Celebrating Victory Amidst Suffering: A Palm Sunday Reflection
Summary
This morning, we reflected on the tension of Palm Sunday—how we celebrate Jesus as King, even as we know the week ahead leads to betrayal, suffering, and the cross. Like Coach Jimmy Valvano’s team practicing cutting down the nets before their championship, we are invited to “practice” praise and victory, even when the outcome seems uncertain. Our worship is not premature; it is a rehearsal for the ultimate victory that Christ has already secured.
We explored the biblical vision of heaven, not as a vague or wishful place, but as Eden restored and magnified—Eden 2.0. In this renewed creation, God’s presence is fully restored, the curse is broken, and all that is toxic and destructive is removed. Yet, the Scriptures go further: not only will we be with God, but Jesus promises rewards for those who persevere and remain faithful. These rewards, described as crowns, are more than mere symbols; they represent the deep joy and fulfillment that comes from a life lived in obedience and love.
The reality of future reward is not meant to make us passive or detached from the present. Instead, it shapes how we live now. Hebrews 12 calls us to run our race with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross “for the joy set before him.” Jesus looked beyond the immediate pain and shame, focusing on the joy and reward that awaited him. In the same way, we are called to be resolute—determined to endure hardship, betrayal, and opposition—because we know what lies ahead.
But perseverance is not the only response. We are also called to rejoice, even in suffering. Joy is not rooted in our circumstances, but in the Lord and in the certainty of what he is preparing for us. Like the optimistic child in the story, we can choose to look for God’s goodness, even in the mess. Our rejoicing is a command, not a suggestion, and it is possible because our hope is anchored in Christ’s victory and the promise of reward.
Ultimately, the greatest reward may not be a crown or a title, but the lives we have touched and the people we have helped lead to Christ. Our legacy in heaven will be the stories of transformation, the relationships restored, and the faith we have inspired in others. This is our hope, our joy, and our crown.
Key Takeaways
- The certainty of Christ’s victory allows us to praise and celebrate even in the midst of uncertainty and suffering. Like practicing “cutting down the nets,” our worship is a rehearsal for the ultimate triumph that is already secured in Christ, even when our present circumstances seem bleak. [03:54]
- Heaven is not just a consolation prize, but the restoration and fulfillment of all that was lost in Eden. God’s presence, the removal of the curse, and the absence of all that is toxic are promised realities, inviting us to live with hope and anticipation rather than resignation or escapism. [29:18]
- The promise of reward is not meant to foster selfish ambition, but to encourage perseverance and faithfulness. Jesus himself endured the cross by focusing on the joy set before him, modeling for us a life that looks beyond present pain to future glory. Our resolve is strengthened when we remember what is at stake and what awaits us. [34:32]
- Joy is a spiritual discipline rooted in perspective, not circumstance. We are commanded to rejoice “in the Lord always,” not because life is easy, but because God is present, working for our good, and preparing an inheritance for us. Choosing joy in suffering is an act of faith that shapes our character and witness. [54:49]
- The true crown of our lives may be the people we have influenced for Christ. Our greatest reward in eternity will be seeing the impact of our faithfulness—lives transformed, hope restored, and the ripple effects of our obedience revealed. This perspective gives meaning to our sacrifices and inspires us to keep going, even when we cannot see the results now. [58:01]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:40] - Palm Sunday: The Tension of Praise and Betrayal
[03:54] - Practicing Victory: Cutting Down the Nets
[22:57] - Responsive Reading: The Mindset of Christ
[29:18] - Eden 2.0: Heaven as Restored Creation
[30:45] - Jesus’ Promise: “My Reward Is With Me”
[32:01] - Does Future Reward Shape Our Present?
[33:26] - Perseverance: Running the Race
[34:32] - Jesus’ Example: Enduring for Joy
[35:41] - The Call to Be Resolute
[38:05] - The Cost of Calling and Ministry
[40:44] - Looking Beyond Hardship to Heaven
[46:10] - The Discipline of Joy
[52:03] - The Story of the Twin Boys: Choosing Perspective
[54:49] - Rejoice in the Lord Always
[56:52] - What Is Our Crown? The Reward of Changed Lives
[59:19] - A Father’s Legacy: The Impact of Faithfulness
[01:02:10] - Prayer for Endurance and Joy
[01:04:30] - Invitation to Prayer and Ministry
[01:17:06] - Closing and Seder Invitation
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Palm Sunday – Practicing Praise, Perseverance, and Joy
---
### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 12:1-3
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
2. Philippians 4:4
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
3. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 12:2, what motivated Jesus to endure the cross, and how did he view its shame?
([34:32])
2. In Philippians 4:4, what is the command Paul gives, and how often are we supposed to follow it?
([54:49])
3. In 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, what does Paul say is his “crown” or reward in the presence of Jesus?
([58:01])
4. The sermon compared Palm Sunday to a basketball team practicing “cutting down the nets” before the championship. What is the significance of this illustration for our worship and praise?
