Finding True Fulfillment in Christ Amid Disappointment

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound realities of life's disappointments and how they are addressed in the Gospel of John. We began by acknowledging that life is inherently disappointing, a truth that the Bible does not shy away from. This sense of realism in Scripture is what gives it authenticity and relatability. As humans, we are designed to worship, but our disappointments often stem from worshipping the wrong things—idols that promise much but deliver little.

We delved into the concept of our 'Telos'—our ultimate goal or end, as described by author James K.A. Smith. Our actions and lives are driven by what we love and long for, which is often misaligned with our true purpose. This misalignment leads to a life filled with disappointment, as seen in our loss of faith in institutions and our personal failures to live up to our own expectations.

In contrast to this, we examined the story of Mary's devotion to Jesus, as she anointed His feet with expensive perfume. Mary's act of worship, pouring out what was likely her most valuable possession, exemplifies the recognition of Jesus as the ultimate treasure, the one who does not disappoint. Her actions stand in stark contrast to Judas' deception, who criticized her for not selling the perfume to aid the poor, not out of genuine concern, but because of his own corrupt motives.

We also discussed Jesus as the 'disguised savior' who enters our disappointments. Jesus, the creator of heaven and earth, came into the world unrecognized, taking on flesh and dwelling among us. Through His signs and sayings, He revealed His divine identity, yet was met with mixed responses—worship from some, like Mary, and rejection from others, like Judas.

Finally, we reflected on our own responses to Jesus. Are we like Mary, who saw Jesus' true value and worshipped Him wholeheartedly? Or are we like Judas, who allowed greed and deception to blind him to the truth? Our challenge is to recognize Jesus as the one true Lord who can fulfill our deepest longings and heal our disappointments.

Key Takeaways:

- Life's disappointments are often a result of misplaced worship. When we prioritize anything above God, we set ourselves up for disillusionment. True fulfillment comes from recognizing Jesus as our ultimate treasure and aligning our desires with His will. [49:33]

- Mary's act of devotion is a model for our worship. She understood the worth of Jesus and responded with extravagant love. Our worship should similarly reflect a recognition of Jesus' value and a willingness to offer Him our best. [01:05:09]

- Judas' deception serves as a warning against allowing our hearts to be led astray by greed or false motives. Our actions, especially in the context of community and service, should stem from genuine love and concern for others. [01:05:46]

- Jesus' incarnation as the 'disguised savior' demonstrates God's desire to be intimately involved in our lives. He comes close to us in our struggles, offering grace and truth. We must be attentive to His presence and respond with faith and obedience. [55:16]

- Our response to Jesus' signs and sayings reveals the condition of our hearts. Like the CEO in Undercover Boss, Jesus comes to us in a form we might not expect, offering transformation and hope. We must be open to His work in our lives and ready to follow Him wholeheartedly. [58:49]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- John 12:1-11
- John 1:10-14
- Exodus 3:13-14

#### Observation Questions
1. What significant act of devotion did Mary perform for Jesus, and how did Judas react to it? (John 12:3-5)
2. According to the sermon, what is the primary reason for life's disappointments? [46:24]
3. How does the sermon describe Jesus' entry into the world, and what was the general response to Him? [55:16]
4. What does the term "Telos" mean, and how does it relate to our actions and disappointments? [47:05]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the sermon suggest that misplaced worship leads to disappointment? How does this concept relate to the story of Mary and Judas? [46:24]
2. How does Jesus' role as the "disguised savior" challenge our expectations of how God should appear and act in our lives? [55:16]
3. What does Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet with expensive perfume signify about her understanding of Jesus' worth? [01:01:57]
4. How does Judas' reaction to Mary's act of devotion reveal his true motives and character? [01:05:46]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced disappointment. What were you worshipping or prioritizing at that time? How might recognizing Jesus as your ultimate treasure have changed your perspective? [46:24]
2. In what ways can you identify with Mary’s act of devotion? What is one specific way you can show extravagant love and worship to Jesus this week? [01:01:57]
3. Consider the concept of Jesus as the "disguised savior." How can you be more attentive to recognizing Jesus' presence and work in your everyday life? [55:16]
4. Judas allowed greed and deception to blind him to the truth. Are there areas in your life where false motives might be leading your actions? How can you address these areas? [01:05:46]
5. How do you respond to life's disappointments? What practical steps can you take to realign your desires with God's will and find true fulfillment in Him? [46:24]
6. Think about the idols in your life that might be overpromising and underdelivering. What steps can you take to remove these idols and place God at the center of your worship? [52:32]
7. How can you cultivate a heart of genuine love and concern for others in your community and service, avoiding the pitfalls of false motives like Judas? [01:05:46]

Devotional

Day 1: Misplaced Worship Breeds Disappointment
Disappointment often creeps into our lives when we place our ultimate value and worth in things or people that are inherently unstable and transient. This misplaced worship can take many forms, from the pursuit of career success and material wealth to seeking approval from others. When these idols fail to deliver the lasting satisfaction we crave, we are left feeling empty and disillusioned. The key to overcoming this cycle of disappointment is to realign our worship with the one who is truly worthy—Jesus Christ. By recognizing Him as our ultimate treasure, we can begin to experience the fulfillment that comes from aligning our desires with His will. [49:33]

"Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love." (Jonah 2:8 ESV)

Reflection: What idols have you been prioritizing over your relationship with God, and how can you begin to shift your focus back to Him?

