Embracing Jesus: Our True King and Savior

 

Summary

In the coming weeks, we will delve into the profound events of Jesus' trial, crucifixion, and burial, culminating in the observance of the Lord's Supper. This journey is a reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made for us, symbolized by the bread and juice, representing His body and blood. As we reflect on these events, we are reminded of Israel's history, where God was their king, providing guidance and protection. However, the people desired a human king, rejecting God's perfect rule. This rejection is mirrored in the New Testament, where Jesus, the King of Kings, was rejected by His own people.

The narrative of Israel's demand for a king serves as a backdrop to understand the gravity of rejecting God's sovereignty. Despite God's warnings through Samuel, the people insisted on having a king like other nations, leading to a history of flawed human leadership. Yet, God's response to rejection was not abandonment but incarnation. Jesus, God in flesh, came to offer a kingdom not of this world, embodying justice, hope, and love.

As we witness Jesus' trial and crucifixion, we see the ultimate act of humility and love. Jesus endured suffering, not for His own sins, but for ours. His willingness to be flogged, mocked, and crucified reveals the depth of His love and the extent of His sacrifice. This act of love calls us to examine our own lives, recognizing the ways we continue to reject Him through sin and selfishness.

The call is clear: to turn from our sins, to recognize Jesus as our true King, and to live in a way that honors His sacrifice. We are invited to see Jesus not just as a historical figure, but as our Savior who offers forgiveness and eternal life. As we prepare to partake in the Lord's Supper, let us do so with hearts full of gratitude, acknowledging the price Jesus paid for our redemption.

Key Takeaways:

- God's sovereignty was rejected by Israel when they demanded a human king, yet God responded with grace, ultimately sending Jesus to be the true King who embodies justice and love. This historical context reminds us of the consequences of rejecting God's perfect rule. [07:19]

- Jesus' incarnation is the ultimate act of humility and love. Despite being rejected, He chose to become flesh, offering a kingdom not of this world. His life and sacrifice call us to recognize Him as our true King and to live in a way that honors His love. [11:26]

- The trial and crucifixion of Jesus reveal the depth of His love and the extent of His sacrifice. He endured suffering for our sins, demonstrating the ultimate act of forgiveness and grace. This calls us to examine our own lives and turn from sin. [18:13]

- Our sins necessitated Jesus' suffering, yet His response was one of love and forgiveness. We are called to recognize the ways we continue to reject Him and to turn to Him in repentance, acknowledging Him as our Savior and King. [26:55]

- Jesus' sacrifice offers us forgiveness and eternal life. As we prepare to partake in the Lord's Supper, let us do so with hearts full of gratitude, acknowledging the price He paid for our redemption and committing to live in a way that honors His sacrifice. [35:14]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to the Series
- [01:45] - The Significance of the Lord's Supper
- [03:10] - Israel's History and God's Sovereignty
- [05:20] - The Demand for a Human King
- [07:19] - God's Response to Rejection
- [09:42] - The Consequences of Rejecting God
- [11:26] - Jesus: The True King
- [14:38] - The Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus
- [16:01] - The Depth of Jesus' Sacrifice
- [18:13] - Our Role in Jesus' Suffering
- [20:20] - The Call to Repentance
- [23:43] - Jesus' Love and Forgiveness
- [26:55] - The Offer of Eternal Life
- [30:00] - The Choice Between Earthly and Divine Allegiance
- [32:49] - Jesus' Victory Over Sin and Death
- [35:14] - The Invitation to Follow Jesus
- [37:28] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Samuel 8:7-9
2. John 19:1-16
3. Isaiah 53:3-5

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the significance of Israel demanding a human king, and how did God respond to their request? (1 Samuel 8:7-9)
2. How did the soldiers and the crowd treat Jesus during His trial and crucifixion according to John 19:1-16? [14:38]
3. What does Isaiah 53:3-5 reveal about the nature of Jesus' suffering and the purpose behind it?

