Jesus' Humble Kingship: A Call to Inclusive Action

Devotional

Day 1: Redefining Leadership Through Humility

Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem challenges conventional notions of leadership and power. Unlike earthly rulers who often display grandeur and authority, Jesus arrives humbly on a donkey, embodying a leadership style rooted in servanthood and sacrifice. This act symbolizes a victory not through force, but through love and humility, ultimately leading to His triumph over sin and death. As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate this model of leadership, prioritizing service over status and humility over pride. [56:02]

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:5-7, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility and servanthood in your leadership roles today, whether at work, home, or in your community?

Day 2: Embracing the Inclusivity of Jesus' Message

The diverse crowd that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem serves as a powerful reminder of the inclusivity of His message. People from all walks of life, regardless of their social or economic status, gathered to celebrate His arrival. This diversity underscores the universal nature of Jesus' call, inviting everyone to partake in His kingdom. As believers, we are challenged to extend our compassion and concern to all, breaking down barriers and embracing the richness of diversity in our communities. [01:00:20]

"For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively include and show compassion to someone from a different background or status in your daily interactions?

Day 3: Hosanna: A Call to Action

The cry of "Hosanna" during Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is more than a ritualistic chant; it is a heartfelt plea for divine intervention and a call to action. In our modern context, this cry urges us to engage with the social and economic issues that affect our society. Our worship should be accompanied by a commitment to justice and compassion, reflecting God's heart for the marginalized and oppressed. As we praise, we are also called to act, ensuring that our faith is lived out in tangible ways. [01:02:47]

"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one social or economic issue you feel called to address, and how can you take a step towards making a difference today?

Day 4: Steadfastness in the Face of Opposition

Ministry often involves facing opposition, both internally and externally. Jesus' journey was marked by challenges and resistance, yet He remained steadfast, drawing strength from His mission and purpose. As followers of Christ, we are encouraged to persevere through difficulties, trusting in God's guidance and strength. By looking to Jesus' example, we can navigate the complexities of ministry with grace and determination, knowing that we are not alone in our struggles. [59:32]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are facing opposition, and how can you draw strength from Jesus' example to remain steadfast?

Day 5: Recognizing True Sovereignty

The outer appearance or method does not determine the inner ability or authority. Jesus' humble entry into Jerusalem defied expectations, yet it revealed His true sovereignty and power. We are reminded not to judge by appearances but to recognize the deeper truths of God's kingdom. Jesus' authority is not diminished by His humility; rather, it is magnified. As believers, we are called to look beyond the surface and trust in the profound and often unexpected ways God works in our lives. [01:05:20]

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'" (1 Samuel 16:7, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you judged situations or people by appearances, and how can you begin to see with God's perspective today?

Sermon Summary

On this Palm Sunday, we gather to celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, a moment that marks a significant point in biblical history. This day is not just a commemoration of a historical event but a reminder of the profound spiritual truths it embodies. As we reflect on Jesus' entry, we are reminded of the diverse crowd that gathered to welcome Him, shouting "Hosanna," which means "God save us now." This cry for salvation resonates deeply with us today, as we face various challenges in our communities and personal lives.

The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is a powerful symbol of His kingship and the nature of His kingdom. Unlike earthly rulers who come with pomp and circumstance, Jesus arrives humbly on a donkey, signifying a different kind of leadership—one that is rooted in servanthood and sacrifice. This entry, though it may not appear triumphant by worldly standards, is indeed a victory over sin and death, culminating in His resurrection.

As we consider the diverse crowd that welcomed Jesus, we are challenged to reflect on the inclusivity of His message. The crowd was made up of people from all walks of life, rich and poor, young and old, city dwellers and country folk. This diversity reminds us that the message of Jesus is for everyone, and our response to His call should be equally inclusive, extending concern and compassion to those in need.

