The Vine: April 14, 2025

“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

“ After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[a]
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.””

— Luke 19:28-40

All four gospels report Jesus riding into Jerusalem for the last week of his life before his death and resurrection. It is an odd scene as we have a celebratory parade for what would lead to a crucifixion. Jesus rode into Jerusalem that day, not as a conquering king brining violence with him, but as the Prince of Peace riding a donkey.

In “The Mind of Jesus” William Barclay wrote:

“The donkey was the beast on which kings rode when they came in peace; only in war did they ride upon a horse. The entry of Jesus was the claim to be King. But at the same time, it was the claim to be the King of peace. It was upon the donkey of peace and not upon the horse of war that Jesus came.”

“He came deliberately refusing the role of the warrior Messiah and claiming to be the Prince of Peace. He was appealing for a throne, but the throne was in the hearts of people. In that entry into Jerusalem Jesus, in a dramatic symbolic action which spoke more loudly than any words, was making one last appeal to those gathered, and saying to them: ‘Will you not, even now, even yet, accept me as your Lord and King, and enthrone me within your hearts?’”

Later that week on Friday, Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. As he was being arrested, Simon Peter drew his sword and cut off the right ear of Malchus, one of the slaves of the high priest sent to arrest Jesus. Jesus responded, “No more of this!”, and healed Malchus on the spot. It was Jesus’ way of saying once again that when he rode into town on the donkey earlier that week, he really came in peace and called his followers to do the same. He calls us to do the same as we follow him to the cross and ultimately the empty tomb and beyond.

Prayer:

Gracious God, as we enter Holy Week may we be reminded that Jesus chose to ride into Jerusalem for us, and that his way is not a way of hate and violence, but of love and peace. Help us to consider how we might be agents of peace this week and throughout our lives in Christ. Amen.

Questions for Reflection:

Why do you think Luke devoted so much of this story to the details of acquiring the donkey?
What were Jesus’ motivations for riding into town the week prior to Passover?
If you were one of his disciples, what would have been some of your emotions seeing him ride into certain death?
What are some possible reasons for the Pharisees asking Jesus to “rebuke his disciples”?
As we consider Holy Week, how might our discipleship be strengthened by participating in Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and ultimately Easter Sunday? After all, some say, “We know how the story ends. Why bother with the suffering and pain of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday?”

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