1. Despite the very real obstacles and difficulties, this entire scene is marked by God’s gracious work.
  2. On every page, in every theme, in every major character and every major plot twist, we are invited to see God’s unfolding work to make all things new and whole in Jesus.
  3. Jesus died for the people who put Him to death. Jesus rose for the people whose minds rejected the idea of a resurrection.
  4. The image on Palm Sunday is about something so primordial, so powerful and ancient, so deep, that it would shatter any kind of limits. It would break through any attempt to restrain it.
  5. The same Christ we proclaim to the people in our pews is the same Christ who is for those not in our pews.
  6. During this season of Epiphany, we experience more than the revelation of who Jesus is. We also celebrate how Jesus makes God fully known.
  7. Not only does God reveal the identity of Jesus in this season through what we see and hear Jesus doing and saying, but God also reveals His gracious will through Jesus despite what we see and hear.
  8. The episode of the boy Jesus in the Temple raises questions. It raised questions for Mary (and Joseph) and it raises questions for us.