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the demand for a human king in 1 Samuel 8 reflect a rejection of God's sovereignty, and what are the implications of this rejection for Israel? [07:19]
2. In what ways does the treatment of Jesus during His trial and crucifixion illustrate the depth of human sin and rejection of God? [18:13]
3. How does Isaiah 53:3-5 help us understand the purpose of Jesus' suffering and the concept of substitutionary atonement?

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you have rejected God's guidance in favor of your own desires. How can you realign your life to acknowledge Jesus as your true King? [09:42]
2. Consider the ways in which you might be rejecting Jesus through sin and selfishness. What steps can you take to turn from these actions and honor His sacrifice? [20:20]
3. As you prepare to partake in the Lord's Supper, how can you cultivate a heart full of gratitude for the price Jesus paid for your redemption? [35:14]
4. How can you actively live out the justice, hope, and love that Jesus embodies in your daily interactions with others? [11:26]
5. Identify one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's sovereignty. What practical steps can you take to surrender this area to Him?
6. How can you ensure that your actions and words reflect your allegiance to Jesus as your King, rather than to the values of this world? [30:00]
7. What specific changes can you make in your life to better reflect the humility and love that Jesus demonstrated through His suffering and sacrifice? [23:43]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Sovereignty and Human Rejection
God's sovereignty was rejected by Israel when they demanded a human king, yet God responded with grace, ultimately sending Jesus to be the true King who embodies justice and love. This historical context reminds us of the consequences of rejecting God's perfect rule. [07:19]

1 Samuel 8:6-7 (ESV): "But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, 'Give us a king to judge us.' And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.'"

Reflection: In what ways are you seeking human solutions instead of trusting in God's sovereignty? How can you begin to trust His perfect rule in your life today?


Day 2: The Incarnation of Humility and Love
Jesus' incarnation is the ultimate act of humility and love. Despite being rejected, He chose to become flesh, offering a kingdom not of this world. His life and sacrifice call us to recognize Him as our true King and to live in a way that honors His love. [11:26]

Philippians 2:6-8 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: How can you embody humility and love in your daily interactions, following the example of Jesus? What specific action can you take today to serve others selflessly?


Day 3: The Depth of Jesus' Sacrifice
The trial and crucifixion of Jesus reveal the depth of His love and the extent of His sacrifice. He endured suffering for our sins, demonstrating the ultimate act of forgiveness and grace. This calls us to examine our own lives and turn from sin. [18:13]

Isaiah 53:5 (ESV): "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."

Reflection: What sin in your life do you need to confront and turn away from? How can you seek God's forgiveness and healing today?


Day 4: Recognizing Our Role in Jesus' Suffering
Our sins necessitated Jesus' suffering, yet His response was one of love and forgiveness. We are called to recognize the ways we continue to reject Him and to turn to Him in repentance, acknowledging Him as our Savior and King. [26:55]

Romans 5:8 (ESV): "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Reflection: In what ways have you been rejecting Jesus in your life? How can you actively turn towards Him and embrace His love and forgiveness today?


Day 5: Gratitude for Jesus' Sacrifice
Jesus' sacrifice offers us forgiveness and eternal life. As we prepare to partake in the Lord's Supper, let us do so with hearts full of gratitude, acknowledging the price He paid for our redemption and committing to live in a way that honors His sacrifice. [35:14]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV): "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice? What specific steps can you take to live a life that honors His redemption today?

Quotes

"Well, the next three weeks, you kind of see God's providence, and we are working through the trial, the crucifixion, the burial of Jesus, and as we work through that, I know this are all super encouraging things that we're going to be talking about. They are incredibly important for us as a church, for us to take them into account and to remember them. In fact, they're precisely the things that Jesus said when you observe the Lord's Supper, take these and do this in remembrance of me. It's to remember his sacrifice, his blood that was poured out for us, represented by the juice, and his body that was broken for us, represented by the bread." [00:03:24]

"So back when God finally brought the people of Israel into the promised land, he set them up as a people whose ruler would ultimately be God. They didn't have a king. And unlike the other nations that were ruled by men who often use their power and positions to their own advantage, Israel was ruled by God and God alone. The one who had shown faithfulness to Israel, who has no need of anything, who can't be corrupted like many of the rulers that lead nations. This was their king, their king who does not sleep, who does not grow weary, who is always fighting for them." [00:05:11]

