Finding True Fulfillment at the Table of Christ

Devotional

Day 1: True Satisfaction in the Bread of Life

In our pursuit of fulfillment, we often chase after the temporary "bread" of this world, seeking satisfaction in material possessions, achievements, or relationships. However, these things leave us hungry for more, never truly satisfying our deepest needs. Jesus, the Bread of Life, offers us a relationship that fulfills our spiritual hunger. He invites us to partake in a deeper connection with Him, where we find true satisfaction and contentment. As we reflect on our lives, we must consider the bread we are chasing and whether it leads us to Jesus or away from Him. [49:27]

John 6:35 (ESV): "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.'"

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you are seeking satisfaction outside of Jesus? How can you begin to turn to Him for fulfillment today?

Day 2: The King Who Truly Satisfies

Throughout history, people have looked to worldly leaders for peace and security, much like the Israelites who demanded a king. Yet, these leaders often fall short of fulfilling our deepest needs. Jesus, the King of Kings, offers a different kind of leadership—one that brings lasting peace and fulfillment. He breaks the pattern of earthly kings by coming in humility and offering redemption. As we reflect on the kings we choose, we must ask ourselves if we are placing our trust in temporary leaders or in Jesus, who alone can satisfy our souls. [01:07:08]

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 looking to worldly leaders or systems for security? How can you shift your trust to Jesus, the true King?

Day 3: Choosing the Savior Over Silver

Judas' choice to betray Jesus for silver serves as a powerful warning about the danger of valuing what God can give over a relationship with God Himself. Despite witnessing Jesus' miracles and teachings, Judas chose temporary gain over eternal life. This choice reflects a common struggle in our spiritual journey, where we may prioritize material wealth or success over our relationship with God. As we reflect on Judas' choice, we must examine our own lives and consider whether we are valuing God's gifts more than God Himself. [59:52]

Matthew 26:14-16 (ESV): "Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, 'What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?' And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him."

Reflection: Is there something in your life that you are valuing more than your relationship with God? How can you begin to prioritize your relationship with Him today?

Day 4: The Humble King Who Breaks the Pattern

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey symbolizes His mission to conquer sin, not political powers. Unlike earthly kings who seek power and control, Jesus comes in humility and peace, offering redemption and transformation. His approach breaks the pattern of worldly leadership, inviting us to follow a different path—one of humility, service, and love. As we reflect on Jesus' kingship, we must consider how we can embody His values in our own lives and relationships. [01:12:53]

Zechariah 9:9 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: How can you embody the humility and peace of Jesus in your interactions with others today? What specific actions can you take to reflect His kingship in your life?

Day 5: Communion's Invitation to Examine Our Lives

As we partake in communion, we are invited to examine our lives and the bread we chase. Jesus' broken body, symbolized by the unleavened bread, reminds us of His sacrifice and calls us to find true satisfaction in Him. This sacred act invites us to reflect on our spiritual journey and consider whether we are seeking fulfillment in temporary things or in a relationship with Jesus. As we come to the table, we are encouraged to taste and see that the Lord is good, trusting Him to satisfy our deepest hunger and lead us into eternal life. [01:16:09]

1 Corinthians 11:28-29 (ESV): "Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself."

Reflection: As you prepare to partake in communion, what is one area of your life that needs examination? How can you invite Jesus to bring transformation and fulfillment in that area today?

Sermon Summary

Good morning, church family. Today, as we gather on this Palm Sunday, we embark on a two-week journey exploring the profound events surrounding the Last Supper. This time of year is a powerful reminder of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made for our sins. Our focus today is on the theme "The Table Before the Crown," emphasizing our longing for a king who can truly satisfy us. We often seek fulfillment in worldly pursuits, but only Jesus, the Bread of Life and King of Kings, can meet our deepest needs.

We began by reflecting on the game "Chameleon," where players must discern truth from deception. This serves as a metaphor for our spiritual journey, where we must discern the true source of satisfaction. We all worship something, and our hearts often chase after the "bread" of this world, seeking fulfillment in temporary things. However, Jesus invites us to a deeper relationship with Him, offering Himself as the true Bread of Life.

As we delve into the Last Supper, we see Judas, who despite being close to Jesus, chose silver over the Savior. This highlights the danger of seeking what God can give rather than seeking God Himself. We are reminded of the Israelites in Exodus 16, who longed for physical sustenance but missed the spiritual nourishment God offered. Similarly, we often chase after kings and leaders, hoping they will bring us peace, yet only Jesus, the King who breaks the pattern, can truly satisfy our souls.

Today, as we partake in communion, we remember that Jesus' body was broken for us, symbolized by the unleavened bread. This act invites us to examine our lives and consider the bread we are chasing. Are we seeking satisfaction in things that leave us hungry for more, or are we finding fulfillment in a relationship with Jesus? As we come to the table, let us taste and see that the Lord is good, trusting Him to satisfy our deepest hunger and lead us into eternal life.

