding before their eyes! Sing, shout, dance!
And Jesus got up to the temple, checked the time on his smartphone and called it a day. They’d get an earlier start the next day, after enjoying some take-out from a place he loved in Bethany.
Triumph? Deliverance? Success? Revolution? “Naw, we’ll get a running start on that action tomorrow. I’m hungry.” There isn’t even a bouncy castle at the end of this parade.
They picked their cloaks up off the road and went home.
Thus Holy Week begins. Why not come back tomorrow?
This is a striking difference from Matthew and Luke in which Jesus cleanses the temple on arrival on Palm Sunday. Mark’s gospel describes a sort of hiccup in the action. And a much less satisfying end to the spontaneous parade.
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Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
“Steadfast love” “Marvelous” “Rejoice” (i.e. “Joice again!”) “Extol!” “Light” “Bless”
“Festal procession”
The words that the crowds shouted were from Psalm 118, a psalm filled with strong words about God’s goodness, generosity and dynamic, startling love. The crowds recognized Jesus riding a colt up to the temple as what they had been waiting, longing for. Could it be any better? The one coming up the road is blessed, the promised one coming in the name of the Lord!
Imagine seeing the best of all possible news unfolding before your eyes. Deliverance, national dignity restored, rejection and disgrace turned upside down! Don’t just recite the words, don’t just sing the words as you did in your younger days, shout them! Blend your voice with the crowds’ voice. It’s finally coming, walking up to the temple. Quick, where do we keep the festal branches? Break them out! We’ve waited too long! (Says the lifelong Cub fan.)
From team member Ron Love:
The posted illustrations are based on the major themes in this week’s lectionary readings.
Holy Week
In filming the movie Jesus of Nazareth, Ernest Borgnine played the role of the centurion who stood at the foot of the cross, looking up into the face of the crucified Jesus of Nazareth. Since this was a movie, actors only came on the set when needed; so instead of having the actor portraying Jesus before him, Borgnine stared at an “X” chalk mark. In such a sterile setting, Borgnine had a difficult time capturing the emotions that the Roman soldier must have experienced at that tragic moment. In order to feel the part, Borgnine asked someone to read Luke’s account of the crucifixion. As the words were being read, Borgnine felt more and more uncomfortable, ashamed that like the first centurion he failed to acknowledge the Son of God in his own life. Then something miraculous happened -- the chalk mark suddenly was transformed into the face of Jesus, lifelike and clear. Captivated by the revelation, Borgnine realized how the centurion who first stood at the foot of the cross must have been affected; in all sincerity he repeated the soldier’s words: “Truly this man was God’s son!”
Application: To look into the face of Jesus, to touch the hem of his garment, to listen to his teachings, to be invited to share a meal at his table, to be touched by his hand and to receive the comfort of his blessing, will change a person forever. If you choose to come into the presence of Jesus, you will be empowered by his grace and mercy, your sins will be forgiven, strength will be restored to your weary body, your self-esteem will be enhanced, and you will have the assurance that the promises of the Gospels are for all believers. This is all possible if we can make the same confession that the centurion made at the foot of the crass: “Truly this man was God’s son!”
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Holy Week
Bob Keeshan has entertained children for years as the jovial Captain Kangaroo. In his autobiography Growing Up Happy, Keeshan shared the moment when he realized life would be marvelous. Shortly after the Second World War, Keeshan, an eighteen-year-old Marine, was on board the troopship Rockbridge Ranger sailing towards his last duty station in Hawaii. He enjoyed spending the dark nights standing in the forecastle, gazing at the starlit skies. The bow dipped into each succeeding wave and the heavens shown gloriously overhead. Reflecting on this experience Keeshan wrote, “There was a rhythm to life, I felt at those moments. I didn’t know what was going to happen to me when I was discharged, but I would be nineteen and I was convinced that the world would be wonderful.”
Application: When the ladies who followed Jesus went to the empty tomb, later followed by the disciple’s, everyone then knew that “I was convinced that the world would be wonderful.”
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Holy Week
In 2011, a number of countries began to restrict the freedom of human rights organizations. Some of these countries were: Brazil, India, Indonesia, Peru, Columbia, Honduras, Paraguay, and Zimbabwe. These countries consider those who were engaged in a social struggle were subject to a criminal offense. The ACT Alliance, who has a membership of 111 denominations in 140 countries, spoke out against these restrictions. Suvi Virkkunen, a spokesman for the ACT, said, “This is about local people working for human rights and their survival. Governments must stop seeing civil society as a threat.”
Application: The message of Palm Sunday and in the events during the following week, demonstrate that we are to speak out for the welfare of all people.
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Holy Week
Colin Powell was the 65th United States Secretary of State. He served under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. Powell was the first African-American to serve in that position. Powell, as Secretary of State, tried to negotiate peace between Palestine and Israel. Realizing the daunting task before him, Powell commented, “We’re at the beginning of a new long hallway. At the end is a negotiation for peace. But first we got to get the door open. It’s going to take two keys.” Sadly, people lack the keys to open the doors to new understanding. Thus, it was the case for the first century Temple leaders who failed to unlock the Temple doors for the Jesus. Palm Sunday, he rode upon the back of a donkey, the sign that a king comes in peace, rather than mounted on a white stallion, the mark of war, only to find one in the crowd, one adorned in palm branches had arrived with a key; the second key held by the high priests, were absent.
Application: We can only hope that one day the leaders of nations shall find the second key, and, in the words of Isaiah, “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
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Holy Week
Gary Blair has been coaching basketball for 33 years and continues in that position to this day. During that time, he had only one losing season. In 2003 he became the head coach of the women’s basketball team -- the Texas A&M Aggies. Before each game, the Texas A&M basketball coach will scrawl a plus sign on his hand. This is to remind him to be as positive with his players as he is with the public.
Application: After each day of creation God looked over what he had accomplished and said it “was good.” It was a remark of affirmation. It was a remark of being pleased. It was a positive statement that creation was good and he had an integral part in it. It would be good for us all to place, either figuratively or literally, a plus mark on the palm of our hand as a reminder to have a positive and affirming attitude towards others and towards life. With the new creation that came after the Resurrection, the disciples could once again affirm, after years of persecution and suffering, they could confess that “it was good.”
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Holy Week
After the Tucson shootings in front of the Safeway store on January 8, 2011, where there was an attempted assassination on Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford, President Obama visited the city to console the people. But... Obama was not there just for the Gifford family, but for all the families who suffered a terrible and tragic loss of a loved one. Obama’s compassion and understanding of this is reflected in these words form his speech, “There is nothing I can say that will fill the sudden hole torn in your hearts.”
Application: We have all experienced sudden holes torn in our hearts. It may come from the death of a loved one or a feeling of personal failure. It was a feeling of personal failure that Isaiah experienced when he endured “insult and spitting” from those whom he was trying to guide and comfort. Yet, as believers in the Resurrection, despite our persecution, we can still try to bring a message of hope to all who “fill the sudden hole torn in your hearts.”
