Transforming Perspectives: Embracing Jesus' True Mission

Devotional

Day 1: Self-Centeredness and Spiritual Blindness

The crowd's cry of "Hosanna" during Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was driven by a desire for political freedom rather than spiritual salvation. This reflects a common human tendency to focus on immediate, self-centered needs, which can blind us to the deeper work God wants to do in our lives. Our sinful nature often leads us to prioritize personal gain over spiritual growth, missing the profound spiritual liberation Jesus offers. By examining our motivations, we can become more aware of how our desires might be hindering our spiritual journey. [11:14]

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'"

Reflection: Consider a recent decision you made. Was it driven by self-interest or a desire to align with God's will? How can you shift your focus to seek spiritual growth over personal gain today?

Day 2: The Danger of Control

The Pharisees' desire for control led to an unteachable spirit, preventing them from recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. This illustrates the danger of insisting on maintaining control, which can close us off to new insights and divine guidance. True spiritual growth requires surrendering control and being open to God's leading. By letting go of our need to control every aspect of our lives, we allow God to work in ways we might not expect, leading to deeper spiritual understanding and growth. [15:04]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you are holding on to control. What steps can you take today to surrender this area to God and be open to His guidance?

Day 3: Trust and Understanding

The disciples' struggle to understand Jesus' mission highlights the importance of trust in our spiritual journey. When we lack trust in God, we become spiritually blind, unable to see His greater plan. Trusting God, even when His ways are not clear, opens our eyes to His purposes and deepens our relationship with Him. By cultivating trust, we can navigate uncertainties with faith, knowing that God's plans are always for our good. [19:53]

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: Think of a situation where you are struggling to understand God's plan. How can you practice trusting Him more in this situation today?

Day 4: Breaking Free from Ruts

Jesus' call to the disciples to become "fishers of men" illustrates the need to break free from ingrained patterns and routines that limit our spiritual growth. We must be willing to embrace change and disruption to experience the fullness of God's plan for our lives. By stepping out of our comfort zones, we open ourselves to new opportunities for growth and service in God's kingdom. [23:31]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: Identify a routine or habit that is limiting your spiritual growth. What is one practical step you can take today to break free from this pattern and embrace God's transformative work in your life?

Day 5: A New Perspective

Our perspective shapes our reality, and a relationship with Jesus should continually transform our perspective. As we grow in our faith, our understanding of God and His purposes should deepen, leading to a more profound appreciation of His work in our lives. By allowing Jesus to transform our perspective, we can see the world through His eyes, leading to greater compassion, understanding, and purpose. [32:11]

Ephesians 1:18-19 (ESV): "Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How might viewing it from Jesus' perspective change your understanding and response? What steps can you take to align your perspective with His today?

Sermon Summary

In our series "Beyond the Grave," we delve into the profound impact of Jesus Christ, who not only lived and died but rose again, continuing to influence lives today. As we reflect on Palm Sunday, we explore the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, a moment rich with symbolism and significance. This event is not just a historical occurrence but a narrative filled with deeper meanings and lessons for us today.

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, greeted by crowds waving palm branches, was a fulfillment of prophecy and a declaration of His kingship, albeit in a manner that defied expectations. The crowd, the Pharisees, and the disciples each had their perspectives, often missing the true essence of Jesus' mission. The crowd sought a political savior to free them from Roman oppression, not realizing the spiritual liberation Jesus offered. The Pharisees, blinded by their desire for control, failed to recognize the fulfillment of prophecy before their eyes. Meanwhile, the disciples, though committed, struggled to understand the nature of Jesus' kingdom, often expecting a more earthly manifestation of power.

This narrative challenges us to examine our own perspectives and expectations of Jesus. Are we, like the crowd, focused on what Jesus can do for us materially? Do we, like the Pharisees, resist His lordship because it threatens our control? Or are we, like the disciples, struggling to trust His plan when it doesn't align with our expectations? Jesus' entry into our lives is meant to disrupt our routines and challenge our perspectives, inviting us to a deeper understanding and relationship with Him.

Key Takeaways

1. Self-Centeredness and Spiritual Blindness: The crowd's cry of "Hosanna" was rooted in a desire for political freedom rather than spiritual salvation. This reflects our tendency to focus on immediate, self-centered needs, which can blind us to the deeper work God wants to do in our lives. Our sinful nature often leads us to prioritize personal gain over spiritual growth. [11:14]
2. The Danger of Control: The Pharisees' desire for control led to an unteachable spirit, preventing them from recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. When we insist on maintaining control, we close ourselves off to new insights and divine guidance. True spiritual growth requires surrendering control and being open to God's leading. [15:04]
3. Trust and Understanding: The disciples' struggle to understand Jesus' mission highlights the importance of trust in our spiritual journey. When we lack trust in God, we become spiritually blind, unable to see His greater plan. Trusting God, even when His ways are not clear, opens our eyes to His purposes and deepens our relationship with Him. [19:53]
4. Breaking Free from Ruts: Jesus' call to the disciples to become "fishers of men" illustrates the need to break free from ingrained patterns and routines that limit our spiritual growth. We must be willing to embrace change and disruption to experience the fullness of God's plan for our lives. [23:31]
5. A New Perspective: Our perspective shapes our reality, and a relationship with Jesus should continually transform our perspective. As we grow in our faith, our understanding of God and His purposes should deepen, leading to a more profound appreciation of His work in our lives. [32:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:39] - Introduction to "Beyond the Grave"
[01:30] - The Relevance of God's Word
[02:13] - Palm Sunday: The Triumphant Entry
[02:53] - The Three Groups at Jesus' Entry
[03:38] - The Story of Rob and Carly
[07:01] - More to the Story of Jesus' Entry
[09:04] - The Crowd's Perspective
[12:48] - The Pharisees' Desire for Control
[15:49] - The Disciples' Misunderstanding
[19:06] - Trust and Spiritual Blindness
[22:00] - Jesus' Disruption in Our Lives
[26:11] - Breaking Free from Ruts
[28:14] - The Power of Perspective
[35:04] - Hosanna Moments and Relief
[38:46] - Testimony of Renee and Jason

