Seeing Jesus: Beyond Expectations to Eternal Truth
Summary
As we gather at the start of Holy Week, I am reminded of the profound significance of Palm Sunday and the importance of truly seeing Jesus for who He is. Today, we reflect on the story of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where the crowds welcomed Him with shouts of "Hosanna," yet many failed to recognize His true mission. This serves as a powerful reminder that how we perceive Jesus can transform our lives. The people of Jerusalem were looking for a political savior, a king who would overthrow Roman oppression. However, Jesus came to offer something far greater—redemption and eternal peace.
The crowd's expectations were shaped by their earthly desires, and they missed the spiritual reality of Jesus' mission. They saw Him with physical eyes but lacked spiritual insight. This is a cautionary tale for us today. We must ask ourselves if we are seeing Jesus through the lens of our own expectations or if we are open to the spiritual truths He reveals. Just as Saul of Tarsus was blinded before gaining spiritual sight, we too must seek to have our eyes opened to the deeper realities of faith.
Moreover, the crowd's focus on the temporary rather than the eternal is a lesson for us. They were concerned with immediate political freedom, but Jesus came to address the deeper issue of sin and to establish His eternal kingdom. We are called to fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for the unseen is eternal.
As we journey through Holy Week, let us slow down and ask God to open our eyes to His presence and purpose. Let us surrender our preconceived expectations and live with an eternal perspective. May we walk in the light of Christ, allowing His truth to guide us in every aspect of our lives. As we prepare for Easter, let us invite others to experience the transformative power of Jesus, praying that their eyes, too, may be opened to His love and grace.
Key Takeaways:
1. Spiritual Sight vs. Earthly Sight: The crowd on Palm Sunday saw Jesus with physical eyes but missed His true mission due to their earthly expectations. We must seek spiritual insight to truly understand Jesus' purpose in our lives. [06:57]
2. Walking by Faith, Not by Sight: The crowd's praise turned to silence when Jesus' path didn't meet their expectations. We are called to walk by faith, trusting in God's plan even when it doesn't align with our immediate desires. [09:34]
3. Focusing on the Eternal: The crowd focused on temporary political freedom, missing the eternal salvation Jesus offered. We must fix our eyes on the unseen, eternal realities of God's kingdom. [14:39]
4. Letting Go of Preconceived Expectations: Our assumptions about Jesus can blind us to His true nature. We must surrender control and allow God to reveal Himself beyond our expectations. [23:30]
5. Living with an Eternal Perspective: We are called to prioritize the eternal kingdom of God over temporary concerns. This perspective helps us navigate life's challenges with faith and purpose. [27:58]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:40] - Spiritual Blindness
- [06:57] - Earthly vs. Spiritual Sight
- [09:34] - Walking by Faith
- [11:39] - The Importance of Spiritual Insight
- [14:39] - Focusing on the Eternal
- [17:10] - The Danger of Spiritual Blindness
- [20:10] - Seeing Beyond the Visible
- [23:30] - Letting Go of Expectations
- [27:58] - Living with an Eternal Perspective
- [30:30] - The Call to Prayer
- [33:28] - A Prayer for Spiritual Sight
- [35:58] - Invitation to the Altar
- [37:33] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 19:35-42
2. Zechariah 9:9
3. 2 Corinthians 4:18
---
Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 19:35-42, what actions did the crowd take as Jesus entered Jerusalem, and how did their expectations differ from Jesus' true mission? [03:40]
2. How does Zechariah 9:9 describe the nature of the king's arrival, and why was this significant in the context of Palm Sunday? [06:57]
3. According to 2 Corinthians 4:18, what is the difference between focusing on what is seen versus what is unseen, and how does this relate to the crowd's perception of Jesus? [14:39]
4. What was the reaction of the Pharisees to the crowd's praise, and how did Jesus respond to their request? [03:40]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How did the crowd's earthly expectations of a political savior prevent them from recognizing Jesus' true mission of redemption and peace? [06:57]
2. In what ways does the story of Saul of Tarsus illustrate the transformation from physical sight to spiritual insight, and how can this be applied to our understanding of Jesus? [06:57]
3. How does the concept of walking by faith, not by sight, challenge the way we approach our own expectations of Jesus' role in our lives? [09:34]