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Holy Week
Henry Bessemer is best remembered for developing the Bessemer Process in 1856, which was also called the pneumatic conversion process, for making steel. His invention could produce as much steel in 24 minutes that previously took 24 hours. He revolutionized the steel making process, and because of this the last half of the nineteenth century is often called the “age of steel.” Unknown to most people is that his first invention was the “spinning projectile.” He designed the spinning motion of bullets and artillery shells to increase their accuracy and destructive potential. This killing innovation was invented to assist the French and British during the Crimean War.
Application: As we read the story of Holy Week we encounter many individuals who had conflicting and contradictory actions. Peter, who was the senior disciple, was also the one who betrayed Jesus. Judas, who was the treasurer, was the one who sold Jesus out to the authorities. Pilate, who was known to be ruthless, when facing Jesus chose to wash his hands as a declaration of innocence. What will we remember most about each individual who passes through the story this week? Bessemer is remembered as a great steel maker, he is forgotten as an inventor of death. What will people remember you and me for? As a follower of Christ or as one who sold him out?
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Holy Week
Jeremiah Denton, a Navy pilot having been shot down during the Vietnam War, was held captive in the Hanoi Hilton for eight years, beginning in 1965. In such a traumatic and horrid conditions, he understood the need for the comforting presence of a heavenly parent as he and other POWs endured a hell administered by heartless demons. As a senior ranking officer, he wrote poetry, memorized it, recited it to other pilots, who in turn memorized the lines, and like stealth bombers the words of comfort would fly about the camp, undetected by Satan’s emissaries. Easter of 1969, he wrote a poem titled La Pieta. La Pieta is any poem or statue or similar piece of artistic expression that depicts the crucified Jesus lying on the lap of his mother, embraced in her arms. Once the poem became a part of the camp’s vernacular, Denton was designated as the president of the Optimist Club.
The soldiers stare, then drift away,
Young John finds nothing to say,
The veil is rent; the deed is done;
And Mary holds her only son.
His limbs grow stiff, the night grows cold,
But naught can lose that mother’s hold,
Her gentle, anguished eyes seem blind,
Who knows what thoughts run through her mind?
Perhaps she thinks of last week’s palms,
With cheering thousands off’ring alms
Or dreams of Cana on the day
She nagged him till she got her way.
Her face shows grief but not despair,
Her head though bowed has faith to spare,
For even now she could suppose
His thorns might somehow yield a rose.
Her life with Him was full of signs
That God writes straight with crooked lines.
Dark clouds can bide the rising sun,
And all seem lost, when all be won!
Application: As the disciples and their followers knew that one day thy would be liberated, so Denton and the others held captive at the Hanoi Hilton knew the day of liberation was coming. This is the message of the Resurrection.
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Holy Week
When the Pittsburgh Steelers were two weeks away 1975 National Football League playoffs, the owners of the team knew they need something to inspire the fans to cheer the Steelers onto victor. The managers turned to popular broadcaster Myron Cope to create an idea that would lift up everyone’s spirits. Cope came up with the idea of everyone bringing a yellow towel to the stadium, as the Steelers colors are yellow and black, and waving the yellow towels would be an inspiration during the game. The Steelers won that game against the Baltimore Colts in a score of 28-10. As the performance of the Steelers improved, the yellow towels became rallying symbol of the team known as “The Terrible Towel.” Cope said the towel “is not an instrument of witchcraft…It is not a hex upon the enemy. The towel is a positive force that lifts the Steelers to magnificent heights.” Cope went on to say, “the symbol of the terrible towel will serve as a memento of your having been a part of the Steeler’ Dynasty.”
Application: When Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem the crowds waved palms. Later in the week “a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on Jesus’ head.” The towel, the palms, the nard, it is because we want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. It is because we believe in the victory that the one who we anoint and cheer will bring to us.
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Holy Week
The Arlington House was a mansion built as a living memorial to George Washington. It was built by the first president’s adopted grandson. The estate was built on a 1,100-acre tract of land across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Decades later a distant cousin, Robert E. Lee, became the resident of the home. Between 1841 and 1857, Lee was away from Arlington House for several extended periods, serving in the Mexican War and then as superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, his alma mater. In 1857 Lee returned to Arlington to join his family and to serve as executor of the estate. Robert E. Lee and his wife, Mary Anna, lived at Arlington House until 1861, when Virginia ratified an alliance with the Confederacy and seceded from the Union. Lee, who had been named a major general for the Virginia military forces in April 1861, feared for his wife's safety and anticipated the loss of their family inheritance, so he moved to a new residence. Following the ratification of secession by Virginia, federal troops crossed the Potomac and took up positions around Arlington. Following the occupation, military installations were erected. In punishment for his allegiance to the South, the land was then made into a cemetery so Robert E. lee would never be able to claim the Arlington House as a residency again. The Arlington National Cemetery was established on June 15, 1864.
Application: Though Arlington National Cemetery may have been created as an act of retribution, it has become a tribute to our fallen warriors in battle. The 400,000 graves are a remembrance of those who made the supreme sacrifice for our country, both casualties of war and veterans. The white tombs arraigned in straight lines stand like soldiers in formation. The crucifixion, like the Arlington House, once represented the end of our hopes and dreams as we once believed in them. But in time, the crucifixion was overshawded by an empty tomb, the same as farm land that once belonged to a secessionist has become the cemetery of our nation’s heroes, reminding us that our hopes and dreams are once again restored.
WORSHIP
by Chris Keating
Palm Procession:
The feeling of the boisterous chanting of the crowd and impromptu parade which accompanied Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem offers an opportunity to include children in worship. It’s possible to have the children enter waving palms and cheering, yelling “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Or take the opportunity to include the congregation in song. An easy to learn melody is Francis Patrick O’Brien’s “Hosanna!” (available from onelicense.net), or even a more traditional “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna!” Those who wish to join the processional can line up as worship begins, entering with their palm branches outstretched, exuberantly praising God.
Call to Worship (Liturgy of the Palms)
One: This is the day that the Lord has made!
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
One: Save us, Lord, we beseech you!
All: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord, for God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Or
One: Look, your king comes to you,
All: Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
One: Jesus comes to us righteous and victorious,
All: Yet lowly and riding on a donkey.
One: Shout aloud and sing praises to our God!
Prayer for the day:
Gracious God whose love was made incarnate in Jesus,
You sustain us when we are weary, and answer us when we pray.
The crowds cheer your son, yet run from his commands.
Pour out your mercy on us as we enter this week,
That we faithfully participate in the passion of your Son,
and abide in his promises. Amen.
Hymns
Liturgy of the Palms
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
All Glory, Laud and Honor
At the Name of Jesus
Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna, the Little Children Sang
A Cheering, Chanting, Dizzy Crowd
Filled With Excitement (Mantos y palmas)
Ride On! Ride On in Majesty!