Day 2: Extravagant Love Reflects True Worship
True worship is characterized by an understanding of the worth of Jesus and a response that is proportionate to His value. Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet with expensive perfume is a powerful example of this. She recognized Jesus as her most valuable possession and responded with an act of worship that was both personal and costly. This kind of extravagant love is a model for how we should approach Jesus, offering not just our resources, but our very lives as a living sacrifice to Him. Our worship should be a reflection of our recognition of Jesus' supreme value and our heartfelt gratitude for His grace. [01:05:09]

"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." (John 4:23 ESV)

Reflection: How can you express your worship to Jesus in a way that reflects His true worth to you?

Day 3: Guard Your Heart Against Deception
The story of Judas serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of allowing our hearts to be led astray by greed or false motives. While he appeared to be concerned about the poor, his true motive was self-enrichment. This deception not only affected his relationship with Jesus but also had a ripple effect on those around him. As followers of Christ, we must be vigilant in examining our motives and ensuring that our actions, particularly in community and service, are rooted in genuine love and concern for others. This requires a heart that is attuned to God's will and a spirit that is resistant to the temptations of greed and deceit. [01:05:46]

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23 ESV)

Reflection: In what ways might greed or false motives be influencing your actions, and how can you cultivate a heart of genuine love and service?

Day 4: The Incarnate Savior Meets Us in Disappointment
Jesus' incarnation as the 'disguised savior' is a profound demonstration of God's desire to enter into the very fabric of our human experience, including our disappointments. He came to us not in overwhelming glory, but in humility, taking on flesh and dwelling among us. This act of divine condescension shows us that God is not distant or detached from our struggles; rather, He is intimately involved, offering us grace and truth. Recognizing Jesus in the midst of our disappointments requires an attentive heart, one that is open to His transformative presence and ready to respond with faith and obedience. [55:16]

"For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him." (Isaiah 53:2 ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a greater awareness of Jesus' presence in your daily struggles and disappointments?

Day 5: Openness to Transformation Reveals Our Heart
Our response to Jesus' signs and sayings is a litmus test for the condition of our hearts. Like the CEO in "Undercover Boss," Jesus often comes to us in unexpected ways, offering us the opportunity for transformation and hope. To be receptive to His work in our lives, we must maintain an open heart, one that is willing to be challenged and changed by His truth. This openness is essential for following Jesus wholeheartedly and experiencing the fullness of life He offers. It is in this posture of receptivity that we can truly become the disciples He calls us to be. [58:49]

"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins." (Mark 2:22 ESV)

Reflection: What aspects of your life may be resistant to change, and how can you open yourself up to the transformative work Jesus wants to do in you?

Quotes

"Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones great preacher and medical physician from the UK puts it this way an idol is anything in our lives that occupies the place that should be occupied by God Alone anything that is Central in my life anything that seems to me essential and idle is anything by which I live and on which I depend anything that holds such a controlling position in my life that it moves and Rouses and attracts so much of my time my attention my energy and my money." [52:32]( | | )

"Tim Keller in a white paper called understanding your heart puts it this way whatever we worship drives us to over effort to get it and it fills us with fear and anger if circumcise if circumstances jeopardize it it either leads us to ere effort or it leads us to fear and anger and then he puts it this way he says if we fail to attain it it punishes us with terrible self-loathing." [53:18]( | | )

"Nothing else but the one true God is a sufficient Lord for our lives he is the only one that if we fail to get him he will love us and he will have mercy on us he will forgive us he will not fill us with self-hatred and he's the only one that if we do get him he doesn't turn us into a jerk he turns us into a humble and rejoicing human who says I I was blind but now I see I was dead but now I'm alive it's it's all by Grace." [54:36]( | | )

"Jesus in The Gospel of John is the disguised savior coming in the midst of disappointments we read it earlier in the service in John's prologue chapter 1 it says verse 10 he was in the world and though the world was made through him the world did not recognize him. Jesus comes in Disguise as the one true God the creator of Heaven and Earth, the light of the world and only certain people pick up on the clues." [55:16]( | | )

"Mary has found the good in the sea of disappointment in a sea of evil Mary has found it she has seen his value in fact she just watched him conquer death which is something that only the god of Heaven and Earth can do the Creator is the only one who can bring life and she watched him do that only God does this and she realized I am before an eternal Beauty an absolute Beauty only God can reverse disintegration only God can reverse death." [01:02:35]( | | )

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Transcript
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