Embracing the Unexpected Kingship of Jesus

 

Summary

In my sermon, I explored the theme of Jesus as the unexpected king, focusing on the events of Holy Week and the reactions of the people who witnessed them. I began by setting the stage with the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, as described in Mark 11. The people's expectations of a Messiah who would lead a military uprising against Rome were high, especially after Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. The crowd's excitement was palpable, akin to a Super Bowl parade, as they shouted "Hosanna" and laid down palm branches and garments before Jesus.

However, Jesus did not come to fulfill their expectations of a political savior. Instead, He entered Jerusalem on a donkey, a symbol of peace, rather than a warhorse. This act alone was unexpected and even scandalous, as it broke with tradition. Jesus' subsequent actions, such as cleansing the temple and teaching about paying taxes to Caesar, further confused and disappointed the crowd. Their disillusionment grew when Jesus did not seize power but instead spoke of a different kind of kingdom.

As the week progressed, the crowd's initial adoration turned to anger and betrayal. By the time of Jesus' trial, the same people who had praised Him now chose Barabbas, a known revolutionary, over Jesus. Their pride and expectations blinded them to the true nature of Jesus' kingship. They could not see that Jesus was establishing a spiritual kingdom, not a political one.

In my sermon, I drew parallels between the crowd's reaction to Jesus and our own potential to miss what God is doing in our lives due to our pride and expectations. I reflected on historical misinterpretations of Scripture and how they have led to atrocities such as the Crusades, slavery, and other injustices, emphasizing the need for humility and wisdom in our faith.

I concluded with a call to action, urging the congregation to cultivate humility, gratitude, and recognition of Jesus as king in their lives. By doing so, we can avoid the mistakes of the past and truly see God's work in our lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. Pride can blind us to God's truth and lead to disgrace, as seen in the crowd's inability to recognize Jesus as the unexpected king. We must approach our faith with humility to gain wisdom and see God accurately. ([47:55])

2. Jesus does not need to meet our expectations to be God. The crowd's disappointment in Jesus' actions reveals our own tendency to impose our desires on God. We must accept God's plan, even when it diverges from our own. ([49:06])

3. Gratitude can transform our perspective and combat pride. By intentionally practicing gratitude, we open ourselves to see God's work in our lives and prevent pride from distorting our vision. ([57:18])

4. Recognizing Jesus as king means accepting Him for who He is, not who we want Him to be. Worshiping Jesus as the king He truly is requires us to let go of our preconceived notions and trust in His sovereignty. ([58:29])

5. Jesus' forgiveness on the cross extends to us when we fail to understand His plan. His words, "Father, forgive them," remind us of His grace in the face of our shortcomings and the importance of aligning ourselves with His will. ([53:52])

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Mark 11:1-11 - Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
2. Proverbs 11:2 - "Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."
3. Colossians 3:12 - "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."

#### Observation Questions
1. What were the people's expectations of Jesus as He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday? ([30:00])
2. How did Jesus' actions during Holy Week differ from the crowd's expectations? ([42:00])
3. What was the crowd's reaction to Jesus by the end of the week, and why did it change? ([43:02])
4. According to the sermon, what are some historical examples of misinterpreting Scripture due to pride? ([46:02])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why did the crowd's expectations of Jesus as a political savior lead to their disillusionment? ([36:02])
2. How does pride affect our ability to see God's work in our lives, according to Proverbs 11:2? ([47:42])
3. What does it mean to recognize Jesus as the king He truly is, rather than who we want Him to be? ([58:00])
4. How can practicing gratitude help us combat pride and see God's work more clearly? ([57:18])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when your expectations of God did not align with His actions. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([49:33])
2. In what ways can you cultivate humility in your daily life to better understand God's plan for you? ([47:42])
3. Identify a specific area in your life where pride might be blinding you to God's truth. How can you address this? ([47:42])
4. How can you intentionally practice gratitude this week to transform your perspective and combat pride? ([57:18])
5. Think of a situation where you have imposed your desires on God. How can you shift your mindset to accept His plan instead? ([49:06])
6. What steps can you take to ensure you are recognizing and worshiping Jesus as the king He truly is, not just who you want Him to be? ([58:00])
7. How can you apply the qualities of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience from Colossians 3:12 in your interactions with others this week? ([55:02])

Devotional

Day 1: Humility Unveils Divine Truth
Humility is not merely a virtue; it is the lens through which we must view our relationship with God. The crowd that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem expected a king who would overthrow their oppressors and restore Israel to glory. Their pride in their own understanding of the Messiah blinded them to the true nature of Jesus' mission. When He did not meet their expectations, their praise quickly turned to scorn. This serves as a stark reminder that pride can distort our perception of God's work in our lives. It is only through a humble heart that we can begin to discern the unexpected ways in which God moves and reveals His truth to us. By setting aside our pride, we open ourselves to the wisdom that comes from a genuine encounter with the divine. [47:55]

"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." - Matthew 23:12 ESV

Reflection: Consider a time when your expectations of God did not align with reality. How did pride shape your reaction, and how can you approach similar situations with humility in the future?

