Seeing Jesus as King and Lamb

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing Jesus as the King Who Enters

Jesus entered Jerusalem not as a distant ruler, but as a humble king who draws near. His arrival was marked by fulfillment and purpose, a deliberate act that revealed His true identity. The crowds recognized His authority, yet their understanding was incomplete. He is the king who comes in peace, not to take life, but to give it. His kingship is not a distant concept but a present reality that demands a response. [43:45]

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. (Zechariah 9:9 ESV)

Reflection: In what specific area of your life—your finances, your online activities, or a key relationship—are you most tempted to act as your own king rather than submitting to Christ’s rule?

Day 2: The Lamb Who Provides Our Ultimate Hope

Our deepest need is not for improved circumstances but for deliverance from sin and death. Just as the Passover lamb’s blood provided protection from judgment, Christ’s sacrifice offers eternal hope. He is the ultimate fulfillment of that ancient symbol, the one whose death brings life. This hope is not found in any earthly plan or provision but is secured solely in Him. [01:04:42]

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 ESV)

Reflection: Where are you currently looking for hope outside of Christ, and what would it look like to actively transfer your hope onto Him this week?

Day 3: The Danger of a Shallow and Self-Serving Faith

Enthusiasm for Jesus can often be rooted in what we hope He will do for us rather than a desire to know Him for who He is. This was the response of the crowd, who wanted a king on their own terms. They welcomed His benefits but resisted His lordship. A faith that only seeks blessing is a faith that has not yet fully recognized the Savior. [01:08:30]

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 ESV)

Reflection: What is one expectation you have held for Jesus that He has not met, and how has that disappointment affected your relationship with Him?

Day 4: Trusting Jesus Even When You Are Confused

The disciples believed in Jesus, yet they were deeply confused about His mission and methods. They did not understand why the path to glory led through suffering. Clarity did not come through having all the answers upfront, but through continued obedience and trust. It is okay to have questions while still following the one who holds all the answers. [01:10:44]

His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. (John 12:16 ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of confusion or doubt in your walk with Christ that you need to bring into the light by asking for help from a mature believer?

Day 5: The Certainty of His Return and Our Readiness

We live in the tension between Christ’s first coming in humility and His promised return in glory. The King is coming back. This is not a question of "if" but "when." Our present calling is to live in a state of readiness, aligning our lives under His gracious rule and proclaiming His work until He comes. [01:15:50]

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3 ESV)

Reflection: As you consider the reality of Christ’s return, what is one tangible way you can adjust your daily priorities this week to live with a greater sense of readiness?

Sermon Summary

John 12 unfolds the tension of Palm Sunday by showing Jesus entering Jerusalem both as a king and as a lamb. The crowd waves palm branches, cries “hosanna,” and treats Jesus as the national deliverer, while the donkey and prophetic references make clear that the entry fulfills messianic hope. At the same time Jesus frames his mission in sacrificial language—the grain of wheat must die—and the Passover backdrop reveals the deeper meaning: Jesus comes to be the ultimate Passover lamb who defeats death and secures life for those who trust him. The narrative highlights three responses: an enthusiastic but shallow crowd seeking signs and benefits, disciples who believe yet remain confused until after Jesus’ glorification, and religious leaders who react with fear and determination to oppose him.

The text insists on an integrated faith: recognizing Jesus as king must shape daily decisions, relationships, and work; receiving Jesus as the lamb reorients hope away from better circumstances toward covenantal deliverance; and trusting Jesus often requires obedience before full understanding arrives. The Passover symbolism exposes human bondage to sin and points to the cross as the decisive act that passes over death for those covered by Christ’s blood. Practical challenges flow from these truths—lordship matters in practical choices like honesty, family roles, and online life—and faith that treats Jesus as an ATM or political savior misunderstands his purpose. Communion functions as a communal renewal of allegiance: the bread and cup invite believers to declare Jesus as king and remember the lamb whose death opens the way to life. The passage both comforts those who carry wounds and calls everyone to repent, submit, and live in the light of the coming king who will return in glory.