Tell me the stories of Jesus
Liturgy of the Passion
He Never Said a Mumblin’ Word
Jesus, Priceless Treasure
Stay with Me
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
When we are tempted to deny your Son
Jesus, Remember Me
When I survey the Wondrous Cross
Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone
Beneath The Cross of Jesus
Were You There?
Prayer of Confession:
We wave our palms, and shout out our praise.
Yet too often our praises turn fickle, and our shouts subside.
God alone is faithful. Jesus enters the city just as he enters our hearts:
filled with mercy and grace. In faith, let us confess our sin.
(Unison)
God of grace and God of glory, your help is always near. We are rebellious, and often act like wanton children. We enjoy the adrenalin rush of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, and excitedly shout our praise. Yet we our eyes become filled with sleep, and we allow ourselves to become distracted. We do not practice the peace Jesus offered, and instead allow rage and anger to take root within us. When confronted with temptation, we are weak, and allow our fears to overwhelm us. Help us to have the mind of Christ and set our faces like flint as we watch his passion. O God, and do not put us to shame! Help us to trust in you, so that we would say over and over again, “You are our God.” Hear our prayer, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Assurance of Pardon:
Hear the Good News: Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something trivial. Instead, he emptied himself, and endured death on a cross. It is the Lord God who helps us, and God does not declare us guilty. Trust in God, and know our sins are forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving, Supplication and Intercession
Loving God,
Your faithfulness is certain, and your promises are true. As Jesus enters his week of trial, we remember that you do not give up on us. We thank you for your love that is without end and praise you for your steadfast grace. The cheering of the crowd soon turns into slander and obscenity, and those who were delighted by signs of your grace now call for Jesus’ execution. Help us to remain faithful to you, and to listen to what Jesus asks us to do: to sit, wait, and pray. As He feeds us with the bread of life, give us your Word of life, and allow it to dwell within us. Even though our eyes get heavy, help us to wait and to watch, trusting in the promises of all Jesus has taught. We pray for those who have given up hope, who are experiencing the abandonment your Son knew, and whose faith has been tested. Be with those who are hungry and ignored, those injured by acts of oppression. Allow us to become faithful disciples whose lives bear witness to your amazing grace and lift us ever closer to the promise of resurrection. As the shadows fall upon us, teach us to look into the horizons of hope. Easter will come, and our songs of praise shall once again be heard, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Holy words for Holy Week
by Chris Keating
Mark 14:1--15:47
Taking time to explain the events surrounding Jesus’ death and introducing children to Holy Week’s vocabulary will help children grow in their understanding of Jesus’ Passion.
Prepare ahead of time:
Sheets of paper with various words associated with Holy Week printed in large, easy to read letters (for example, “Hosanna,” “Crucifixion,” “Maundy Thursday,” “Good Friday.” Feel free to add other words/actions that are appropriate to your community.
This Sunday’s lengthy verses brings difficulty to crafting of a children’s sermon. The lectionary’s verbiage, combined with the basic difficulty of explaining Jesus’ arrest, torture and crucifixion to children, provide significant challenges. Yet, because many children may not attend Holy Week services, this Sunday offers an opportunity to help children understand the confusing Christian lexicon. Take the opportunity to introduce the events of the coming week so that children will begin to understand that we don’t just go from the Palm Sunday parade to the Easter parade.
Palm Sunday offers an opportunity to teach children a bit more about the meaning of Holy Week instead of just saying “Jesus had to die.” Try explaining that to first graders! Instead, offer more concrete lessons that may more helpfully communicate the importance of this week.
After greeting the children, talk to them a bit about Palm Sunday. You may choose to read a children’s version of Mark 11:1-11. Talk about Jesus’ entering the city, how Jesus gave the disciples some strange instructions, and how the crowd waved palm branches as a greeting. Like any parade, there was a great deal of excitement about Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem. But there were also those who were upset with Jesus. They thought his ideas were dangerous. In the week ahead, these people tried to figure out how to keep Jesus’ message from spreading.
Jesus asked the disciples to wait and watch, and that is a good thing for us to do, as well. As you hold up each piece of paper, define the words they may hear this week. For example, if your church observes Maundy Thursday, help them understand that this isn’t “Monday Thursday,” but instead a word that comes from Latin. If these words are unfamiliar to you, look up their meaning and spend some time thinking of how to teach them to children. Use simple words to help the children learn.
For example, Maundy comes from an old word meaning “mandate.” Explain how Jesus gave the disciples a new mandate or commandment during the Last Supper. On that evening, Jesus gave the disciples a new mandate, or a new commandment.
Likewise, words like “Good Friday” may seem confusing -- what’s so good about Jesus dying? By introducing the words your church uses in Holy Week, the children will feel more comfortable in worship, and will be equipped to be curious disciples as they continue growing.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, March 25, 2018, issue.
Copyright 2018 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
- Long Awaited Frenzy by Bethany Peerbolte -- Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem had the crowd feeling “some time of way.” In the moment the crowd may have named that feeling euphoric but their future cries for crucifixion will bring their welcome into question. The crowds fluctuating feelings remind us why we lean on a steadfast God.
- Occasional Truths by Mary Austin -- For Jesus at the end of his life, amid the sarcasm and insults, certain truths shine through. Some moments in the last week of his life bring the truth to life, and we find moments of clarity amid the pain. There is truth there, for those who seek it.
- Sermon illustrations by Ron Love and new team member Tom Willadsen.
- Worship resources by Chris Keating.
- Holy words for Holy Week -- Children's sermon by Chris Keating. This lesson will help children understand more of the meaning and impact of the Passion by explaining some of the terms.
Long Awaited Frenzy
by Bethany Peerbolte
Mark 11:1-11, Psalm 118
Divisions in America may be at their worst. Nancy Gibbs, formerly of Time Magazine, found “seven in ten Americans say we have reached a dangerous new low point, and are at least as divided as we were during the Vietnam war,” and she is supported by Pew Research Center. Mass movements form around these divisions organizing citizens with similar ideologies. While they help individuals work for change they also make the problem worse by disconnecting people from the larger dialogue.
Crowds crying out for change is not a new phenomenon. Mark recalls the crowd that formed around Jesus when he entered Jerusalem. Some in the crowd had followed Jesus’ ministry closely and were genuinely excited to see him up close. Some had heard rumors of miracles and resurrections and were there to be a witness to what would happen next. Still others were in town for the holiday and were swept up in the energy the crowd exuded not really knowing what they were getting into.
Jesus came into town as the promised King and he received a King’s welcome. The excitement was so turned up even Jesus lost track of time and had to call it a day before the intended work was finished. Jesus knew the crowd was disconnected from God and the purpose of a messiah. His solution was to retreat into prayer and collect himself for the week ahead.
When Jesus returns he will not get the same welcome. Next time he will not hear shouts of “hosanna!” Instead the crowd will cry “crucify!” The fickleness of the crowd stands in stark contrast to the steadfastness of God, but that’s how crowds work. Small ideas slowly feed off the energy of the gathered and grows. Individuals lose their sense of reason and defer decision making to the will of the crowd. Psychologists call this mob mentality, and it has a power of its own.
