Embracing True Discipleship: Hope Beyond Earthly Gains
Summary
On this Palm Sunday, we reflect on the significance of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, a pivotal moment in the final week of His earthly life. The atmosphere in Jerusalem was charged with anticipation as Jewish pilgrims gathered for Passover, and news of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead had spread, igniting messianic hopes and revolutionary fervor. Jesus' entry on a donkey fulfilled ancient prophecies, signaling His role as the long-awaited Messiah, yet many misunderstood His mission, expecting temporal deliverance from Roman oppression rather than spiritual salvation.
The crowd's excitement was fueled by the miracles Jesus performed, particularly the raising of Lazarus, which led many to follow Him with hopes of personal gain. However, true discipleship requires following Jesus for the right reasons, with eternity in view. The reward for following Christ is not found in earthly comforts or temporal blessings but in the promise of eternal life. This calls for a willingness to lose one's life here to gain it in the next, embracing the hardships and persecutions that come with genuine faith.
As believers, we are reminded that our faith should not rest on false promises of an easy life but on the truth of the gospel, which calls for repentance and faith in Jesus as the Savior. Our hope should be anchored in the eternal promises of God, not in temporary desires or expectations. This perspective helps us navigate life's challenges, knowing that God provides everything we need for life and godliness through His Word, the church, and the Holy Spirit.
In our interactions with others, we must present the true gospel, emphasizing the need for a Savior and the transformative power of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Our lives should reflect Christ's love and forgiveness, demonstrating the hope we have in Him. As we aim to lose our lives in the present, we do so by proclaiming the kindness of Jesus, allowing others to see and know Him through us.
Key Takeaways:
1. True Discipleship and Eternal Perspective: Following Jesus requires a focus on eternity rather than temporary gains. True discipleship involves a willingness to lose one's life here to gain it in the next, understanding that the reward for following Christ is not in this life but in the eternal life to come. [15:54]
2. The Misunderstanding of Jesus' Mission: Many in Jesus' time misunderstood His mission, expecting political deliverance rather than spiritual salvation. This serves as a reminder that our faith should not rest on false promises of an easy life but on the truth of the gospel, which calls for repentance and faith in Jesus as the Savior. [09:40]
3. The Role of Miracles and Faith: While miracles like the raising of Lazarus drew crowds to Jesus, true faith goes beyond seeking signs and wonders. It involves trusting in Jesus for who He is, the Messiah, and not merely for what He can do for us in this life. [04:27]
4. The Importance of Presenting the True Gospel: In sharing our faith, we must emphasize the need for a Savior and the transformative power of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Our lives should reflect Christ's love and forgiveness, demonstrating the hope we have in Him. [18:55]
5. Living with a Capital 'H' Hope: Our hope should be anchored in the eternal promises of God, not in temporary desires or expectations. This perspective helps us navigate life's challenges, knowing that God provides everything we need for life and godliness through His Word, the church, and the Holy Spirit. [32:40]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Setting the Scene: Palm Sunday
- [02:30] - The Significance of Jesus' Entry
- [04:27] - The Crowd's Reaction to Miracles
- [06:15] - Misunderstanding Jesus' Mission
- [09:40] - True Discipleship and Eternal Perspective
- [12:00] - The Role of Faith and Miracles
- [15:54] - The Reward of Following Jesus
- [18:55] - Presenting the True Gospel
- [22:08] - Jesus Fulfilling Prophecies
- [26:35] - Living with Eternal Hope
- [29:00] - The Call to Lose Our Lives
- [32:40] - Forgiveness and Daily Decisions
- [36:20] - The Role of Christians in the World
- [39:03] - Closing Prayer and Reflections
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 12:12-19
- Zechariah 9:9
- Hebrews 11:29-38
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the crowd's reaction when Jesus entered Jerusalem, and what were they expecting from Him? [04:27]
2. How did Jesus' entry into Jerusalem fulfill the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9? [22:08]
3. What role did the miracle of raising Lazarus play in the crowd's perception of Jesus? [04:27]
4. According to the sermon, what misunderstanding did many people have about Jesus' mission? [09:40]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 shape our understanding of Jesus' mission as the Messiah? [22:08]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that true discipleship involves a willingness to lose one's life here on earth? [26:35]