4. What does it mean to live with an eternal perspective, and how can this shift in focus impact our daily decisions and priorities? [14:39]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when your expectations of Jesus were based on personal desires rather than spiritual truths. How did this affect your relationship with Him, and what steps can you take to align your expectations with His true nature? [06:57]
2. Consider the areas in your life where you might be walking by sight rather than faith. What practical steps can you take to trust in God's plan, even when it doesn't align with your immediate desires? [09:34]
3. Identify a situation where you have focused on temporary concerns rather than eternal realities. How can you shift your perspective to prioritize God's eternal kingdom in this area? [14:39]
4. Think about any preconceived expectations you have about Jesus that might be limiting your understanding of His true nature. What can you do to surrender these assumptions and allow God to reveal Himself more fully to you? [23:30]
5. How can you slow down and create space in your life to seek spiritual insight and recognize Jesus' presence and purpose? What specific practices can you implement to help you see beyond the visible? [23:30]
6. Reflect on a relationship or situation where you need to let go of control and trust in God's timing and purpose. How can you practice surrendering this to Him daily? [23:30]
7. As you prepare for Easter, who in your life can you invite to experience the transformative power of Jesus? How can you pray for their eyes to be opened to His love and grace? [35:58]
Devotional
Day 1: Seeing Beyond the Surface
The people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus with shouts of "Hosanna," expecting a political savior to liberate them from Roman rule. However, their expectations were rooted in earthly desires, and they failed to recognize the spiritual significance of Jesus' mission. This serves as a reminder that we, too, can miss the deeper truths of Jesus' purpose if we only see Him through the lens of our own expectations. We are called to seek spiritual insight, allowing God to reveal His true nature and mission in our lives. [06:57]
"And Elisha prayed, and said, 'LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.' And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." (2 Kings 6:17, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying solely on your own understanding? How can you ask God to open your eyes to see His deeper truths today?
Day 2: Trusting in God's Plan
The crowd's praise for Jesus turned to silence when His path did not align with their expectations. This illustrates the challenge of walking by faith, trusting in God's plan even when it diverges from our immediate desires. We are called to trust in God's greater purpose, knowing that His ways are higher than ours. By walking by faith, we can find peace and assurance in His divine plan. [09:34]
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's plan? How can you take a step of faith today, trusting in His guidance?
Day 3: Embracing Eternal Realities
The crowd focused on the temporary political freedom they desired, missing the eternal salvation Jesus offered. This serves as a lesson for us to fix our eyes on the unseen, eternal realities of God's kingdom. By prioritizing the eternal over the temporary, we can align our lives with God's purpose and experience the fullness of His promises. [14:39]
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18, ESV)
Reflection: What temporary concerns are currently consuming your thoughts? How can you shift your focus to embrace the eternal realities of God's kingdom today?
Day 4: Surrendering Expectations
Our preconceived expectations about Jesus can blind us to His true nature. We must surrender control and allow God to reveal Himself beyond our limited understanding. By letting go of our expectations, we open ourselves to the transformative power of Jesus and His love. This surrender allows us to experience the fullness of His grace and truth. [23:30]
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: What expectations do you have about Jesus that might be limiting your understanding of Him? How can you surrender these expectations to God today?
Day 5: Living with an Eternal Perspective
We are called to prioritize the eternal kingdom of God over temporary concerns. By living with an eternal perspective, we can navigate life's challenges with faith and purpose. This perspective helps us to see beyond the immediate and align our lives with God's eternal plan, allowing His truth to guide us in every aspect of our lives. [27:58]
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)
Reflection: How can you begin to cultivate an eternal perspective in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to focus on God's eternal kingdom today?
