The Humble King: Redefining Power Through Sacrifice
Summary
In the midst of Palm Sunday, we reflect on the unexpected nature of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and the profound implications of His journey to the cross. Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, entered the city not as a conquering hero on a warhorse but humbly on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy and subverting expectations. The crowds, yearning for liberation from Roman oppression, shouted "Hosanna," hoping for a political savior. Yet, Jesus' mission was far deeper, aiming to establish a kingdom not of this world but one rooted in love, sacrifice, and redemption.
Jesus' actions in the temple, where He overturned the tables of the money changers, signified a challenge to the religious status quo and a call to genuine worship. His path was not one of earthly power but of spiritual transformation. The crowd's cries of "Hosanna" soon turned to "Crucify Him" as their unmet expectations led to anger and betrayal. Jesus' crucifixion, seen by many as a defeat, was in fact His coronation as the King of Kings, a profound act of love and sacrifice that offers forgiveness and healing to a broken world.
The message of Holy Week is that Jesus, the servant king, entered into our suffering to bring life and hope. His brokenness on the cross empowers us to break for others, to serve and love sacrificially. As followers of Christ, we are called to carry our crosses, to live out the upside-down kingdom where strength is found in weakness and victory in surrender. Jesus' life and death challenge us to redefine our understanding of power and success, inviting us to participate in His mission of reconciliation and restoration.
Key Takeaways:
1. Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey symbolizes a kingdom of peace and humility, contrasting with worldly expectations of power and conquest. His actions challenge us to embrace a life of service and humility, reflecting His love to a world in need. [52:59]
2. The cleansing of the temple by Jesus highlights the importance of genuine worship and the rejection of superficial religiosity. It calls us to examine our own hearts and prioritize a relationship with God over mere ritual. [56:45]
3. Jesus' crucifixion, perceived as a defeat, was His ultimate act of love and victory over sin. It reminds us that true power lies in sacrificial love and that through His brokenness, we find healing and redemption. [59:42]
4. The story of Jesus challenges us to redefine our understanding of success and power, inviting us to participate in His mission of love and reconciliation. We are called to carry our crosses and follow Him, embodying His kingdom values in our lives. [01:05:09]
5. Jesus' life and death invite us to see beyond our expectations and embrace the unexpected ways God works in our lives. His example encourages us to trust in His plan, even when it defies our understanding, and to live out His love in tangible ways. [01:07:36]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [49:29] - The Upside-Down Kingdom
- [50:12] - Prayer and Reflection
- [51:32] - Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem
- [52:17] - Fulfillment of Prophecy
- [52:59] - The Humble King
- [53:39] - Hosanna and Expectations
- [54:29] - The Zealots and Roman Oppression
- [55:17] - Misunderstood Messiah
- [56:07] - Jesus' Actions in the Temple
- [56:45] - Cleansing the Temple
- [57:23] - Unmet Expectations
- [58:10] - The Plot Against Jesus
- [58:56] - Crucifixion and Coronation
- [59:42] - The King on the Cross
- [01:00:37] - Pilate's Inscription
- [01:01:25] - The Unexpected King
- [01:02:04] - Love and Sacrifice
- [01:02:54] - The Servant King
- [01:03:39] - The CEO Analogy
- [01:04:22] - God's Response to Suffering
- [01:05:09] - The Cross and Our Calling
- [01:05:59] - The Church's Witness
- [01:06:52] - Misplaced Expectations
- [01:07:36] - The Call to Follow
- [01:08:28] - Who is Jesus to You?
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 21:1-11
- Zechariah 9:9
- Isaiah 53:3-5
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#### Observation Questions
1. What was the significance of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey, and how did it fulfill prophecy? ([52:59])
2. How did the crowd's expectations of Jesus as a political savior differ from His actual mission? ([55:17])
3. What actions did Jesus take in the temple, and what message was He conveying through these actions? ([56:45])
4. How did the crowd's cries change from "Hosanna" to "Crucify Him," and what does this reveal about their understanding of Jesus' mission? ([58:56])
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey challenge our understanding of power and leadership? ([52:59])
2. In what ways does the cleansing of the temple by Jesus call us to examine our own practices of worship and religiosity? ([56:45])
3. How does Jesus' crucifixion redefine the concept of victory and defeat in the context of His mission? ([59:42])
4. What does the story of Jesus' journey to the cross teach us about the nature of God's kingdom and our role within it? ([01:05:09])
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when your expectations of God were unmet. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([58:10])
2. Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was marked by humility. How can you incorporate humility into your daily interactions and leadership roles? ([52:59])
3. Consider your current practices of worship. Are there areas where you might be prioritizing ritual over genuine relationship with God? How can you address this? ([56:45])
4. Jesus' crucifixion was an act of sacrificial love. Identify a way you can demonstrate sacrificial love to someone in your life this week. ([59:42])
5. The concept of carrying our crosses is central to following Jesus. What does carrying your cross look like in your current life situation? ([01:07:36])
6. How can you actively participate in Jesus' mission of reconciliation and restoration in your community? ([01:05:09])
7. Jesus' life and death invite us to trust in God's plan, even when it defies our understanding. Is there a situation in your life where you need to trust God more fully? How can you take steps to do so? ([01:07:36])
Devotional
Day 1: The Humble King and His Kingdom of Peace
Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey was a profound statement about the nature of His kingdom. Unlike the expectations of a political savior who would overthrow Roman rule, Jesus chose a path of humility and peace, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. This act subverted the common understanding of power and conquest, inviting His followers to embrace a life of service and humility. In a world that often equates success with dominance and control, Jesus' example challenges us to reflect His love and peace to those around us. His kingdom is not of this world, but one that is rooted in love, sacrifice, and redemption. As we consider His entry into Jerusalem, we are called to examine our own lives and the ways we can embody His kingdom values. [52:59]
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: In what ways can you demonstrate humility and peace in your interactions with others today, reflecting the nature of Jesus' kingdom?
