Embracing the Humble Path of God's Kingdom

 

Summary

Today, as we gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, we reflected on the profound message of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. This event, chronicled in all four Gospels, reveals the stark contrast between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God. While earthly rulers like Herod would enter cities with grand military displays to assert their power, Jesus chose a different path. He entered Jerusalem on a humble donkey, fulfilling the prophecy and demonstrating a kingdom marked by humility, peace, and servitude.

In this act, Jesus was making a statement about the nature of His kingdom. It was not one of coercion or force, but of gentle invitation and radical love. The people who welcomed Him with shouts of "Hosanna" were longing for salvation, yet many misunderstood the nature of the freedom He offered. They expected a political liberator, but Jesus wept over Jerusalem, knowing that true peace would not come through violence or conquest.

The Pharisees, sensing the danger of Roman retaliation, urged Jesus to silence His followers. Yet, Jesus' response was profound: if the people were silent, the very stones would cry out. This declaration affirmed that God's redemptive plan could not be thwarted by human opposition. It was a reminder that creation itself longs for restoration and that God's purposes will be accomplished.

As we approach Holy Week, we are reminded of the tension between human expectations and God's ways. Jesus' journey to the cross was not a defeat but the ultimate expression of God's love. The cross, a symbol of suffering and shame, became the means of our salvation. Jesus willingly embraced this path, not because God desired His suffering, but because humanity's bondage to sin and death necessitated a profound act of self-sacrifice.

In the face of injustice and pain, Jesus did not retaliate but offered Himself as the sacrificial lamb. This act of love and surrender opened the way for us to understand the depth of God's love—a love that chooses to suffer rather than inflict suffering.

As we walk through this Holy Week, let us consider what it means to follow Jesus' example of surrender and trust. We are invited to lay down our swords, our need for control, and our expectations at the foot of the cross. In doing so, we embrace the way of the Kingdom—a way marked by compassion, mercy, and trust in God's good purposes.

Key Takeaways:

- Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, as opposed to a warhorse, symbolizes the upside-down nature of the Kingdom of God. It is a kingdom where power is expressed through humility and service, not through domination and force. This challenges us to consider how we use the power and influence we have. Are we aligning with the humble way of Jesus, or are we tempted to assert ourselves in ways that mirror the kingdoms of this world? [30:04]

- The Pharisees' request for Jesus to silence His followers and Jesus' response about the stones crying out teaches us about the inevitability of God's kingdom. Even when human voices are silenced, creation itself testifies to God's sovereignty. This should comfort us in times when we feel our efforts for justice and truth are stifled or ignored. [35:06]

- Jesus weeping over Jerusalem reveals His heart for His people and His desire for them to understand the true path to peace. It is a poignant reminder that God's vision for humanity often differs from our own. We are called to seek peace not through might but through the transformative power of love and sacrifice. [39:54]

- The cross, while a symbol of execution and defeat, becomes the ultimate demonstration of God's love and the means of our redemption. It invites us to reflect on the nature of God's love—a love that is willing to enter into the depths of human suffering to bring about restoration and healing. [49:08]

- As we enter Holy Week, we are encouraged to surrender our will to God, just as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane. This act of surrender is not a sign of weakness but of trust in God's greater plan. It is an invitation to let go of our own agendas and to trust that God's ways, though often mysterious, lead to life and wholeness. [53:26]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 21:5-7 (NIV)
> "Say to Daughter Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on."

2. Luke 19:39-40 (NIV)
> "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.'"

3. Luke 19:41-42 (NIV)
> "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.'"

#### Observation Questions
1. What was the significance of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey instead of a warhorse? ([31:27])
2. How did the Pharisees react to the crowd's praise of Jesus, and what was Jesus' response? ([34:16])
3. Why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem as He approached the city? ([39:43])
4. What does Jesus' willingness to go to the cross despite knowing the suffering ahead reveal about His mission? ([47:05])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Jesus' choice of a donkey over a warhorse tell us about the nature of His kingdom compared to earthly kingdoms? ([31:53])
2. How does Jesus' statement about the stones crying out reflect the inevitability of God's kingdom? ([35:02])
3. Why do you think the people misunderstood the type of salvation Jesus was offering, and how does this misunderstanding reflect in our expectations today? ([39:20])
4. How does Jesus' weeping over Jerusalem challenge our understanding of peace and the means to achieve it? ([39:54])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you expected God to act in a certain way but were surprised by His actual response. How did this experience shape your understanding of God's ways? ([39:20])
2. In what areas of your life are you tempted to use power and influence in ways that mirror the kingdoms of this world rather than the humble way of Jesus? ([31:53])
3. How can you find comfort in knowing that God's redemptive plan cannot be thwarted by human opposition, especially in times when your efforts for justice and truth seem stifled? ([35:02])
4. Jesus' journey to the cross was marked by surrender and trust in God's plan. What is one area of your life where you need to surrender control and trust in God's greater plan? ([53:26])
5. Think of a situation where you have been treated unfairly or faced injustice. How can you follow Jesus' example of responding with love and surrender rather than retaliation? ([54:18])
6. As we enter Holy Week, what specific steps can you take to lay down your own agendas and embrace the way of the Kingdom, marked by compassion, mercy, and trust in God's purposes? ([54:32])
7. Identify one person in your life who is longing for peace. How can you share the message of Jesus' transformative love and sacrifice with them this week? ([39:54])

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Humility in Power
The Kingdom of God operates on principles that often seem upside down to the world's standards. Jesus' choice to enter Jerusalem on a donkey instead of a warhorse was a deliberate act to demonstrate that His kingdom is built on humility and service. This moment was a powerful illustration of how true power is not found in displays of strength or dominance but in the quiet strength of humility. In a world that often equates power with force and control, the image of Jesus on a donkey invites believers to reconsider their own approach to power and influence. Are they using their positions to serve others and advance the cause of peace, or are they caught up in the pursuit of power for its own sake? [30:04]

"Zechariah 9:9-10 - Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the warhorse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth."