3. How does the sermon explain the difference between seeking Jesus for temporal benefits versus eternal salvation? [15:54]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of presenting the true gospel in our interactions with others? [18:55]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own expectations of Jesus. Are there areas where you might be seeking Him for temporary gains rather than eternal salvation? How can you shift your focus? [15:54]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of presenting the true gospel. How can you ensure that your conversations about faith emphasize the need for a Savior and the transformative power of Jesus? [18:55]
3. Consider the concept of "losing your life" for Christ. What practical steps can you take to prioritize eternal values over temporary desires in your daily life? [26:35]
4. How can you anchor your hope in the eternal promises of God rather than in temporary desires or expectations? Identify one area in your life where you can apply this perspective. [32:40]
5. The sermon discusses the role of miracles and faith. How can you cultivate a faith that trusts in Jesus for who He is, rather than just for what He can do for you? [04:27]
6. Forgiveness is described as a daily decision. Is there someone in your life you need to forgive? What steps can you take to live as though you've forgotten past grievances? [32:40]
7. How can you demonstrate Christ's love and forgiveness in your interactions with others this week? Identify one specific action you can take. [36:20]
Devotional
Day 1: Eternal Perspective in Discipleship
True discipleship involves a focus on eternity rather than temporary gains. Many people followed Jesus because of the miracles He performed, hoping for personal gain or immediate relief from their circumstances. However, Jesus taught that the true reward for following Him is not found in earthly comforts or temporal blessings but in the promise of eternal life. This requires a willingness to lose one's life here to gain it in the next, embracing the hardships and persecutions that come with genuine faith. As believers, we are called to live with an eternal perspective, understanding that our ultimate hope and reward are found in the life to come, not in the fleeting pleasures of this world. [15:54]
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself prioritizing temporary gains over eternal rewards? How can you shift your focus to align more closely with an eternal perspective today?
Day 2: Understanding Jesus' True Mission
Many in Jesus' time misunderstood His mission, expecting political deliverance from Roman oppression rather than spiritual salvation. This serves as a reminder that our faith should not rest on false promises of an easy life but on the truth of the gospel, which calls for repentance and faith in Jesus as the Savior. Jesus came to offer spiritual deliverance and eternal life, not merely to solve temporal problems. As believers, we must align our expectations with the true mission of Jesus, understanding that His primary purpose was to reconcile us to God and offer us eternal life through His death and resurrection. [09:40]
John 18:36 (ESV): "Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.'"
Reflection: How have you misunderstood Jesus' mission in your own life? What steps can you take to align your expectations with His true purpose?
Day 3: Faith Beyond Miracles
While miracles like the raising of Lazarus drew crowds to Jesus, true faith goes beyond seeking signs and wonders. It involves trusting in Jesus for who He is, the Messiah, and not merely for what He can do for us in this life. The crowd's excitement was fueled by the miracles Jesus performed, but true discipleship requires following Jesus for the right reasons, with eternity in view. As believers, we are called to trust in Jesus' character and His promises, rather than seeking Him only for the benefits He can provide in this life. [04:27]
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Reflection: In what ways have you been seeking Jesus for what He can do for you rather than for who He is? How can you deepen your faith to trust in His character and promises?
Day 4: Presenting the True Gospel
In sharing our faith, we must emphasize the need for a Savior and the transformative power of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Our lives should reflect Christ's love and forgiveness, demonstrating the hope we have in Him. As believers, we are called to present the true gospel, not a watered-down version that promises an easy life. This involves living out the gospel in our daily interactions, showing others the love and forgiveness of Christ, and pointing them to the hope we have in Him. [18:55]
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."
Reflection: How can you more effectively share the true gospel with those around you? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate Christ's love and forgiveness in your daily interactions?
Day 5: Anchoring Hope in Eternal Promises
Our hope should be anchored in the eternal promises of God, not in temporary desires or expectations. This perspective helps us navigate life's challenges, knowing that God provides everything we need for life and godliness through His Word, the church, and the Holy Spirit. As believers, we are called to live with a capital 'H' Hope, trusting in God's eternal promises and relying on His provision for our needs. This eternal perspective allows us to face life's difficulties with confidence, knowing that our ultimate hope is secure in Christ. [32:40]
2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."