A fickle disconnected crowd needs to be grounded in something steadfast. For Christian activists today, the example set by Jesus is key. March and organize, but do not forget to retreat into prayer when the rhetoric gets too exhausting.
In the News
Energy and passion are contagious. March Madness and St. Patrick’s Day show how small groups of people fueled by a common goal, and possibly some green beer, can talk each other into all sorts of crazy ideas. Psychologists have named this mob mentality. When someone is on the fence about an issue simply talking to an impassioned supporter can change their mind. Mob mentality can shut down a person’s common sense and convince them that following the crowd is best.
This phenomenon doesn’t only affect the indecisive. Psychologist Robert Cialdini writes, “Whether the question is what to do with an empty popcorn box in a movie theater, how fast to drive on a certain stretch of highway, or how to eat the chicken at a dinner party, the actions of those around us will be important in defining the answer.” Social proof is a shortcut to decide how to act.
Social proof was a matter of life and death for early humans. If everyone else was eating blueberries and avoiding a particular berry, it was a good bet to follow the crowd and not risk the other berries being poisonous. This survival technique became hard wired into all human beings; do as the crowd does and stay alive.
Even today crowds provide protection and support for individuals. They give a sense of belonging to the lonely and organize individuals to influence greater change. The downside is the polarizing nature of these crowds and the realities of mob mentality. The larger these groups get individuals become more isolated. During the last election many American’s shrunk their friend circles by unfriending people who posted opposing views on Facebook, and Democrats were the worst “unfrienders.” Removing the opposing voice from the dialogue only fuels mob mentality.
The threat is the same for groups on the right as it is for groups on the left. National Review pointed out “Two Americas watch different news. They read very different books, listen to different music, and watch different television shows. Increasingly, they now live lives according to two widely different traditions.” In Time’s analysis of our division states, “every day, we learn something new about the ways we are [dividing] ourselves, through the choices we make, the media we consume, the immensely powerful platforms we rely on whose impact we just barely understand.”
The challenge then is how to organize around an issue without creating a mob. Including all voices is one way to keep a balanced outlook. Forbes wrote a few tips on how to avoid mob mentality. Avoid auto pilot, don’t just collect talking points -- actually engage the material and think for yourself. Do your own research and include sources from all sides. Give yourself time to think, take a break to mull things over and get back to your core beliefs. Finally, do not be afraid to stand out. If you find you believe something other than the crowd or need to correct the rhetoric, speak up.
If the crowd that so enthusiastically welcomed Jesus had followed these rules they may not have all turned on him by Friday. Jesus models these tips by keeping a level head even as the crowds around him praise him. He takes a break when he senses the timing is not right. Jesus spends time with friends and with God in prayer to refocus on the mission.
In the Scripture
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem this time is very different from other visits. The differences point to a deliberately thought out entrance meant to call the people to attention. The message has been preached and now is a time to see. One distinguishing difference is the choice to abandon his regular mode of transportation, walking, for a donkey ride.
Riding a donkey held meaning for the people Jesus would encounter. William Barclay proposes Jesus planned to borrow the donkey from a friend in Bethany long before he needed a ride. Additionally, Jesus understood the images he would be evoking in the crowd’s mind. Donkey’s were ridden by kings on their coronation day, and by conquerors when they wanted to ensure the newly occupied people that they came in peace. Jesus knew these traditions and willingly put on the mantle of the peaceful conqueror king coming for coronation.
Jesus’ entry this time around was very public as well. He had come and gone in less noticeable ways before, as David Garland points out in his commentary. This time Jesus chose to make a fuss and draw attention. Jesus wanted the crowd to see him as a king and they got the message. The part they missed was the message of peace.
The king the crowd expected and wanted was more conqueror than peaceful. This is evident in their cry “hosanna” which is simply translated as “save us.” This cry is taken from Psalm 118, referred to as the conquerors Psalm. William Barclay writes that it was “written to commemorate the day Judas Maccabaeus cleansed the temple.” The word “hosanna” has lost the ring of aggressive action and sounds more docile to a modern ear. Passivity was not the intent of a crowd who cried “hosanna” -- “save us now.”
The messiah this crowd had been waiting for was going to tear down the current government and establish a new kingdom. The Psalms people rallied behind promised shattered rulers, trampled sinners, broken substance, and rebuked nations fleeing from Israel’s path. It is no wonder the crowd greeted Jesus with such enthusiasm. To them his dramatic entrance meant he was finally claiming this kingship, which he was, but they did not understand the kingdom would not come about the way they expected.
The frenzy that developed around Jesus comes to an anti-climactic end. Jesus looks around the temple and decides it’s too late to continue, so he leaves without shattering, trampling, breaking, or rebuking. Jesus decides instead to reconnect with the steadfastness of God. The exciting rhetoric of the day’s parade melts away and Jesus prepares for the week ahead.
In chapter twelve of Mark, Jesus will also use Psalm 118 (the rejected stone) but in a much different way. To Jesus Psalm 118 does not call for a conquering king but a rejected messiah. The only thing the crowd and Jesus can agree on is that God keeps his promises. God is steadfast even when the crowd is fickle. God will send the messiah.
In the Sermon
If a church is planning the full holy week of services one may decide to stay in the Palm Sunday moment. Leaving the passion and betrayal of the crowd for Friday’s worship. Then for Sunday two major players one can choose to focus on are Jesus or the crowd.
William Barclay’s The Gospel of Mark commentary in the Daily Study Bible Series does an analysis of how this entrance is different than the rest of Jesus’ visits to Jerusalem. The donkey, the route, and timing all add up to a dramatic statement that will set off the events of the coming week.
If one chooses to focus on the crowd The NIV Application Commentary breaks down the expectations of the people. It also talks about the role of the disciples in hyping the crowd up even though they know this is a suicide mission for Jesus.
If the worship schedule does not allow, or if many congregants will not be able to attend Holy Week services, it may be shrewd to hint at the coming passion. Again, the choice between focusing on Jesus or the crowd will lend itself to different sermons.
Congregants may feel cheated by the abrupt ending of Mark’s account. Jesus just turns around and heads home, but he doesn’t do this to be a buzz kill. N.T. Wright’s commentary Mark for Everyone explains the long road to get back to Bethany, and the logistics of the day’s events. More likely Jesus was genuinely tired and needed some peace and prayer before he started off again. The wherewithal to know it was time to reconnect with God is what makes the ending seem unfulfilling. The crowd wants action, but Jesus is dedicated enough to do this the right way with thought and spiritual maturity.