Reflection: How can you embody Christ-like humility in your spheres of influence today, and in what ways can you serve others to reflect the upside-down kingdom of God?

Day 2: The Inevitability of God's Kingdom
When the Pharisees asked Jesus to silence His followers, His response about the stones crying out was a declaration of the unstoppable nature of God's redemptive plan. This teaches that God's purposes will prevail, even when human voices are suppressed. It is a comforting reminder that the kingdom of God does not depend on human strength or approval. When believers face opposition or feel that their efforts for justice are overlooked, they can take solace in the fact that all of creation is aligned with God's sovereign will and will ultimately testify to His glory. [35:06]

"Habakkuk 2:11 - For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond."

Reflection: In what ways can you find encouragement in the truth that God's purposes will prevail, even when you face opposition or feel unheard?

Day 3: The True Path to Peace
Jesus wept over Jerusalem because He understood the people's longing for peace and salvation, yet He knew they were looking for it in the wrong places. They expected a political savior, but Jesus came to offer a peace that transcends political power or military might. His tears were an expression of His deep compassion and a reminder that the path to true peace is through love and sacrifice, not force. This challenges believers to reevaluate their own expectations and to seek peace through the transformative power of God's love, which often works in unexpected ways. [39:54]

"Luke 19:41-42 - And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, 'Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.'"

Reflection: How can you actively pursue the peace that Jesus offers in your relationships and communities, and what might need to change in your approach to conflict?

Day 4: The Cross as the Ultimate Love
The cross, a symbol of suffering and shame, became the means of our salvation and the ultimate demonstration of God's love. It is a profound paradox that through Jesus' death, life and healing are offered to all. This invites believers to reflect on the nature of God's love—a love that chose to enter into human suffering to bring about restoration. The cross challenges the notion that victory comes from power and instead reveals that true victory comes through vulnerability and self-sacrifice. [49:08]

"1 Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."

Reflection: How does the cross shape your understanding of God's love, and how can you live out that sacrificial love in your daily interactions?

Day 5: Surrendering to God's Will
As Jesus surrendered His will to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, believers are called to do the same. This act of surrender is not a sign of weakness but a demonstration of trust in God's greater plan. It is an invitation to let go of personal agendas and to embrace God's mysterious ways, which often lead to life and wholeness. Surrendering to God involves laying down the need for control and the desire to dictate outcomes, trusting that God's ways are higher and ultimately lead to true life. [53:26]

"Matthew 26:39 - And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's plan, and how can you take a step toward surrendering it to Him today?

Quotes

"So what looks to us like a parade, you also could maybe say a public demonstration, is interestingly in the context there, the people would have recognized what was happening here because it was common that when the king would come into the city, that the king would come in with fanfare. So everyone is coming to Jerusalem at this time. It's the Passover. And so people are traveling from far and wide into Jerusalem. At this time, or very shortly, probably Herod is coming to Jerusalem. And Herod's going to ride in on a big, white, strong military horse with military procession behind him and spears and swords to be a demonstration of power so that people would know who was in power, who had the strength and the might. And so Jesus is coming in to Jerusalem as well. But Jesus, like the prophet said, Jesus chooses a donkey and he comes in as one who is humble and mild and meek." [34:08]( | | )

"And Jesus has this interesting phrase. He says, if they don't cry out, the rocks will. I just I love that. I feel like that gives me such comfort and peace and hope, knowing that God's plan will come about. And often in the Old Testament, when that phrase is used, it's used when people are lamenting over an injustice. It's like saying, you know what, if human beings don't step up, the creation will make it happen because God is God has ordained it. It's going to happen no matter what." [35:06]( | | )

"We can miss what happened in the cross of Jesus that really opens up the way for humanity to understand that God is a God of self-sacrificing love. And so during this parade, you might say Jesus knows this is why he becomes so he knows they are they are celebrating and rejoicing, but they have something else in mind. They have the picking up of the swords to get their freedom. And I know that that is not going to work. And what that means is I'm going to be the scapegoat. I'm going to be the one I'm going to be the sacrificial lamb." [49:08]( | | )

"And he's looking for another way. Right. He is he and he's brings that disappointment. He brings that fear to God and says, if there be any other way. And he prays again and again. And it says he's sweating, you know, drips of blood. He's it's so much anguish. But then he comes around and he says, but not my will, your will be done. And so he went anyway. He surrendered his outcome to the father. And so I think in your word, Katie, for each of us, what is it in your life that God is calling you maybe this week to surrender?" [53:26]( | | )

"Yeah, I think when we're honest, the sad reality is we don't often get it today. Right. I mean, if we look at our world and the conflict and the conquest, right, the they were shouting Hosanna, save us. And they were thrilled. But most likely in their mind, they're like, yeah, we finally got someone that's going to overthrow Rome. Like we're going to go in power and take back our freedom. And that's why Jesus weeps, because he realizes when he gets to Jerusalem, this this crowd of celebration literally turns to mourning and grief. And Jesus weeps because he realizes they don't get it right." [39:54]( | | )

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Transcript
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