Key Takeaways

1. Recognize Jesus as King True allegiance frames how daily choices get made. If Jesus rules, decisions flow from what pleases him rather than personal preference or cultural pressure. That reorientation influences work ethic, family roles, and moral choices, so lordship functions as practical formation rather than a mere religious label. [43:45]
2. Receive Jesus as the Lamb Passover imagery exposes bondage to sin and the need for substitutionary rescue. Trust in the lamb addresses death’s claim by transferring identity from condemned to covered, not by better plans or circumstances. That hope sustains endurance in trials because it rests on covenantal promise rather than fleeting outcomes. [56:16]
3. Obedience often precedes clarity Confusion may accompany deep trust; the disciples only understood fully after glorification. Faith moves forward in obedience even when questions remain, and doing what Christ commands reveals meaning more than philosophical certainty. Spiritual clarity tends to follow faithful following rather than precede it. [40:01]
4. Don’t reduce Jesus to benefits Seeking Jesus for signs or advantages turns worship into consumer demand and misses transformative lordship. True responding requires repentance and submission, not a transactional relationship that leaves God in the role of supplier. Genuine faith makes Christ the center, not the means to an improved life. [68:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:17] - Gathering and Worship Rhythm
[05:03] - Connection Card and Guests
[05:31] - Good Friday and Easter Announcements
[08:19] - Membership Class Details
[09:35] - Spring Workday and Fellowship
[10:20] - Opening Prayer and Intercession
[37:08] - Scripture Reading (John 12)
[43:45] - Jesus Enters as King
[48:12] - Donkey Symbolism and Peace
[56:16] - Jesus as the Grain of Wheat / Lamb
[60:19] - Passover Background Explained
[67:22] - Mixed Reactions to Jesus
[77:02] - Communion: Renewing Allegiance
[91:09] - Benediction and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading: John 12:12-19 (ESV)
The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they had heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

Observation questions

What two different titles did the crowd use to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem?
What specific Old Testament prophecy did Jesus fulfill by riding a donkey into the city?
According to the passage, when did the disciples finally understand the meaning of these events?
What was the main reason the large crowd went out to meet Jesus?

Interpretation questions

The crowd cried "Hosanna," which means "save us." [45:27] What kind of salvation were they likely hoping for from Jesus, and how does that differ from the salvation he actually came to bring?
The Pharisees said, "Look, the world has gone after him." [40:39] Why did this observation fill them with such fear and determination to oppose him?
The disciples were confused and didn't understand these things at first. [40:01] What does this tell us about the relationship between following Jesus and having complete clarity about his plans?
Jesus accepted the crowd's declaration of kingship here, which was different from his previous actions. [44:10] Why was this moment the right time for him to publicly accept this role?

Application questions

True allegiance to Jesus as King frames how daily choices get made. [43:45] What is one practical decision you’re facing this week where you need to choose what pleases Jesus over your personal preference or cultural pressure?
Our hope is not found in better life plans or circumstances but only in Christ. [01:05:20] When you feel dissatisfied or discouraged, what are some tangible ways you can redirect your hope from your situation to the person of Jesus?
Clarity often comes after obedience, not before. [01:14:43] Is there an area in your life where God is calling you to be obedient even though you don’t fully understand the ‘why’ behind it? What would it look like to take that step of faith this week?
It’s easy to treat Jesus like an ATM, seeking him for benefits rather. [01:08:30] How can you tell if your prayers have shifted from a relationship of worship to a list of consumer demands? What is one way to recenter your prayer life on Christ himself?
The Passover lamb’s blood caused death to ‘pass over’ those who were under it. [01:00:19] How does remembering that your identity has shifted from ‘condemned’ to ‘covered’ change your perspective on a current failure or struggle with sin?
The table of communion is a chance to renew our allegiance to Jesus as King. [01:17:24] As you reflect on taking communion, what area of your life feels most prone to wander from His lordship, and how can you consciously bring it back under His rule?