The crowd may be a meaningful focus with scenes of marching crowds crying for change fresh in the minds of congregants on Palm Sunday. The Saturday before is the March for Our Lives, which will take place in Washington and in cities across the nation. The crowd in the text serves as a warning to those who cry for change today. It is tempting to hold up whatever ideology we have as the ultimate solution. The crowd Jesus rode a donkey through thought they knew what was needed, too. The world needed a conquering messiah to topple the status quo. When that was not what they got, they abandoned the cause all together.
The adrenaline of this march will fade; another cause will rise to ignite the crowd. The trick is holding onto a cause even when it dies or seems to die, or, not turning our backs on the cause when it does not move in the way we want.
Occasional Truths
by Mary Austin
Mark 14:1--15:47
As Mark tells the story of Jesus’ last week, his skillful storytelling puts us right in the middle of all the chaos around Jesus. The main characters in the story keep moving from place to place, restless with rage, sorrow and panic. The frantic rush to put Jesus to death is filled with accusations and abuse. Everywhere Jesus goes, people mock him.
Our national conversation has a similar level of frantic energy these days, with claims and counter-claims about what’s true and what’s not. Mockery and insults are traded, along with occasional glimpses of the truth.
For Jesus at the end of his life, amid the sarcasm and insults, certain truths shine through. Some moments in the last week of his life bring the truth to life, and we find moments of clarity amid the pain. There is truth there, for those who seek it.
In the News
The President said recently that he had “invented a fact” when he met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and the resulting surprise was not about the lie, but that he so readily admitted it. Trump admitted to making it up, and then doubled down on the false information. “The Office of the United States Trade Representative says the United States has a trade surplus with Canada. It reports that in 2016, the United States exported $12.5 billion more in goods and services than it imported from Canada, leading to a trade surplus, not a deficit. In response to this story, Trump on Thursday went on Twitter to reiterate his false assertion that the United States has a trade “deficit” with Canada and said it was other countries that refused to accept that such imbalances exist.” No deficit, a surplus. He says he made it up, and then makes it up again. Where are the actual facts in a story with two levels of lies? The facts about the trade deficit and the facts about the misleading (and repeated) statement together make for a complicated story.
The President has taken his rage at Special Counsel Robert Mueller up a notch, tweeting over the weekend about Mueller and his team. “Under instruction from his attorneys, Trump has in the past been careful not to publicly criticize Mueller by name or otherwise directly antagonize the special counsel, but rather to make more general criticisms. On Saturday night, in an apparent change of strategy, Trump for the first time tweeted the name of the special counsel.” Lawmakers and political figures in both parties responded. “Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie (R), an informal adviser to Trump, said it would be inappropriate for the president to try to fire Mueller. The special counsel has “conducted this investigation so far with great integrity, without leaking and by showing results, and I don’t think the president’s going to fire somebody like that,” Christie said on ABC’s “This Week.” Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) warned that a move by Trump to order the firing of Mueller would be a step too far for lawmakers.” However, Congress has been unable or unwilling to pass legislation protecting Muller’s work. Are they speaking the truth, or acting it out? It’s hard to tell.
In public life, a certain level of exaggeration and interpretation are expected, but we rely on some shared realities to function. Truth is elusive in these divisive times.
In the Scriptures
The selected verses from Mark’s gospel take us all through the last hours of Jesus’ life. Lots of words are spoken, and only a very few of them come from Jesus. The drama opens with the religious leaders plotting to kill Jesus, and the unnamed woman anointing him for burial. They all see Jesus’ death coming, but the woman sees Jesus with honor while the religious authorities see him with fear and scorn. They meet in secret, and she takes action in a public space to announce her view of Jesus.
At the Passover meal, Jesus sees two truths about his followers. The group includes the betrayer, and a bunch of people who will desert him. Jesus sees another version of the truth: that these are his followers, people who love him, in spite of their fears and weakness. He sees that they will need something to hold onto after his death, and he makes the bread and cup into a sacred meal of remembrance. The people around him are both flawed and faithful, and Jesus sees both truths.
In Pilate’s courtyard, as people are milling around, anxiously waiting for news, a servant woman and a stray bystander both see the truth about Peter. He attempts to deny it, but they see the deeper truth, that he is a follower of Jesus. As they’re moving Jesus to the palace courtyard, the soldiers also speak the truth about Jesus, although they don’t realize it. Their mocking words are actually reality. Mark tells us that “they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him.” The mocking hides the truth, but it’s there.
The centurion standing at the cross sees the reality of who Jesus was after he breathes his last breath. An affirmation of faith comes from his unlikely lips: “Truly this man was God’s Son!” The most unlikely people see the truth about Jesus. Not the disciples, but the unnamed woman, the centurion, and the soldiers, in their own clueless way. Jesus sees deeper into the disciples than they do into themselves, choosing to see them as followers, even when he knows of their coming lapses.
In the Sermon
The sermon might explore how we see the truth about God. Lillian Daniel, author of Spiritual But Not Religious, contends that one problem with constructing our own personal faith is that it becomes all about us. She says, in an interview, “Often some shallow combination of exercise and caffeine, coffee shops as spiritual community, hikes as pilgrimages, The New York Times as sacred text, and sunsets -- don’t ever forget the sunsets. These people are always informing you that they find God in the sunsets. Well, excuse me, as if people who go to church didn’t see God in a sunset. You know, my take is that any idiot can find God in the sunset. What is remarkable is finding God in the context of flawed human community, and a tradition bigger than you are with people who may not reflect God back to you in your own image.” She adds, “Life is not a picnic, and the people who finally dig in and put down roots in one tradition bigger than themselves figure that out. There is a middle ground between the rigidity of touchdown theology and the superficiality of make-it-up-yourself spirituality. It is called a mature faith, practiced in community over time, reasonable, rigorous, real, grounded in tradition, centered in worship, called to serve and free to dream.” We need something outside ourselves to come to the truth about God.
Or, the sermon might look at who, in addition to Jesus, sees the truth about us. Our partners, children and co-workers know things about us that we don’t even see about ourselves. After a decade of marriage, my husband once told me, “You come from a very quiet family.” He was right, but I wouldn’t have had the words to say it because I’m so familiar with their habits. Over the years, colleagues have surprised me with their observations, seeing strengths in me that I wouldn’t have given myself credit for. And kids are always an excellent mirror for our flaws. There’s no self-delusion if you have kids in your life.
In our world, just as in the passion narrative of Mark’s gospel, truth pops up in unlikely places, spoken by unexpected people. As followers of Jesus, we have a calling to turn away from shiny distractions and to search for a deeper reality. Jesus sought, saw and spoke the truth, and he invites us into a life where we do the same.
Illustrations
From team member Tom Willadsen:
Please welcome new team member Tom Willadsen. You can read more about him here.
*****
Palm Sunday
Mark 11:1-11 and John 12:12-16
There are some interesting contrasts between Mark’s & John’s accounts of Palm Sunday. Both have Jesus riding a young donkey. In Mark the text specifies that it’s a colt that had never been ridden. I’m a city kid, so someone explained that the colt would be “a bucky little devil.” Also this text can support that Jesus was a horse thief, or perhaps he was guilty of conspiracy to steal a colt.