Quotes
"She came, and she encountered Jesus. She experienced Jesus, and she's never been the same, and I want that for you. I want that for your loved ones. I want that for your neighbors and your coworkers, and so there's an expiration date on our invite card, so you make sure you take some today. You make sure that you're inviting people. Well, right now, we are in a series that will wrap up next Sunday, but it's called Experience Jesus, and this is because Jesus doesn't simply want you to know facts about him." [00:01:16] (34 seconds)
"Jesus was weeping because the people couldn't see him for who he truly was. It begs the question, do you see Jesus for who he truly is? Today, do you see him? I wanna take a couple of moments just to look at a few ways that the crowd on Palm Sunday, that they missed him, but then how you and I, that we can be sure to see him. First, they saw with earthly eyes, not spiritual eyes." [00:05:47] (41 seconds)
"Listen, the crowd had expectations. So they saw Jesus with their physical eyes, but their expectations blinded them. You see, they wanted a political savior. They wanted a military overthrow of Rome. What did they want? They wanted a revolution. They weren't expecting redemption. You see, when he was riding on a donkey, we know from Zechariah 9, verse 9, this is prophecy. It's a symbol of peace, not of war, but they missed it." [00:06:40] (44 seconds)
"Now, isn't it interesting, too, that God would take away Saul's physical sight so that he could ultimately give him spiritual sight? Think about that for a moment. Think of another man by the name of John Newton. He was a former slave trader, but he was blinded to his sin until the grace of God opened up his eyes and he wrote that powerful hymn. Amazing grace, I once was blind, but now I see." [00:08:00] (38 seconds)
"Listen, on Palm Sunday, things were looking promising. Our man, he's coming in on a donkey. He's coming in. Things are looking pretty good. But when things started to turn, that it didn't meet their expectations. When he got arrested and was beaten, their praise that was happening, coming down the Mount of Olives went to silence. It didn't, again, it didn't meet their expectations. Why? Again, they're walking by physical sight, not spiritual sight." [00:09:24] (39 seconds)
"Physical sight sees the moment. But spiritual sight sees around the corner, and it trusts the king. If you get it, would you say amen? Amen. It's so, so important. You know, can I just tell you, that's really what's happening with Fairview Heights. Today, Pastor Grant is at Fairview Heights. I'm so thankful he's there preaching to the people there at Fairview Heights, and this is their very last service. And we're celebrating with them 70 years of ministry there." [00:12:38] (36 seconds)
"So we fix, this is for you and me, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. Since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Again, the crowds, they focused on Rome's oppression. They focused on their immediate problems. They understood, man, we need a, or they thought, we need a political hero. That's what they were looking for. But Jesus came to deal with what they couldn't see. He came to deal with sin. He came to deal with salvation. He came to announce the kingdom of heaven." [00:14:11] (42 seconds)
"Think about the rich young ruler for a moment. He wouldn't trade his temporary riches for eternal salvation. Think about Esau, a bowl of stew for a birthright. So often we focus on the temporary. The crowds thought, Jesus' arrival was the end of the battle. He's here, he's here, he's here. Man, we're gonna get freedom from Rome. They had no idea that the real victory was about to take place through Friday and Saturday and Sunday as Jesus paid the punishment for their sins and for my sins, bore the weight of the sins of the world on the cross at Calvary." [00:18:03] (51 seconds)
"Don't live for what won't last. Today I wanna give you just quickly just a few practical things. First, to remind you, if you wanna see Jesus, you need to look beyond the visible. Look beyond the visible. True sight goes beyond what you can physically see. Paul prayed, the apostle Paul prayed, that the eyes of your heart might be enlightened. Nobody would say that they would prefer this, but this is 100 % true. Spiritual sight is far more valuable than faith." [00:19:40] (40 seconds)
"Listen, this even happened to Jesus. Man, one of my favorite stories in the Bible is happening. Jesus is walking on the road to Emmaus. There's a couple of disciples, right? And they're walking and they're talking about all the recent events. Like if you heard just what just happened, all the story about the resurrection and Jesus is like, hey, what happened? It's awesome. You need to read it. But they were blind. If they were physically walking with Jesus, didn't even know it until God opened their eyes. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him." [00:21:16] (34 seconds)
"it wasn't what they wanted I'm telling you today that your assumptions about Jesus can blind you from truly seeing Jesus listen I get it you want Jesus to answer prayers a certain way you want him to show up and not just in your life but in God you better get her right or you better get him right or you you know what I'm saying you're not saying amen because of who you're sitting beside right now but you get what I'm saying" [00:24:47] (33 seconds)
"it wasn't what they wanted I'm telling you today that your assumptions about Jesus can blind you from truly seeing Jesus listen I get it you want Jesus to answer prayers a certain way you want him to show up and not just in your life but in God you better get her right or you better get him right or you you know what I'm saying you're not saying amen because of who you're sitting beside right now but you get what I'm saying" [00:24:47] (33 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Apr 13, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?