Sermon Clips

The king came once in humility. The king will come again in glory. So the question isn't if he's coming. The question is this, when your king comes, will you be ready? Have how are you responding to him? Are you losing interest because he's not meeting your expectations? Are you keeping your distance because you don't fully understand him? Or are you trusting him, following him, and submitting to him as king as is imperfect as we all are? No one's asking for perfection here. But are you trusting, following, submitting to him? Because here's here's the reality. Jesus may not be the king that you expect or even that you think that you want, but he is exactly the king that you need. [01:15:50] (46 seconds) #ReadyForTheKing

The crowd was ready to meet ready for Jesus to meet their needs, but they were not ready for Jesus to become their god. And I have talked to so many people, and many of you probably have as well, where people, they want Jesus to meet their needs, but they're not ready for Jesus to be their king and god in their life. And as a pastor who loves you, let me just say this, it doesn't work that way. Jesus demands and deserves to be king and lord over our lives. Not he's not just the the the, you know, the dispenser of benefits, like an ATM of goodness for us. He does good things and he does provide things, but he's so much more than that. [01:08:39] (61 seconds) #JesusNotAnATM

Our hope can't be in a better life plan. So if you find yourself where you're you're you're not satisfied with where life is at, I don't think all of us go through those times. Maybe you're there right now. So I'm gonna ask you, I want you to think about this. What's your plan? Like like, where's your hope? You say, Jeremy, I don't really have it. Well, let me just tell you, you can have hope in Christ. But it's not gonna be found in a better life plan. It's not gonna be found in better circumstances. It's not gonna be found in more money. It's not gonna be found in better relationships. It's not gonna be found in a better job. Your ultimate hope is gonna be only in Christ, in Christ Jesus. [01:04:48] (46 seconds) #HopeInChristOnly

you can be a Christian and not have Jesus as lord of your life. And then later on, as you mature, then you can make him lord of your life. Very simply, I'll just say is the Bible doesn't teach you that way. Okay? Bible doesn't teach you that way. The Bible teaches that in order to be a Christian, you receive Christ as Lord of your life. Now, practically, there are days when Jesus is not Lord of my life. And that's why I need then need to repent and ask God to forgive me of that sin. So it's not like I can just be Christian for a little while, and then I'll get serious and make him king in my life. The Bible doesn't teach it that way. [00:50:15] (41 seconds) #ReceiveChristAsLord

if Jesus is not king of my life, that is a sin to be repented of, not simply a step I need to grow in. Right? Just to make sure we understand that how the Bible teaches us. So, you know, we need to make sure we I asked ourselves, okay. This crowd wanted to receive Jesus as king, wanna make him as king. A great application question for us to wrestle with at this point is, is he truly king in my life? So what does that look like? What does it look like for Jesus to be king in my life? It means that my decisions are made through what pleases him, what is his will, not mine. [00:50:58] (37 seconds) #IsHeKingOfYourLife

And they want and and they they wanted to see more. Or some people, maybe they heard about it, but they they missed it. And so now they want to see him do something like that. And do you really blame him for that? I mean, you've heard, like, this miraculous thing. You wanna see something happen. So they're just really curious. And and and they just they believed in good authority that this happened. People that they trusted told him, I was there. I saw it happen. And so they're like, this is our guy. And so they're very enthusiastic. But it's more about what can Jesus do for me rather than, that I need Jesus to save me from my sins. So they wanted a king, but they wanted him on their terms. Right? [01:08:01] (38 seconds) #JesusOnYourTerms

everything we do has has a tinge of it. Like, it just means that that our nature is corrupt in such a way that you we can't help but not sin at times. I mean, that that that's just this is our nature because it's so so so depraved. Right? Death is coming because of that. The bible says that the wages of sin is death, that there's a punishment of death. Not just a physical death, but a spiritual death as well. But but then we have hope offered just like Passover. There's hope offered here. But not in just any lamb, but in the lamb of God, we have hope offered. [01:03:26] (35 seconds) #LambOfGodHope

And so why is it? Why why do we have this difference of opinion or difference of response? Because they all don't recognize him, Jesus, for who he truly is. And so the same question really presses us today is, do you see Jesus for who he is? Now this is really hard for you to to answer that correct or or, not correctly, but, honestly in some ways because intellectually, we all know the right answer to this. So the question I'm I'm posing to you is I'm I'm I'm gonna ask you to try to go a layer deeper today. So when I ask you, do you recognize Jesus for who who truly is? [00:41:05] (44 seconds) #SeeJesusForWhoHeIs

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Seeing Jesus as King and Lamb

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing Jesus as the King Who Enters

Day 2: The Lamb Who Provides Our Ultimate Hope

Day 3: The Danger of a Shallow and Self-Serving Faith

Day 4: Trusting Jesus Even When You Are Confused

Day 5: The Certainty of His Return and Our Readiness

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Seeing Jesus as King and Lamb

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