John’s text makes it clear that the ones who are accompanying Jesus to Jerusalem are the people who saw him raise Lazarus from the dead.
John’s text is alone in having the Pharisees note that they could do nothing about Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem because “the whole world has gone after him.”
But their futility turned to “triumph” a few days later -- which ties back to the fickleness that Mary and Bethany are describing in the main article.
*****
Mark 11:1-11
“Some rides don’t have much of a finish, that’s the ride I took.” From “29” by Gin Blossoms
Some parades end with pageantry and excitement. Others sort of peter out in the town park, where there’s a bored guy selling lemon shake ups, and if the budget isn’t too tight this year, the town fathers rent a bouncy castle.
I spent a lot of my cavity-prone years marching behind a trombone in a wide array of parades. There’s something about a marching band that turns an event into An Event. My high school and college bands were for hire. So when the next town over dedicated the new Amtrak station, my band was there. When the strip mall celebrated its 20th anniversary, I was there.
The West Peoria, Illinois, Fourth of July parade ends with a bang. After the Cub scout troops and Shriners have done their bit, a member of the state legislature or the county highway commissioner stands on the steps of the Congregational church and reminds the crowd why America is the land of opportunity, or the City Shining on the Hill. Then they cue “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
On the other hand, the Hopedale, Illinois Independence Day Parade isn’t even on the Fourth of July, larger towns have booked the Shriners and marching band for the Fourth. The Hopedale parade reaches its end at the town park. No speeches, no patriotism, no kids with bunting in the spokes of their bicycles. Some of the more ornery band members try to have a go in the bouncy castle, but they’re ruled too large, so the band just gets back on the bus and heads home. Yawn.
In Mark’s gospel Jesus rides a colt up to the temple. It’s a few days before Passover. There’s a crowd. The people spread clothes on the road; they cut branches and put them on the road. They shouted “Hosanna!” (That is “I beg you to save!” or “Please deliver us!”) They didn’t see a guy riding a borrowed colt, they saw the arrival of the Kingdom of David. Those stories they’d heard all their life? The signs were unfolding before their eyes! Sing, shout, dance!
And Jesus got up to the temple, checked the time on his smartphone and called it a day. They’d get an earlier start the next day, after enjoying some take-out from a place he loved in Bethany.
Triumph? Deliverance? Success? Revolution? “Naw, we’ll get a running start on that action tomorrow. I’m hungry.” There isn’t even a bouncy castle at the end of this parade.
They picked their cloaks up off the road and went home.
Thus Holy Week begins. Why not come back tomorrow?
This is a striking difference from Matthew and Luke in which Jesus cleanses the temple on arrival on Palm Sunday. Mark’s gospel describes a sort of hiccup in the action. And a much less satisfying end to the spontaneous parade.
*****
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
“Steadfast love” “Marvelous” “Rejoice” (i.e. “Joice again!”) “Extol!” “Light” “Bless”
“Festal procession”
The words that the crowds shouted were from Psalm 118, a psalm filled with strong words about God’s goodness, generosity and dynamic, startling love. The crowds recognized Jesus riding a colt up to the temple as what they had been waiting, longing for. Could it be any better? The one coming up the road is blessed, the promised one coming in the name of the Lord!
Imagine seeing the best of all possible news unfolding before your eyes. Deliverance, national dignity restored, rejection and disgrace turned upside down! Don’t just recite the words, don’t just sing the words as you did in your younger days, shout them! Blend your voice with the crowds’ voice. It’s finally coming, walking up to the temple. Quick, where do we keep the festal branches? Break them out! We’ve waited too long! (Says the lifelong Cub fan.)
From team member Ron Love:
The posted illustrations are based on the major themes in this week’s lectionary readings.
Holy Week
In filming the movie Jesus of Nazareth, Ernest Borgnine played the role of the centurion who stood at the foot of the cross, looking up into the face of the crucified Jesus of Nazareth. Since this was a movie, actors only came on the set when needed; so instead of having the actor portraying Jesus before him, Borgnine stared at an “X” chalk mark. In such a sterile setting, Borgnine had a difficult time capturing the emotions that the Roman soldier must have experienced at that tragic moment. In order to feel the part, Borgnine asked someone to read Luke’s account of the crucifixion. As the words were being read, Borgnine felt more and more uncomfortable, ashamed that like the first centurion he failed to acknowledge the Son of God in his own life. Then something miraculous happened -- the chalk mark suddenly was transformed into the face of Jesus, lifelike and clear. Captivated by the revelation, Borgnine realized how the centurion who first stood at the foot of the cross must have been affected; in all sincerity he repeated the soldier’s words: “Truly this man was God’s son!”
Application: To look into the face of Jesus, to touch the hem of his garment, to listen to his teachings, to be invited to share a meal at his table, to be touched by his hand and to receive the comfort of his blessing, will change a person forever. If you choose to come into the presence of Jesus, you will be empowered by his grace and mercy, your sins will be forgiven, strength will be restored to your weary body, your self-esteem will be enhanced, and you will have the assurance that the promises of the Gospels are for all believers. This is all possible if we can make the same confession that the centurion made at the foot of the crass: “Truly this man was God’s son!”
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Holy Week
Bob Keeshan has entertained children for years as the jovial Captain Kangaroo. In his autobiography Growing Up Happy, Keeshan shared the moment when he realized life would be marvelous. Shortly after the Second World War, Keeshan, an eighteen-year-old Marine, was on board the troopship Rockbridge Ranger sailing towards his last duty station in Hawaii. He enjoyed spending the dark nights standing in the forecastle, gazing at the starlit skies. The bow dipped into each succeeding wave and the heavens shown gloriously overhead. Reflecting on this experience Keeshan wrote, “There was a rhythm to life, I felt at those moments. I didn’t know what was going to happen to me when I was discharged, but I would be nineteen and I was convinced that the world would be wonderful.”
Application: When the ladies who followed Jesus went to the empty tomb, later followed by the disciple’s, everyone then knew that “I was convinced that the world would be wonderful.”
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Holy Week
In 2011, a number of countries began to restrict the freedom of human rights organizations. Some of these countries were: Brazil, India, Indonesia, Peru, Columbia, Honduras, Paraguay, and Zimbabwe. These countries consider those who were engaged in a social struggle were subject to a criminal offense. The ACT Alliance, who has a membership of 111 denominations in 140 countries, spoke out against these restrictions. Suvi Virkkunen, a spokesman for the ACT, said, “This is about local people working for human rights and their survival. Governments must stop seeing civil society as a threat.”
Application: The message of Palm Sunday and in the events during the following week, demonstrate that we are to speak out for the welfare of all people.