Key Takeaways

1. The Bread We Chase: We often seek fulfillment in the temporary "bread" of this world, but true satisfaction comes from Jesus, the Bread of Life. Our spiritual hunger can only be satisfied by a relationship with Him. [49:27]
2. The Kings We Choose: Like the Israelites who demanded a king, we often look to worldly leaders for peace and security. However, only Jesus, the King of Kings, can truly fulfill our deepest needs and bring lasting peace. [67:08]
3. Judas' Choice: Despite witnessing Jesus' miracles, Judas chose silver over the Savior. This serves as a warning to us about the danger of valuing what God can give over a relationship with God Himself. [59:52]
4. The King Who Breaks the Pattern: Jesus, unlike earthly kings, comes in humility and peace, offering redemption rather than revolution. His entry into Jerusalem on a donkey symbolizes His mission to conquer sin, not political powers. [72:53]
5. Communion's Invitation: As we partake in communion, we are invited to examine our lives and the bread we chase. Jesus' broken body reminds us of His sacrifice and calls us to find true satisfaction in Him. [01:16:09]
** [76:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:30] - Introduction to Palm Sunday
[04:00] - The Game of Chameleon
[07:00] - Bread, Crown, and Glory
[10:00] - The Table Before the Crown
[15:00] - The Bread We All Chase
[20:00] - The Last Supper and Judas
[25:00] - The Kings We Keep Choosing
[30:00] - The King Who Breaks the Pattern
[35:00] - Communion and Its Significance
[40:00] - Invitation to the Table
[45:00] - Prayer and Reflection
[50:00] - Mission Trip Announcement
[55:00] - Closing Prayer and Send-off
[60:00] - Final Blessing and Dismissal

Sermon Clips

What I find interesting about that, as you look to the left, as in this portrayal here, in this scene that we've just seen, is that Judas is offered the cup. And Judas' feet were washed that night. And it's Judas who has betrayed the Lord for coin, for silver coin. And later, we'll throw that back and say, I've done wrong. And then he'll even go and hang himself as we see this. [00:44:27] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

Jesus was troubled in his spirit and testified, Truly, truly, I say to you, and one of you will betray me. And the disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. And one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' side. So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, Lord, who is it? And Jesus answered, It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it. [00:47:23] (33 seconds) Edit Clip

And we all really, I want to point out as we read this, hunger for the bread of this world. And Judas isn't the only one. We've all tried to fill our hunger that goes deeper than our stomachs. And in John 6, we can see an example of this related to physical food. Yet Jesus going to show them, you guys keep thinking about all this, but I am much more than just a miracle worker over food. [00:49:39] (26 seconds) Edit Clip

After this, many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. And so Jesus said to the 12, this question is profound. Do you want to go as well? Well, these guys that are in the upper room that we've watched and their devotion to Jesus, why Peter would say, just tell us who it is. We'll just gag this guy, throw him into a pit. Problem solved, Jesus. [00:58:59] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

When we, and not just Judas, because I believe not only Judas, but you see other people who are walking away from Jesus, and so there's a pattern here that we can see, and not just picking on one person, but I want to tell you something about us, the bread that we all chase, and when we think only with our stomachs, and seek only the bread of this world, two things happen. [01:00:13] (24 seconds) Edit Clip

We know that Judas scolds Mary of Bethany for anointing Jesus with perfume that was very expensive, and he rebukes her, and he says, hey, you could have taken this expensive perfume and donated it to us, and we could have done something with the value of this, and have garnered greater money, is what he says. And then later, Judas himself agrees to be paid for the betrayal of Jesus. [01:02:13] (29 seconds) Edit Clip

And guys, we do the same thing. We long for leaders and influencers, wealth, control. And we think if we could just get these things right, we'll finally have peace. And that's what they see here, too, in Jesus. They want this. Judas wants Jesus to do what he wants him to do. And here's a question for you I want to ask is this. And here it is. Who or what do you put your trust in to bring peace? [01:06:43] (35 seconds) Edit Clip

The yeast in it, which would make it rise, symbolized sin. And God told them to get all the leaven and the yeast out of their house so that they would clean up their life as they came into this feast of unleavened bread. Now here's what's incredible. Isaiah says this, by his stripes we are healed, and he was pierced for our transgressions. [01:15:23] (29 seconds) Edit Clip

And the Bible tells us that you can never clean up your life, and God doesn't expect you to. But what God does expect you to do is let you come to Him and trust Him so that He can give you life. And Him working in your life cleans up your life. And I want to encourage you today with a question, and here it is. Will you come to the table and take the bread? [01:17:01] (33 seconds) Edit Clip

And the invitation is this. If you know Christ and are actively fighting sin, then you just come, man, and praise him and take communion. If you need to take a moment and collect yourself, do that. The Bible tells us to examine yourself before you come to the table. That doesn't mean, well, if I've had sin, I can't take this. That's not what that means. [01:21:21] (22 seconds) Edit Clip

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