Day 2: Genuine Worship Over Superficial Rituals
Jesus' cleansing of the temple was a powerful act that highlighted the importance of genuine worship and the rejection of superficial religiosity. By overturning the tables of the money changers, He challenged the religious status quo and called for a return to authentic devotion. This act serves as a reminder that our relationship with God should be prioritized over mere rituals and traditions. It invites us to examine our own hearts and the ways we may have allowed superficial practices to overshadow true worship. As we reflect on this event, we are encouraged to seek a deeper connection with God, one that is rooted in sincerity and love. [56:45]
Isaiah 1:13-17 (ESV): "Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."
Reflection: What rituals or traditions in your life might be overshadowing genuine worship? How can you refocus your heart on a sincere relationship with God today?
Day 3: The Power of Sacrificial Love
The crucifixion of Jesus, often perceived as a defeat, was in fact His ultimate act of love and victory over sin. Through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus demonstrated that true power lies in sacrificial love. This profound act offers forgiveness and healing to a broken world, inviting us to redefine our understanding of power and success. In a culture that often values strength and self-preservation, Jesus' example calls us to embrace vulnerability and selflessness. As we reflect on His crucifixion, we are reminded that through His brokenness, we find healing and redemption. [59:42]
1 John 3:16 (ESV): "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."
Reflection: How can you practice sacrificial love in your relationships today, following the example of Jesus' ultimate act of love on the cross?
Day 4: Redefining Success and Power
The story of Jesus challenges us to redefine our understanding of success and power, inviting us to participate in His mission of love and reconciliation. As followers of Christ, we are called to carry our crosses and follow Him, embodying His kingdom values in our lives. This means embracing a life where strength is found in weakness and victory in surrender. In a world that often equates success with wealth and status, Jesus' life and death offer a different perspective, one that values humility, service, and love. As we consider His example, we are encouraged to align our lives with His mission and values. [01:05:09]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself striving for worldly success? How can you redefine success in this area according to Jesus' kingdom values?
Day 5: Embracing the Unexpected Ways of God
Jesus' life and death invite us to see beyond our expectations and embrace the unexpected ways God works in our lives. His example encourages us to trust in His plan, even when it defies our understanding, and to live out His love in tangible ways. In a world that often seeks certainty and control, Jesus' journey to the cross reminds us that God's ways are higher than our ways. As we reflect on His life, we are challenged to let go of our preconceived notions and embrace the unexpected paths God may lead us on. [01:07:36]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are struggling to understand God's plan? How can you trust in His unexpected ways and embrace His love in this situation today?