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Holy Week
Colin Powell was the 65th United States Secretary of State. He served under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. Powell was the first African-American to serve in that position. Powell, as Secretary of State, tried to negotiate peace between Palestine and Israel. Realizing the daunting task before him, Powell commented, “We’re at the beginning of a new long hallway. At the end is a negotiation for peace. But first we got to get the door open. It’s going to take two keys.” Sadly, people lack the keys to open the doors to new understanding. Thus, it was the case for the first century Temple leaders who failed to unlock the Temple doors for the Jesus. Palm Sunday, he rode upon the back of a donkey, the sign that a king comes in peace, rather than mounted on a white stallion, the mark of war, only to find one in the crowd, one adorned in palm branches had arrived with a key; the second key held by the high priests, were absent.
Application: We can only hope that one day the leaders of nations shall find the second key, and, in the words of Isaiah, “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
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Holy Week
Gary Blair has been coaching basketball for 33 years and continues in that position to this day. During that time, he had only one losing season. In 2003 he became the head coach of the women’s basketball team -- the Texas A&M Aggies. Before each game, the Texas A&M basketball coach will scrawl a plus sign on his hand. This is to remind him to be as positive with his players as he is with the public.
Application: After each day of creation God looked over what he had accomplished and said it “was good.” It was a remark of affirmation. It was a remark of being pleased. It was a positive statement that creation was good and he had an integral part in it. It would be good for us all to place, either figuratively or literally, a plus mark on the palm of our hand as a reminder to have a positive and affirming attitude towards others and towards life. With the new creation that came after the Resurrection, the disciples could once again affirm, after years of persecution and suffering, they could confess that “it was good.”
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Holy Week
After the Tucson shootings in front of the Safeway store on January 8, 2011, where there was an attempted assassination on Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford, President Obama visited the city to console the people. But... Obama was not there just for the Gifford family, but for all the families who suffered a terrible and tragic loss of a loved one. Obama’s compassion and understanding of this is reflected in these words form his speech, “There is nothing I can say that will fill the sudden hole torn in your hearts.”
Application: We have all experienced sudden holes torn in our hearts. It may come from the death of a loved one or a feeling of personal failure. It was a feeling of personal failure that Isaiah experienced when he endured “insult and spitting” from those whom he was trying to guide and comfort. Yet, as believers in the Resurrection, despite our persecution, we can still try to bring a message of hope to all who “fill the sudden hole torn in your hearts.”
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Holy Week
Henry Bessemer is best remembered for developing the Bessemer Process in 1856, which was also called the pneumatic conversion process, for making steel. His invention could produce as much steel in 24 minutes that previously took 24 hours. He revolutionized the steel making process, and because of this the last half of the nineteenth century is often called the “age of steel.” Unknown to most people is that his first invention was the “spinning projectile.” He designed the spinning motion of bullets and artillery shells to increase their accuracy and destructive potential. This killing innovation was invented to assist the French and British during the Crimean War.
Application: As we read the story of Holy Week we encounter many individuals who had conflicting and contradictory actions. Peter, who was the senior disciple, was also the one who betrayed Jesus. Judas, who was the treasurer, was the one who sold Jesus out to the authorities. Pilate, who was known to be ruthless, when facing Jesus chose to wash his hands as a declaration of innocence. What will we remember most about each individual who passes through the story this week? Bessemer is remembered as a great steel maker, he is forgotten as an inventor of death. What will people remember you and me for? As a follower of Christ or as one who sold him out?
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Holy Week
Jeremiah Denton, a Navy pilot having been shot down during the Vietnam War, was held captive in the Hanoi Hilton for eight years, beginning in 1965. In such a traumatic and horrid conditions, he understood the need for the comforting presence of a heavenly parent as he and other POWs endured a hell administered by heartless demons. As a senior ranking officer, he wrote poetry, memorized it, recited it to other pilots, who in turn memorized the lines, and like stealth bombers the words of comfort would fly about the camp, undetected by Satan’s emissaries. Easter of 1969, he wrote a poem titled La Pieta. La Pieta is any poem or statue or similar piece of artistic expression that depicts the crucified Jesus lying on the lap of his mother, embraced in her arms. Once the poem became a part of the camp’s vernacular, Denton was designated as the president of the Optimist Club.
The soldiers stare, then drift away,
Young John finds nothing to say,
The veil is rent; the deed is done;
And Mary holds her only son.
His limbs grow stiff, the night grows cold,
But naught can lose that mother’s hold,
Her gentle, anguished eyes seem blind,
Who knows what thoughts run through her mind?
Perhaps she thinks of last week’s palms,
With cheering thousands off’ring alms
Or dreams of Cana on the day
She nagged him till she got her way.
Her face shows grief but not despair,
Her head though bowed has faith to spare,
For even now she could suppose
His thorns might somehow yield a rose.
Her life with Him was full of signs
That God writes straight with crooked lines.
Dark clouds can bide the rising sun,
And all seem lost, when all be won!
Application: As the disciples and their followers knew that one day thy would be liberated, so Denton and the others held captive at the Hanoi Hilton knew the day of liberation was coming. This is the message of the Resurrection.
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Holy Week
When the Pittsburgh Steelers were two weeks away 1975 National Football League playoffs, the owners of the team knew they need something to inspire the fans to cheer the Steelers onto victor. The managers turned to popular broadcaster Myron Cope to create an idea that would lift up everyone’s spirits. Cope came up with the idea of everyone bringing a yellow towel to the stadium, as the Steelers colors are yellow and black, and waving the yellow towels would be an inspiration during the game. The Steelers won that game against the Baltimore Colts in a score of 28-10. As the performance of the Steelers improved, the yellow towels became rallying symbol of the team known as “The Terrible Towel.” Cope said the towel “is not an instrument of witchcraft…It is not a hex upon the enemy. The towel is a positive force that lifts the Steelers to magnificent heights.” Cope went on to say, “the symbol of the terrible towel will serve as a memento of your having been a part of the Steeler’ Dynasty.”
Application: When Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem the crowds waved palms. Later in the week “a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on Jesus’ head.” The towel, the palms, the nard, it is because we want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. It is because we believe in the victory that the one who we anoint and cheer will bring to us.
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Holy Week
The Arlington House was a mansion built as a living memorial to George Washington. It was built by the first president’s adopted grandson. The estate was built on a 1,100-acre tract of land across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Decades later a distant cousin, Robert E. Lee, became the resident of the home. Between 1841 and 1857, Lee was away from Arlington House for several extended periods, serving in the Mexican War and then as superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, his alma mater. In 1857 Lee returned to Arlington to join his family and to serve as executor of the estate. Robert E. Lee and his wife, Mary Anna, lived at Arlington House until 1861, when Virginia ratified an alliance with the Confederacy and seceded from the Union. Lee, who had been named a major general for the Virginia military forces in April 1861, feared for his wife's safety and anticipated the loss of their family inheritance, so he moved to a new residence. Following the ratification of secession by Virginia, federal troops crossed the Potomac and took up positions around Arlington. Following the occupation, military installations were erected. In punishment for his allegiance to the South, the land was then made into a cemetery so Robert E. lee would never be able to claim the Arlington House as a residency again. The Arlington National Cemetery was established on June 15, 1864.