The cry of "Hosanna" is not just a ritualistic chant but a heartfelt plea for divine intervention. In our current context, it is a call to action, urging us to engage with the social and economic issues that plague our society. Our praise and worship must be accompanied by a commitment to justice and compassion, reflecting the heart of God for the marginalized and oppressed.

As we navigate the complexities of ministry, we are reminded that it often involves facing opposition, both from within and outside our circles. Yet, in the midst of these challenges, we are called to remain steadfast, drawing strength from the example of Jesus, who faced similar trials with grace and determination.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem symbolizes a different kind of kingship, one marked by humility and servanthood, challenging us to redefine our understanding of leadership and power. [56:02]
2. The diverse crowd that welcomed Jesus reminds us of the inclusivity of His message, calling us to extend our compassion and concern to all, regardless of their background or status. [60:20]
3. The cry of "Hosanna" is a plea for divine intervention and a call to action, urging us to engage with the social and economic issues of our time, ensuring our worship is accompanied by a commitment to justice. [62:47]
4. Ministry often involves facing opposition, both internally and externally, yet we are called to remain steadfast, drawing strength from Jesus' example of grace and determination in the face of challenges. [59:32]
5. The outer appearance or method does not determine the inner ability or authority, reminding us not to judge by appearances but to recognize the true sovereignty and power of Jesus, even when it defies our expectations. [01:05:20]
** [65:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[44:50] - Praise and Worship
[45:43] - God's Presence and Power
[46:39] - Reading from John 12
[47:27] - Different Gospel Perspectives
[49:03] - Jesus' Triumphal Entry
[50:52] - When the King Comes to Town
[53:27] - Frustration of Traffic
[55:07] - Jesus' Different Leadership
[56:02] - Triumphal Yet Humble Entry
[57:46] - The Next Day's Significance
[59:32] - Ministry and Opposition
[60:20] - Diverse Crowd Welcomes Jesus
[61:54] - The Meaning of Hosanna
[63:43] - Praise and Social Justice
[65:20] - True Sovereignty of Jesus

Sermon Clips

We are indeed grateful uh for the presence and the power of God in this house and uh for the movement of the spirit of God in this place on today. Uh how blessed we are. Convent uh to be in this space where God is moving in such an awesome way. Uh we give God all the praise. And as we say, to God be not just the glory, but all the glory. To God be all the glory because all the glory is is his. Amen. [00:45:27]

The gospel writers are are not they they don't just copy each other and they they have different things that they emphasize and different nuances based on their own theology that they're trying to communicate to us. So, if every single detail don't match up between Luke and John, that's okay. I said that's okay, y'all. Because Luke and John see it from a slightly different perspective because they're all individuals. Just like if me and you sat down to write something, we wouldn't all write it the same way. [00:47:27]

John lets us know some things in addition to Luke. It's not competitive. It's additive. It It all adds to the witness of this day. John chapter 12 beginning at verse 12. You found it? Say amen. Amen. The next day, a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took branches of palm trees, and went out to meet him and cried out, "Hosana! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel." [00:48:22]

The grass withers, the flower fades, heaven and earth even passes away. But the word of our God will stand forever and ever and ever. Amen. I want to preach from the subject today, When the King Comes to Town. When the King comes to town. And as always, I ask you to cover me and flank me with your prayers during the preaching moment. Would you pray with me? Gracious and loving God, Lord, thank you for this day and thank you for this opportunity to be in the house of worship. [00:50:40]

Thank God that Jesus is different than that. He's a different kind of leader, different kind of person. And the results of Jesus coming to town are very different. For you see, Jesus not only comes to town in order to make political statements, but he comes to enter into our lives and our hearts. And as we're gathered today on this high day of the Christian calendar, we gather to celebrate what we call Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem for the last time in his earthly fleshly body. [00:55:21]

Now, it doesn't really look like a triumphal entry, does it? It doesn't look all that triumphant or victorious because he's riding on a donkey and it is leading up to his ultimate violent tragic death on the cross on Friday. But yet biblically and theologically we know that it is in fact triumphant by Jesus and it is victorious for him because this is what leads to his death on the cross which signifies victory over sin in the world. [00:56:34]