Quotes
Because the king was broken for you, you can now break for others. Because the king, because Jesus was broken for you, you can now break for others. And I get it, that doesn't sound very good. I don't know about you, I tend to like to stay in one piece. Uh, I don't like my heart to break. I don't like to go around and see people in their distress and break down at the thought of what they're going through. I don't like it. It doesn't sound wonderful, but that there success in brokenness, blessings amidst the curses, is the upside down kingdom that Jesus brought into the midst of a sinful world's broken regime. [00:49:15]
Heavenly Father, today I thank you so much for every person that is here. And I ask Lord God that you would help us to be able to focus in God that as we proceed into this time that is called Holy Week that we truly would take the time to reflect on your journey into Jerusalem, the events of your last few days before your crucifixion. That on Friday we would remember as your body that your body was broken for us and what that means for us and that next Sunday we would celebrate together the good news of your victory and the eternal life that you have bought for those that place their trusts in you. [00:50:32]
Jesus, traveling teacher, rabbi, claims to be the son of God, the son of man that David predicted would come. The crowds around him are seeing him as the long-awaited messianic figure and have in mind all the various things that their teachers that their society has basically put into that word of Messiah, the Greek word Christ, which just means the anointed one. And so there's Jesus. He's coming for the last time to the city of Jerusalem. And this is what one of his followers, Matthew, records for us in the book by his name, Matthew in the Bible that we believe as followers of Jesus was inspired by the Holy Spirit of God and preserved for us to today so that we can know who Jesus is and what he has done for us. [00:51:32]
The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. "Who is this?" they asked. And the crowds replied, "It's Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. The Messiah is coming. The Messiah is here." Now, understand that the Jewish people had spent years upon years upon years in various forms of subjugation to other empires. And at the time that Jesus was in this place, the Roman Empire had conquered the region of Judea. And they'd done some pretty nasty stuff. The Jews were not very happy. In fact, one of Jesus's own followers was formerly in a group called the Zealots, which was a whole bunch of like ninja assassin warriors that would go out trying to bring about the kingdom of heaven back to earth and fight against their oppressors. [00:54:38]
Jesus arrives in Jerusalem and I can just imagine people waiting with baited breath like we've seen miracles and with this group of people that he's got around him like are you guys ready? You got your belt knives ready to go? He gives the word and we're going to attack and we're going to take this place over just like our scriptures say. The Messiah is going to come and he's going to establish the kingdom of Israel. He's going to establish the kingdom of God. Here we go. But what happens? Jesus doesn't raise a sword. Jesus doesn't give the cry attack. Enter the capital. You know what Jesus does? He goes to the center of Jewish worship. He goes into the temple and he fights those who are most religious in order to show God's greatness. [00:56:01]
Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. And he said to them, "The scriptures declare, my temple will be called a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves. Put yourself in their shoes that day. You're supposed to help us and instead you're punishing us. We're here to make money and instead you're throwing our temples over. You're making a whip of cords and you're swinging them around. What is going on? This isn't what they taught us. This isn't what I came to understand. This isn't what I've been waiting hundreds of years for. [00:56:57]
Here comes the king. Not on a stallion, not to do physical war, but a king coming in humility to break expectations to save the world from itself. But what is his coronation? His coronation is a cross. He's raised up as king of the Jews. How? By being nailed to two beams and raised naked before all. Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews, there wearing his crown of thorns upon his head for us. What I find really interesting is Pilate writes this and you got to wonder what's going on in the back of his mind when he does this. The Jews actually get very upset. They come to him and they say, "Hey, change that sign. He's not the king of the Jews. He's not our king. Write it to he said I'm the king of the Jews." [00:59:34]
The glorious message of Easter week, of Holy Week, is that instead of ruling from above, instead of pronouncing judgment upon the world from his throne in heaven, God entered into our mess. And he paid what we owed to bring life and to model the life of a servant king. A king who was broken. Because the king was broken for you, you can now break for others. Imagine if you will a billionaire CEO who learns that his employees are really, really struggling. Some of them are starving. Others are trapped deeply in debt. Some are working hard, others really aren't. And so his board urges him, you got to do something. We got to fix this. We can't have this going on. They want him to just write a new regulation, to pass out a little bit more money, to start a new program, something from the top. [01:02:46]
He leaves his penthouse apartment, changes into some thrift store clothes, and spends months living as a homeless man in his own company's streets. He waits in soup kitchen lines. He sleeps in shelters and listens to the cries of his people. He experiences the very pain that they experience firsthand. And when he finally reveals his identity, some of them are absolutely furious. They say, "You fool. You could have helped us from your office. You could have changed things from the top and instead you wasted your time living on the streets amongst us. What are you doing, man?" But others will weep. He'll reveal himself for who he is and they will weep before him saying, "No one ever cared enough to suffer with us before." [01:03:49]
If God is so good, if God is all powerful, if he is loving, if he is just, why doesn't he just erase suffering? Why doesn't he just fix it all? But to that the cross replies, he entered into our world to destroy brokenness from within. And he gives us the strength to walk the same path of suffering. That is the king that we serve. Because the king was broken for you, you can now break for others. We serve a king who didn't just send help. He became the help. And when we ask God, why don't you do something about injustice, he says, I did. I wore your skin, and now you're my hands and feet. [01:05:00]
The crowd on Palm Sunday, they cheered for a king that would fit their expectations. But Jesus refused to overthrow the Romans. He traded, "Hosana, save us for crucify him." And the fact is is that even today, he still does the same. We want a God who gives us comfort, success, power. I mean, isn't that what so many churches talk about today? All your problems will just go away with Jesus, right? But that's not what we read about in scripture. In fact, in fact, in scripture, we read that our king saved us. He is with us. He bears the burden alongside us, but that he calls us to pick up our cross and follow him. [01:07:12]
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