Application: Though Arlington National Cemetery may have been created as an act of retribution, it has become a tribute to our fallen warriors in battle. The 400,000 graves are a remembrance of those who made the supreme sacrifice for our country, both casualties of war and veterans. The white tombs arraigned in straight lines stand like soldiers in formation. The crucifixion, like the Arlington House, once represented the end of our hopes and dreams as we once believed in them. But in time, the crucifixion was overshawded by an empty tomb, the same as farm land that once belonged to a secessionist has become the cemetery of our nation’s heroes, reminding us that our hopes and dreams are once again restored.
WORSHIP
by Chris Keating
Palm Procession:
The feeling of the boisterous chanting of the crowd and impromptu parade which accompanied Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem offers an opportunity to include children in worship. It’s possible to have the children enter waving palms and cheering, yelling “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Or take the opportunity to include the congregation in song. An easy to learn melody is Francis Patrick O’Brien’s “Hosanna!” (available from onelicense.net), or even a more traditional “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna!” Those who wish to join the processional can line up as worship begins, entering with their palm branches outstretched, exuberantly praising God.
Call to Worship (Liturgy of the Palms)
One: This is the day that the Lord has made!
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
One: Save us, Lord, we beseech you!
All: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord, for God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Or
One: Look, your king comes to you,
All: Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
One: Jesus comes to us righteous and victorious,
All: Yet lowly and riding on a donkey.
One: Shout aloud and sing praises to our God!
Prayer for the day:
Gracious God whose love was made incarnate in Jesus,
You sustain us when we are weary, and answer us when we pray.
The crowds cheer your son, yet run from his commands.
Pour out your mercy on us as we enter this week,
That we faithfully participate in the passion of your Son,
and abide in his promises. Amen.
Hymns
Liturgy of the Palms
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
All Glory, Laud and Honor
At the Name of Jesus
Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna, the Little Children Sang
A Cheering, Chanting, Dizzy Crowd
Filled With Excitement (Mantos y palmas)
Ride On! Ride On in Majesty!
Tell me the stories of Jesus
Liturgy of the Passion
He Never Said a Mumblin’ Word
Jesus, Priceless Treasure
Stay with Me
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
When we are tempted to deny your Son
Jesus, Remember Me
When I survey the Wondrous Cross
Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone
Beneath The Cross of Jesus
Were You There?
Prayer of Confession:
We wave our palms, and shout out our praise.
Yet too often our praises turn fickle, and our shouts subside.
God alone is faithful. Jesus enters the city just as he enters our hearts:
filled with mercy and grace. In faith, let us confess our sin.
(Unison)
God of grace and God of glory, your help is always near. We are rebellious, and often act like wanton children. We enjoy the adrenalin rush of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, and excitedly shout our praise. Yet we our eyes become filled with sleep, and we allow ourselves to become distracted. We do not practice the peace Jesus offered, and instead allow rage and anger to take root within us. When confronted with temptation, we are weak, and allow our fears to overwhelm us. Help us to have the mind of Christ and set our faces like flint as we watch his passion. O God, and do not put us to shame! Help us to trust in you, so that we would say over and over again, “You are our God.” Hear our prayer, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Assurance of Pardon:
Hear the Good News: Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something trivial. Instead, he emptied himself, and endured death on a cross. It is the Lord God who helps us, and God does not declare us guilty. Trust in God, and know our sins are forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving, Supplication and Intercession
Loving God,
Your faithfulness is certain, and your promises are true. As Jesus enters his week of trial, we remember that you do not give up on us. We thank you for your love that is without end and praise you for your steadfast grace. The cheering of the crowd soon turns into slander and obscenity, and those who were delighted by signs of your grace now call for Jesus’ execution. Help us to remain faithful to you, and to listen to what Jesus asks us to do: to sit, wait, and pray. As He feeds us with the bread of life, give us your Word of life, and allow it to dwell within us. Even though our eyes get heavy, help us to wait and to watch, trusting in the promises of all Jesus has taught. We pray for those who have given up hope, who are experiencing the abandonment your Son knew, and whose faith has been tested. Be with those who are hungry and ignored, those injured by acts of oppression. Allow us to become faithful disciples whose lives bear witness to your amazing grace and lift us ever closer to the promise of resurrection. As the shadows fall upon us, teach us to look into the horizons of hope. Easter will come, and our songs of praise shall once again be heard, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Holy words for Holy Week
by Chris Keating
Mark 14:1--15:47
Taking time to explain the events surrounding Jesus’ death and introducing children to Holy Week’s vocabulary will help children grow in their understanding of Jesus’ Passion.
Prepare ahead of time:
Sheets of paper with various words associated with Holy Week printed in large, easy to read letters (for example, “Hosanna,” “Crucifixion,” “Maundy Thursday,” “Good Friday.” Feel free to add other words/actions that are appropriate to your community.
This Sunday’s lengthy verses brings difficulty to crafting of a children’s sermon. The lectionary’s verbiage, combined with the basic difficulty of explaining Jesus’ arrest, torture and crucifixion to children, provide significant challenges. Yet, because many children may not attend Holy Week services, this Sunday offers an opportunity to help children understand the confusing Christian lexicon. Take the opportunity to introduce the events of the coming week so that children will begin to understand that we don’t just go from the Palm Sunday parade to the Easter parade.
Palm Sunday offers an opportunity to teach children a bit more about the meaning of Holy Week instead of just saying “Jesus had to die.” Try explaining that to first graders! Instead, offer more concrete lessons that may more helpfully communicate the importance of this week.
After greeting the children, talk to them a bit about Palm Sunday. You may choose to read a children’s version of Mark 11:1-11. Talk about Jesus’ entering the city, how Jesus gave the disciples some strange instructions, and how the crowd waved palm branches as a greeting. Like any parade, there was a great deal of excitement about Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem. But there were also those who were upset with Jesus. They thought his ideas were dangerous. In the week ahead, these people tried to figure out how to keep Jesus’ message from spreading.
Jesus asked the disciples to wait and watch, and that is a good thing for us to do, as well. As you hold up each piece of paper, define the words they may hear this week. For example, if your church observes Maundy Thursday, help them understand that this isn’t “Monday Thursday,” but instead a word that comes from Latin. If these words are unfamiliar to you, look up their meaning and spend some time thinking of how to teach them to children. Use simple words to help the children learn.
For example, Maundy comes from an old word meaning “mandate.” Explain how Jesus gave the disciples a new mandate or commandment during the Last Supper. On that evening, Jesus gave the disciples a new mandate, or a new commandment.
Likewise, words like “Good Friday” may seem confusing -- what’s so good about Jesus dying? By introducing the words your church uses in Holy Week, the children will feel more comfortable in worship, and will be equipped to be curious disciples as they continue growing.
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The Immediate Word, March 25, 2018, issue.
Copyright 2018 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
