reflections on "Going to a Parade" Mark 2: 1-12; Mark 11: 1-11

This sermon brought together (some might say created a collision) the Palm Sunday story and the Engage curriculum we have been using in the sermons and small groups through Lent.

I often end up after the sermon wanting to preach the text again and emphasize something different.  I made a note that next year I want to focus on Jesus' detailed attention to getting the colt for the parade and why Mark uses the term colt instead of donkey. But that will have to wait until next year.

Due to some other stuff going on, I didn't quite get this sermon finalized when I would like, which meant there was a little more adjusting as I preached going on Sunday.  I did find what I thought was a great line in the Chapel service and was able to remember it for the Sanctuary service as well.  you will find it in the section on the healing of the paralytic:  "the man comes in through the roof and walks out the front door..."  

“Going to a Parade” FPC, Troy, OH; March 29, 2015; Mark 1: 1-11; Mark 2: 1-12

Introduction: “hey, you want to go down to some sort of parade that's happening today?”

“A parade? What are you talking about?

“Haven't you heard. Down on the road leading to the Temple today, people are going to watch as Jesus comes into Jerusalem.”

“Jesus? Who is he?”

“you know about Jesus. I've mentioned him before. He's the one that you've heard stories about how he can heal people. And people from all over come to hear him teach?”

“yeah, I guess I remember something about that. But why are they giving him a parade?”

“I'm not really sure. I think it has something to do with the Passover celebration. I've only heard him once, but it was pretty amazing. You ought to at least come see him.”

“Let me check with the wife and see if she cares.”

“Bring her with you. It might be worth it for her to see him , too.”

“ok. I don't think we have anything else going on this afternoon.”

“We're head out in just a little while. So get ready”

It's Palm Sunday, and as many of you know, we are finishing up the Lenten series of sermons and small groups in which we have been reflecting on how we engage our story, God's story, and engage others in the world.

As I reflected on the Palm Sunday story, Jesus riding into Jerusalem, in the context of our engage conversations, I began to wonder how many people were lining the streets of Jerusalem because someone – maybe a cousin, or neighbor, or friend from work – had invited them there that day?

Move 1: Why ask someone to a parade?

a. If you are from around here, you undoubtedly know about parades.

     1.In fact, I bet many of you have not just been to a parade, you have been in a parade.

     2. maybe the Strawberry Festival parade here in Troy, or a the Mum Festival parade in Tipp City, or the Christmas parade in Piqua, or the West Milton 4th of July parade, or maybe you've been a parade groupie and hit several of those through the years.

     3. Early in the morning, or maybe late at night, stake out your spot along the parade's path, and then gather later with family and friends to enjoy all the different groups in the parade.

b. Why go to a parade?

     1. Fun thing to do.

     2.  Everyone else seems to be doing it.

      3.  The kids are in the parade.

      4.  There is something worth seeing – maybe the motorcycle police from Indianapolis, or your favorite high school band, or those Schreiner's on the little bike weaving in and out.

      5.  I think every town I have ever lived in had a parade of some sort at some point in the year to celebrate something:  the derrick Day parades in Corsicana, TX; Christmas parade in Mt. Sterling, KY; Sunbowl parade on Christmas day in El Paso, Tx.   And, of course, the Strawberry Festival parade in Troy, OH, which for many years we would watch from the front yard of a home on south Market St. while eating all sorts of breakfast goodies.

c.  To invite a friend to come along to one of those parades would not seem that unusual.

     1.  Something fun to do.

     2.  something interesting to see.

     3.  get to share an event together.

d. surely some who greeted Jesus that day had been invited there.

     1.  Maybe someone who had become a follower of Jesus' already had invited a friend so she could see what it was all about.

     2.  Maybe someone else had a cousin who was going through a rough time, so he invited him to come meet Jesus and find a little hope.

     3.  someone else might have heard about Jesus herself and didn't want to go meet him alone,s o she asked a neighbor..

     4.  Probably a few people were there because they were just going along with the crowd.

e. The reasons to invite someone to a parade fit with why we might we want to engage someone with our faith story.

     1.  we have something interesting to share.

     2.  The way Jesus has impacted our life means he someone worth meeting.

      3.  We want someone to join with us in what we are doing.

Move 2: This week as we think about engaging others, we are reminded that sometimes we are called to dig deeper.

a. That's what's behind the story about the friends bringing their paralyzed friend to meet Jesus.

      1.  These four people had a paralyzed friend.

    2.  They wanted what was best for him.

      3.  We do not know what their connection was to Christ, if they knew him, or had just heard about him, but they believed that Christ could heal their friend.

b. but they did not settle for just telling him, “Hey, you ought to somehow get connected with this guy Jesus. He might be able to help you.”

    1. They took on the responsibility of taking him to where Jesus was.

     2.  And when the crowds made it impossible to get near Christ, they took up on the roof to try and gain entry into the house that way.

     3.  when the normal hatch in the roof turned out to be small, they made it bigger.

     4.  Then they lowered their friend into the room.

     5.  As we might expect, it caught Jesus' attention.

c.  Notice what happens next.

     1.  According to the Gospel of Luke, when Jesus saw their faith, he forgave the sins of the paralyzed man, and then when challenged about healing and forgiving, Jesus tells the man to walk.

     2.  And he does.

     3. The man comes in through the roof and walks out the front door because of the faith of his friends who brought him to Jesus.

     4.  Because his friends cared enough to engage him.

      5.  because his friends believed Jesus could heal him, and acted on that belief.

d.  At this point, it seems to me that those who invite their friends to see Jesus ride into Jerusalem and the friends of the paralytic have a lot in common.

     1.  They all believe that Jesus is the one who can change people’s lives.

     2. and they act on that belief.

     3,  they share it with their friends.

     4.  They become a conduit for others to connect with Christ.

     5. That's what it means to dig deeper as we engage others.

Move 3: Back to parades.

  a. In my experience, watching parades always leads to lots of conversation.

       1.  If there are horses in the parade, surely you have had to answer a question from your kids about what those people with the shovels are doing walking after the horses.

     2.  When I lived in Corsicana, TX, they had a parade for Derrick Days (a spring festival). When I remarked about how short the parade was, the person I was with told me to just wait. So I did. And not too soon after here came the parade again. Same band. Same few floats. Got to see them twice. That lead to an interesting conversation!

  b. Imagine the conversation that might have taken place on the streets of Jerusalem.

“So why are they waving palm branches? I thought they just did that to celebrate a victory when the Roman army came marching by.”

“I'm not for sure, but maybe that's a sign that Jesus is going to win some type of victory for us.”


“He doesn't look much like a soldier.”


“Nope. I think he's got a different kind of victory in mind..”


“Why did we keep shouting 'hosanna.”


“I did it partly because everyone else was doing it. But don't forget that 'hosanna' means “save us.”


“Save us? Why shout that.”


“Because maybe Jesus is the one who is going to save us. Maybe even save the world.”


“That guy on the colt is going to save us.”


“Maybe.”


“how?”


“ I don't know exactly, but maybe you ought to get to know him better. See how he can save you.”


Amen.