([03:54])
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. The writer of Hebrews says Jesus endured the cross “for the joy set before him.” What does this suggest about how Jesus viewed suffering and future reward? How might this shape our own perspective on hardship?
([34:32])
2. Paul commands believers to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Why do you think this is a command and not just a suggestion? What does it mean to rejoice “in the Lord” rather than in our circumstances?
([54:49])
3. The sermon described heaven as “Eden 2.0”—not just a consolation prize, but the restoration and fulfillment of all that was lost. How does this vision of heaven challenge common ideas about the afterlife?
([29:18])
4. Paul says that his “crown” is the people he has influenced for Christ. How does this change the way we think about what is truly valuable or rewarding in life?
([58:01])
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon talked about “practicing” praise and victory, even when the outcome seems uncertain. Is there an area of your life right now where it feels hard to praise God? What would it look like for you to “practice” praise this week, even in the middle of uncertainty?
([03:54])
2. Hebrews 12 calls us to run our race with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus. What is one specific hardship or challenge you are facing right now? How can you shift your focus from the pain to the “joy set before you”?
([34:32])
3. The sermon said that joy is a spiritual discipline rooted in perspective, not circumstance. When you are in a difficult situation, what helps you choose joy? Is there a practical step you can take this week to cultivate joy, even if your circumstances don’t change?
([54:49])
4. The idea of “Eden 2.0” is that heaven is the restoration of all that is broken. How does this hope affect the way you approach brokenness in your own life or in the world around you?
([29:18])
5. The greatest reward in heaven may be the people we have helped lead to Christ. Who is someone in your life right now that you can encourage, serve, or share your faith with? What is one step you can take this week to invest in their spiritual journey?
([58:01])
6. The sermon shared a story about a child who looked for the good, even in a messy situation. Think of a recent “mess” in your life. How might you look for God’s goodness or purpose in that situation?
([52:03])
7. The pastor mentioned that perseverance is not just about “hanging on,” but about being resolute—having your mind made up about what is most important. What is one area where you need to renew your resolve to follow Jesus, even if it’s costly?
([35:41])
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for endurance and joy, asking God to help each person fix their eyes on Jesus and to see the “crown” of lives changed through their faithfulness.
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus Models Humility and Obedience for Us
Jesus, though fully God, chose not to use His divine status for personal gain but instead humbled Himself, becoming obedient even to the point of death on a cross. His example calls us to adopt the same mindset of humility, self-sacrifice, and obedience, trusting that true greatness is found in serving others and submitting to God’s will. As we reflect on Christ’s journey from glory to the cross, we are reminded that our worship and praise are not premature, but a rehearsal for the ultimate victory He has secured. [22:57]
Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Reflection: In what area of your life is God inviting you to lay down your rights or status in order to serve others as Jesus did?
Day 2: The Promise of Reward Shapes How We Live Now
Jesus promises that He is coming soon and will bring His reward with Him, giving to each person according to what they have done. This assurance is not meant to be a distant, abstract hope, but a present motivation that shapes our daily choices, perseverance, and faithfulness. Knowing that our actions, sacrifices, and faithfulness matter to God gives us strength to endure hardship and inspires us to live with purpose, anticipating the joy of being with Him and receiving what He has prepared for us. [30:45]
Revelation 22:12 (ESV)
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.”
Reflection: How might your attitude or actions change today if you truly believed that Jesus will reward your faithfulness and perseverance?
Day 3: Perseverance Through Hardship by Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
The Christian life is described as a race that requires perseverance, not because it is easy, but because it is worth it. By fixing our eyes on Jesus—the pioneer and perfecter of our faith—who endured the cross for the joy set before Him, we find strength to keep going even when we face opposition, suffering, or discouragement. Looking beyond present troubles to the eternal reward God promises enables us to remain resolute, not losing heart, but pressing on with hope and determination. [34:32]
Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Reflection: What is one hardship or opposition you are facing right now, and how can you intentionally “fix your eyes on Jesus” as you persevere through it?
Day 4: Rejoicing in the Midst of Trials
Even when we face grief and trials, we are called to greatly rejoice because our inheritance and reward are secure in heaven. God uses our suffering to refine our faith, and the joy He offers is not dependent on circumstances but on the unshakeable hope of salvation and the presence of Christ. Choosing to rejoice in the Lord, even when life is hard, is an act of faith that honors God and transforms our perspective, filling us with inexpressible and glorious joy. [50:20]
1 Peter 1:3-9 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Reflection: What is one specific trial you are facing, and how can you choose to rejoice in the Lord today, trusting that He is using it for your good?
Day 5: Investing in Others is Our Eternal Crown
The greatest reward in heaven is not just what we receive for ourselves, but the lives we have impacted for Christ. The people we have encouraged, served, and helped to know Jesus will be our “crown”—our joy and glory in God’s presence. Even small acts of faithfulness, unseen sacrifices, and investments in others’ spiritual growth will be revealed and celebrated in eternity, far beyond what we can imagine now. [58:01]
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 (ESV)
For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.
Reflection: Who is one person you can encourage or invest in spiritually this week, knowing that your faithfulness in their life is part of your eternal reward?