"Samuel went away and he goes and he prays to the Lord. And we read the Lord's reply in 1 Samuel chapter 8. It says, But the Lord told him, Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as their king. They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to me since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning me and worshiping other gods. Listen to them, but solemnly warn them and tell them about the customary rights of a king who will reign over them." [00:07:19]

"Yet even in the immediate circumstance of them rejecting him, what do we see? But God gives them warnings. One more chance to avert disaster. But they keep crying out, give us a king like the other nations. Give us a king of flesh and bone like us. And this story plays out much like how we think it would. When an ungrateful child cries out from freedom from a loving parent, only to wish they could put the consequences back in the box that they asked to open." [00:11:04]

"And to show you just on how unlike us he is to these people. In this great rejection, our God did not turn away, but he came and he became Emmanuel, our God with us. Defying all, God, full of grace and truth, arose from his throne in heaven. The once rejected king stepped out of the courtrooms that echo with his praises. He blinked into our reality in space and time, and he put on our flesh and blood. To the people who cried out for an earthly king, the king of kings became earthly." [00:13:06]

"To those who were willing to give up God's perfect justice and kindness, Jesus stepped into their space and declared justice, hope, healing, peace, love, faithfulness, and a future of retaking the promised land with them as his king. To those who followed him, they would themselves become redeemers, going out and driving back the forces of darkness in this world until the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord's glory as the waters cover the sea." [00:14:00]

"Do you realize that with how beaten he was at this point, likely the only way that they could recognize him was just by the name that he was being called, not even by physically recognizing him. I want you to, and this is, I really want you to do this, I want you to close your eyes right now. If you would, close your eyes, and I want you to imagine this. Imagine you're there, standing beside the soldiers. Do you see Jesus there on that dusty stone floor? Nails Jesus, bloodied and wearied." [00:19:00]

"Do you recognize that when we come here and worship Christ and then we leave here and we go back to our lives and choose to go back into our sins? Do you see him? Do you see him? to ignore the clear principles that Jesus tells us when we choose to lie, to hate, to gossip, to tear down others, to break our vows, to lack self-control with substances or in the pursuit of sex outside of marriage, to be greedy with more money than we have earned, to despise our brothers and sisters in Christ, to quarrel, to lack compassion for those who wrong us, to not care for the poor and needy, to cheat, to be selfishly ambitious, even if it means stepping on others." [00:20:51]

"Isaiah 53 says of him, He was despised and rejected by men. A man of suffering who knew what sickness was. You can open your eyes and read the scripture along with me if you want to. Okay, some of you went to sleep during that time. A man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from. He was despised and we didn't value him. Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, carried our pains, but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God and afflicted." [00:22:34]

"Do you see him here scorned by his people and yet he goes out before them to face their greatest enemy, death and sin? Do you see that? Where Romans 5, 8 tells us God proves his love for us and that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Leading us into the promises of God that we do not deserve, offering us hope and life that is not ours. He is the king who like David charged out against the Goliath that we stood back trembling from. He's the one that did go before us and fight our battles for us." [00:32:38]

"The only thing we contributed to Jesus was the need to be saved. We are the helpless damsel that can't do anything to help free ourselves. we are the foolish child who disregarded the warnings from our parents and are suffering the consequences of those choices. We are the ignorant crowd that cries out for an earthly king because we doubt our God will deliver us. we are the ones who still to this day choose things of the flesh and of this world rather than our Jesus." [00:34:05]

"Do you see him, the king? Who comes to judge, to fight the battles of his people and to go out before them? This is the king who comes and offers you an invitation for you to come and follow him. Father, we have no right to demand this level of sacrifice, which is why it's all the more beautiful that you willingly gave it. That Jesus, you willingly kneeled before us and endured our shame and our reproach. That you bore the consequences of our choices and you did it so that you may set us free." [00:38:32]

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Transcript
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