Day 2: Embracing God's Unexpected Plans
The disappointment of the crowd during Holy Week reflects a common human tendency to project our desires onto God, expecting Him to act according to our plans. However, God's ways are not our ways. Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, His teachings, and His ultimate sacrifice on the cross were all part of a divine plan that transcended human expectations. Accepting God's sovereignty means trusting in His greater purpose, even when it diverges from our own understanding or desires. This acceptance can be challenging, but it is essential for a deep and authentic faith that acknowledges God's authority over all aspects of life. [49:06]

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." - Isaiah 55:8 ESV

Reflection: What is one aspect of your life where you struggle to accept God's plan over your own? How can you practice surrendering to His will today?

Day 3: Gratitude as an Antidote to Pride
Gratitude is a powerful force that can shift our perspective and combat the pride that often clouds our vision. When we intentionally practice gratitude, we acknowledge the presence and work of God in our lives, even in the smallest of blessings. This practice helps us to recognize that every good thing comes from above and that our achievements and successes are not solely the result of our own efforts. A grateful heart is a humble heart, one that is open to seeing and celebrating God's hand in all circumstances. By fostering gratitude, we can prevent pride from distorting our understanding of God's grace and love. [57:18]

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

Reflection: Identify three things you are grateful for that you typically take for granted. How can focusing on these blessings today help you cultivate a more grateful and humble spirit?

Day 4: Worshiping Jesus as the True King
Recognizing Jesus as king involves accepting Him for who He truly is, not who we want or expect Him to be. This means letting go of our preconceived notions and trusting in His sovereignty. Worshiping Jesus as the unexpected king requires a willingness to be surprised by His methods and to submit to His rule, even when it challenges our own ideas of power and leadership. As we align our hearts with the reality of Jesus' kingship, we find freedom in the truth of His lordship over every aspect of our lives. [58:29]

"But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice." - Psalm 9:7 ESV

Reflection: In what ways have you tried to fit Jesus into your own image of a king? How can you adjust your worship to honor Him as the king He truly is?

Day 5: Forgiveness and Alignment with God's Will
Jesus' forgiveness on the cross, even for those who failed to understand His plan, is a profound demonstration of grace. His words, "Father, forgive them," remind us that His love and forgiveness extend to us in our shortcomings. Recognizing our failures to comprehend God's will can be humbling, but it also opens the door to realigning ourselves with His purposes. As we accept Jesus' forgiveness, we are empowered to forgive others and to seek a deeper understanding of His will for our lives. [53:52]

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." - Colossians 3:13 ESV

Reflection: Who do you need to forgive as an act of aligning with Jesus' example on the cross? How can you take a step towards forgiveness today?

Quotes

1) "The first is that pride blurs our ability. To see God accurately, right? Somehow, from Palm Sunday, where they were shouting Hosanna and treating Jesus like a king, somehow we go from there to, like, Thursday night and all-out uproar, and then Friday morning yelling, crucify him. How did we get there?" [45:42]( | | )

2) "The book of Proverbs puts it like this. In Proverbs 11, verse 2, it says, Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. I think that the word used in Proverbs, disgrace, is perfect to describe the actions of the crowd that turned on Jesus." [47:55]( | | )

3) "We have to have a willingness to accept what God is doing, not what we expect God to do. Even if it differs from the plans that we have made, from the desires that we have, from the preferred course, that maybe this way is a little easier, we have to acknowledge God's plan, or we're crucifying Him again." [49:06]( | | )

4) "Jesus doesn't need to live up to our expectations for Him to be God. His holiness does not depend on His living up to our expectations. He already is God. He doesn't need to live up to our expectations for Him to be the king. And He just doesn't need to live up to our expectations, period." [52:11]( | | )

5) "We think of, Father, forgive them, that Jesus is talking about the people that were standing, that we have this image, the people standing on Calvary that day that were watching the three people on the cross die. But if we put ourselves in that situation, when Jesus says, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do, Jesus is forgiving us." [53:52]( | | )

6) "This week, I want to challenge you, that as often as you can, express gratitude to others. Keep a journal, keep a notes page on your phone, keep some kind of record. And when you keep track of how often that you're actually grateful, and you allow yourself to express that, you will see that there are even more opportunities to be grateful." [57:18]( | | )

7) "You have to recognize Jesus as the king that Jesus is. Not the king that Jesus is to you. For a very short time, the crowd worshiped Jesus as king. They worshiped him as the king that they imagined him to be. But I want to make sure that we're not making the same mistake of worshiping Jesus as the king that we imagined him to be." [58:29]( | | )

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?