Week: Mark's Gospel
As usual, each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Jesus, we hear You inviting us, and so we choose to follow You, with all our hearts, with all our minds, with all our souls and with all our strength.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Eli
Psalm 103:8
The Lord shows mercy and is kind.
He does not become angry quickly, and he has great love.
Psalm 103:8 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on what happened after Jesus sent His disciples to a nearby town to find a colt, which is another name for a young horse.
Read by Eli
Mark 11:7-9
When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Mark 11:7-9 (NIV)
Large crowds of people were on their way to Jerusalem for a special festival called Passover, and Jesus and His disciples were with them. The roads were dusty and most of the people were walking, but Jesus was riding a colt.
This might not seem important at first, but riding a horse into the capital city was the sort of thing that a king would do. And when people started laying their coats and tree branches on the road in front of Jesus, well, that’s the sort of thing that people would do for a king too. ‘Hosanna!’ they cheered, as Jesus rode by. In this moment, perhaps for the first time, some of the crowd began to recognise Jesus for who He really was – the King who had come to save them.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Have we ever ridden an animal? If so, what animal was it? What was it like?
Let’s close our eyes and imagine that we’re amongst the crowds, waving and cheering as Jesus rides into the city.
King Jesus, Hosanna! Just as the crowds welcomed You into the city of Jerusalem, we welcome You into our hearts, into our home, into our family life together.
A king would usually ride a huge horse – a warhorse – but Jesus rode a colt, a young horse. It was a symbol of humility and peace, and it was a sign of the kind of king that Jesus would be.
Jesus, we long for You to come into all the world – we want more humility and less pride, more peace and less war and violence. We ASK You to come, Lord Jesus.
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Mark 11:7-9
When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Mark 11:7-9 (NIV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Jesus, we say YES, You are our king, You are the one we love and You are the one we serve. You are the one who comes to save us.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Psalm 103:8
The Lord shows mercy and is kind.
He does not become angry quickly, and he has great love.
Psalm 103:8 (NCV)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Joy lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and her dog. She works for Bridgetown Church where she leads kids as they grow, learn, and have lots of fun. Joy loves gardening, summer camp, eating ice cream, and reading her favourite books, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Eli is 11 and lives in Melbourne, Victoria with his mum, dad and two younger sisters. He enjoys music, reading, riding his skateboard and playing soccer.