Although the crowd probably doesn't understand the real depth and gravity of how triumphant Jesus is as they're looking in him, they still celebrate the fact by waving palm branches and celebrating his entry uh and crying out hosana. Hosana. Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king who's coming into town. He's on his way and he is here. Now, what really grabbed me about this in preparing the message today is it says that this is the next day. [00:57:41]

Jesus has two days in a row. One day he is uh accosted and really uh lied to by somebody in his inner circle that was around him, one of the 12. And then the next day he gets confronted and talked about by religious people who swore up and down that they were the most holiest and righteous in the community. And so that means today, brothers and sisters, that ministry is always done with opposition either from within your camp or outside of your camp. [01:00:31]

The crowd gathers to welcome King Jesus to town. And what I want you to see about this, the crowd is diverse. Let the church say diverse. Diverse. See, sometimes when we read the Bible, we think that everybody in there was just uh the same, like they were robots, like they were cookie cutter. But no, the people in the crowd were diverse. That means there were people of every kind. They were rich and poor. There were men, there were women, there were those who lived in the country, lived in the city. [01:01:59]

The word hosana means God save us now. We need you to save us now. And is there anybody along with me today that will testify we sure do need God now. We sure do need God to save us now. given what's happening in our nation, what's happening in our city, what's happening in our communities. We need God to save us now. So y'all listen, hosana hits different for me this year. And and I hope it's hitting different for you as well. [01:02:55]

When we cry out hosana, it's not just simply about a nice sounding cliche that we do at this time of the year, but hosana means God save us. God, we need you to intervene. God, we need you to act right now. God, step in our situation and help us right now. Help us right now. The crowd was made up of many different people, including the poor and disenfranchised. Here's my challenge to you today. You ready? You sure? When we say hosana, it's not just simply about saying the word hosana. [01:03:30]

If I take into account the diversity of the crowd that was saying it and the social problems and economic problems and issues that were plaguing the people of that day like they are plaguing us today, then I can't just say hosana and not be concerned. concerned about hunger and homelessness. If if if I'm saying hosana and I have no concern for hunger and homelessness, my hosana is incomplete. The crowd was diverse that it I I can't just say hosana and not be concerned about healthc care and housing. [01:04:47]

My hosana is incomplete if I don't have that kind of understanding that has a broader social implication to it. I don't just praise God. My praise is incomplete if it is not connected with concern about public policy and the issue of poverty in our land today. My praise must go further than just me saying the words. My praise ought to be concerned with what God how God wants to institute justice in this world. And so the people of God are crying, "Hosana!" [01:05:56]

This diverse crowd, they're crying, "Hosana! The King has come to town." And they're crying, "Hosana! God save us now. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." That's a quote from Psalm 118 25 and 26. You all look it up when you get home. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel, the ruler, the monarch, the authority, not just of Israel, but the one who is king of the whole world. And that's what Jesus is. [01:06:54]

He's King of Kings, and he's Lord of Lords. Can I get a witness? He doesn't look triumphant. Listen y'all, he doesn't look triumphant. He doesn't ride in the way we would want him to or expect him to, but he's still king of kings. So, what I need you to see about this is that the outer appearance or method or trappings do not determine the inner ability, sovereignty, or authority. I just said something there. I I said what you see on Okay, let me break it down. [01:07:51]

Don't judge a book by its cover, y'all. Y'all got that one. But but what you see on the outside does not determine the sovereignty or the potency of whoever or whatever it is. Jesus can ride on the donkey and still be more kingly than any other ruler in the world today. Yes, he is. Yes, he is. So listen, the question is today, will you follow the crowd or will you follow the Pharisees? Remember I I always say to you when you read the Bible, don't read the Bible and say, "Yeah, it sure is talking about y'all." [01:08:33]

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