Lent 2014
Palm Sunday
April 13, 2014 

Read Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-9a 

The Lord God has given me
   the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain
   the weary with a word.

Morning by morning he wakens—
   wakens my ear
   to listen as those who are taught.  — Isaiah 50:4 

Jesus was a teacher, but on Palm Sunday, the first day of what has come to be called Passion Week, He was a listener. He heard the loud hosannas: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven! (Matthew 21:9b) The word hosanna literally means “save us”. I wonder what went through his mind as he heard the cries of the people and observed their worshipful homage. Did he question whether he had done enough to prepare them for what was to come?  

This event was rather like a graduation ceremony—lots of last minute preparations, high expectations, and excitement. I think it is good to celebrate such milestones but until we step out in faith, it does not really matter how many books are read, lectures are attended, or notes are taken. What we learn does not come together until we apply it in life. I have also discovered that life has more than anything else sent me back to books, lectures and notes. We were created to be continuous learners. 

Whether we are graduating from kindergarten, grade school, high school, or college, we still have much to learn and thus have much to teach. We as followers of Jesus learn from both his words and his deeds. The children whose lives we impact learn from both our words and our deeds. 

Prayer: Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on us. Be with us as we reach each milestone and with us as we impact each of your children. Amen.

The identities of students, families, or staff in stories that are shared in the devotions have been altered to protect their privacy. Any similarities between these stories and the experience of others are coincidental. No stories about students, families of students, or staff from Putnam Heights Elementary School are included in any of these devotions.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.