Reflection: What temporary desires or expectations have been distracting you from anchoring your hope in God's eternal promises? How can you refocus your hope on the eternal today?
Quotes
"Many people who followed Him were scourged, mocked, imprisoned, martyred, sawn in two. And if your faith is in a false promise or a misunderstanding of what Jesus came to do in your heart, in your soul, when those things come upon you, if they do, and certainly if not exactly what happens in Hebrews 11, but other places of the Bible or even something different altogether, you're going to be dismayed, confused." [00:13:39] (38 seconds)
"Friends, the reward for following Jesus is not in this life, but in the eternal life to come. Let me say that again. The reward for following Jesus is not in this life, but in our eternal life to come. When people promise that Jesus will make your life easier here, they're teaching a false message. Now, let me clarify. In the midst of trials, God will teach you how to have and will give you peace that surpasses understanding." [00:16:00] (48 seconds)
"We shouldn't follow Jesus because He will give us all the perks that we want in this life. We need to follow Jesus because of who He is. Jesus is God's anointed one, the King. And we've seen that already in these verses. If your faith rests on Jesus, which it should because a proper explanation of what our faith is, is that we are sinners in need of a Savior." [00:17:27] (37 seconds)
"If you're looking to Jesus for something other than the forgiveness of your sins, which restores your relationship with God the Father that has been broken since before you were ever born, then you're missing the point. And we need to be sure, friends, that in our desire, in our longing, in our aching, in the good burden that we have to see other people know a relationship with Jesus, how sad would it be to explain something other than the true gospel of Jesus Christ that requires repentance and faith?" [00:20:04] (38 seconds)
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. And shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your king is coming to you. Righteous and having salvation is he. Humble, mounted on a donkey, on a colt, on the foal of a donkey. I will cut off chariots from Ephraim and the war horse 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 river to the ends of the earth." [00:22:08] (33 seconds)
"He is the king of kings he is the lord of lords and we need to follow him for that reason alone not because of what we think he might provide us in this life he provides forgiveness of sins and eternal life to everyone who calls on him to everyone who believes in him but the gift comes with hardship the gift comes with persecution." [00:23:49] (30 seconds)
"It's important as we think about trying to understand what we're putting our faith in Jesus for with biblical promises I learned this from someone else and I try to pass it on to people that I have opportunity to but that is focusing on our capital h hope versus our lowercase h hope or capital p promises versus lowercase p promises in other words it's not wrong to hope or desire or strive for a good and godly marriage but you're one person in the equation and even on your best day you're still riddled with sin in your heart though you're a saved child of god we still sin." [00:24:20] (48 seconds)
"One of the reasons forgiveness is so difficult is that it requires a daily decision to say, I choose to forgive because Christ Jesus has forgiven me so much. And with that comes a daily decision to live as though I've forgotten what happened. God doesn't give us the ability, unless until you hit a certain age, then you kind of just start to forget things. But we don't forget. You know, the casual phrase, you know, the cliche, forgive and forget. Well, that's not biblical." [00:33:07] (62 seconds)
"But we are to live in such a way as though we've forgotten because we're not holding it over people. And God has given us the opportunity to show others and parents. This is parents to your children. Children, this is children to your parents. This is neighbor to neighbor. This is church member to church member. This is employee to employer or employer to employee. This is student to student. This is friend to friend. Friend, this is old to young and young to old." [00:34:08] (34 seconds)
"Paul said, I have been crucified with Christ and it's no longer I who live, but it's Christ who lives through me. Now, friends, our cross is not Jesus's cross. None of us is the perfect, pure, spotless lamb able to forgive the sins of the world. But every one of us is a Christian, a little Christ who can daily take up the cross, the purpose, the call that God has for me, for you, to follow Jesus faithfully." [00:35:19] (40 seconds)
"And as you aim to lose your life in the present, you do it by acknowledging and proclaiming the kindness of Jesus that you have experienced in your life. And through you, God gives others the opportunity to know Jesus. May that be our aim, church family." [00:38:05] (27 seconds)
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