Quotes
You see, Paul is looking at people that he's pouring into, and he's seeing life transformed, and he's seeing people that were worshiping pagan idols, and now they're worshiping the living God. He's seeing marriages that were brutal, and the husband was beating the wife, and now they're a godly family. He was seeing people that were thieves who now are doing things that are honoring to God, people who are living sexually immoral lives who now are living in wholeness. He's seeing that, and he's saying, that's my crown. [00:58:24] (34 seconds)
But this is a matter of perspective. Paul is saying, because of these light and momentary troubles, they are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. Friends, if you cannot look beyond this present life, when you face stuff because you're a follower of Jesus, it's going to be very easy to just say, it's not worth it. It's got to be more than just what you see here and now. You have to be able to look beyond to what is to come. Verse 18, so we fix our eyes, right? We're not just thinking about what's here and now, but we fix our eyes on what, or not what is seen here in this present world, but what is unseen, what is coming. Since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. [00:43:55] (56 seconds)
When our faith has been tested and proven, we're greatly rejoicing. And even seeing these things around us, we can greatly rejoice because we know that God is using them to make us more like Jesus, to prove our faith. And when Jesus comes again and is revealed, we'll experience praise and glory and honor. Verse 8, though you have not seen him, that is Jesus, you love him. And even though you do not see him now, even though you do not see him now, what should you do now? You believe in him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy. [00:51:14] (37 seconds)
So, the writer of Hebrews says, And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. So, he's describing the Christian life like a race, like a, maybe like a mudder race, right? You know, it's a long race, going through a lot of hardships. Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Notice, he doesn't suggest it's going to be easy, but persevere in it. There's a race marked out for us. Run it. Fixing our eyes on Jesus. Why fix our eyes on Jesus? Why? Because he is the pioneer and perfecter of faith. [00:33:46] (39 seconds)
But he says, look, I'm coming soon. My reward is with me. So there's something about the fact that we will be rewarded that should be influencing the way we live and act and believe here and now. By the way, we'll talk about a reward at the end, but let me just say that the Bible talks about rewards like crowns. A crown of life. You can imagine what that means. It's meaning we'll have eternal life. A crown of righteousness. A crown of glory. A crown that's incorruptible. I'm sure that what God means by this is more than just a piece of jewelry. [00:32:11] (49 seconds)
And I feel like being resolute is us thinking about what's at the end, seeing the right answer, seeing that there will be heaven, there will be a reward. And because of that, even the hard work of getting there is worth it because we know what's at the end. It says of Jesus in Luke chapter 9, if you know that Luke's gospel has 24 chapters in it, so we're at Luke chapter 9, we're not even to halfway point. And it says this, as the time approached for him, that is Jesus, to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. [00:40:14] (43 seconds)
The cross is God's idea. The father, the son, the Holy Spirit saying, uh, we want to bring resolution to this, uh, sin problem. And the way it's going to happen is, is someone needs to be sinless, live a sinless life, and yet take on sin for all of humanity so that humanity can then be set free from the bondage that Satan has them under. And Jesus has to, or does say, I'll be that one. I'm sure the father, the son, the Holy Spirit, they, they made a plan and, and, and Jesus said, I'll be the one, the second person of the Trinity. I'll be the one who takes on flesh, lives a human life, faces opposition. I'll endure the cross. So first of all, I want you to understand that being a follower of Jesus and, and living into your calling, and there's going to be a cross somewhere. [00:37:11] (52 seconds)
What does it mean that he scorned the shame of the cross? So first of all, let's understand that the cross was shameful to everybody. I talked a lot about it last week because in the Old Testament, it says anybody hung on a tree was considered cursed by God. So in front of the Jews, when Jesus is crucified, he is considered cursed. And in the eyes of the Romans, they would only crucify people that were the worst of the worst. It's terribly shameful. Here he is. He is the most righteous human being, the only perfect human being to have ever lived. He is the one who created the world with the Father and the Son, the triune God. And now he's being nailed to a cross. He had legions, thousands of angels at his disposal, but he's got to just not call on them. And he takes the shame of the cross. [00:46:43] (54 seconds)
That's how God created things, to walk among Adam and Eve and walk among humanity. But then, because of sin, they were banished from the garden of Eden. But we see that God will again be with us and will be with us face to face in an intimate sort of way. We see that Satan comes into the picture in Genesis 3, and that brings a curse and destruction. And we see, at the end of the Bible, we see that there is no longer any curse, and that Satan is not there. Satan is bound, and he is removed. [00:29:34] (35 seconds)
So this morning, even though we know that the crucifixion of Friday is coming, the betrayal of Thursday night is coming. Even though those things are coming, we want you to be ready even to rehearse that we are praising because he deserves. He is the champ. So we're going to praise him this morning. The kids are going to help us even as we begin the service. And so you're going to see some words up on the screen. I want you to know those are kind of to help cue the kids. Let's let the kids set the tone and then we're going to lift our voices as we cut down the nets of praise this morning. [00:04:37] (39 seconds)
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