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Beyond the Grave**

**Bible Reading:**

John 14:18-19
Matthew 21:1-11
Zechariah 9:9

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**Observation Questions:**

What was the significance of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey, and how did it fulfill prophecy? (Matthew 21:1-11)
How did the crowd's expectations of Jesus differ from His actual mission? ([09:04])
What was the Pharisees' reaction to Jesus' entry, and what does it reveal about their priorities? ([12:48])
How did the disciples' understanding of Jesus' mission evolve over time? ([19:06])

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**Interpretation Questions:**

How does the crowd's cry of "Hosanna" reflect a misunderstanding of Jesus' mission, and what does this reveal about human nature? ([11:14])
In what ways did the Pharisees' desire for control prevent them from recognizing Jesus as the Messiah? ([15:04])
How did the disciples' struggle to understand Jesus' mission highlight the importance of trust in our spiritual journey? ([19:53])
What does Jesus' call to the disciples to become "fishers of men" teach us about breaking free from spiritual ruts? ([23:31])

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**Application Questions:**

Reflect on your own expectations of Jesus. Are there areas where you might be seeking material or immediate benefits rather than spiritual growth? How can you shift your focus? ([11:14])
Consider a situation where you have resisted surrendering control. How can you practice being more open to God's guidance in that area? ([15:04])
Think of a time when you struggled to trust God's plan. What steps can you take to deepen your trust in Him, even when His ways are not clear? ([19:53])
Identify a routine or pattern in your life that might be limiting your spiritual growth. What changes can you make to embrace the fullness of God's plan for you? ([23:31])
How has your perspective of Jesus and His mission changed as your relationship with Him has deepened? What new insights have you gained? ([32:11])
Reflect on a "Hosanna moment" in your life where you experienced relief from a burden. How can you invite Jesus to help you with current burdens you are carrying? ([35:04])
What specific action can you take this week to cultivate a new perspective that aligns more closely with Jesus' teachings and mission? ([28:14])

Sermon Clips

The story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem, there's more to the story that's going on. And if you don't read between the lines, you're going to miss it. And so I'm going to just show you a two-minute video kind of illustrating the entry of Jesus. And perhaps you can kind of catch a little bit of what's going on here. And that's kind of what I wanted to bring out today as we dive into this message. There's a lot going on when Jesus enters into that city and he comes in riding on a donkey. [00:07:06]

The Bible said that the people were putting out branches. And really these branches were a symbol of honor. Especially back during that culture, it was a symbol of honoring somebody. It was a traditional greeting. And this traditional greeting would really link to any national hero that came into Jerusalem that rescued anyone or anything like that. They would come out with these palms and they would lay them before honoring this person that was coming in. [00:07:39]

The crowd, and it's interesting to think about the perspective that comes from the crowd because their perspective was "What's in it for me?" Their perspective was "What are you doing for me, Jesus? What are you coming to do for us?" They weren't looking for a savior to save them from their sin. They were looking for someone to deliver them and set them free from the oppression of the Roman government. They were under the oppression of the Roman government. [00:08:57]

The religious leaders, what we would call the Pharisees. And these guys, the reason why they were there that day and they began to observe what was happening is these guys, they knew the scripture. They knew the Bible or the word of God or the prophecy. The prophecy 300 years, Daniel had prophesied that the Messiah would come. In fact, most Bible scholars say that he gave practically the date of when Jesus the Messiah would come riding on a donkey into Jerusalem. [00:12:40]

The disciples were followers of Jesus. They were committed to the work of Jesus. They were committed to the teachings of Jesus. But in reality, when you read between the lines, again, there's more to the story. As you read the gospel, you'll find that many times the disciples were frustrated with Jesus because they felt like Jesus was holding them back. That Jesus was holding back himself. In other words, they wanted Jesus to be at the forefront. [00:15:36]

When Jesus enters into our lives, when he enters into the scene, he changes everything. So I want you to write this down: Jesus creates a significant difference or he creates a significant disruption. A significant disruption. That's what Jesus does when he comes on the scene. He creates a significant disruption. When Jesus makes an entrance in my situation, in your situation, in your life, in my life, it creates a significant disruption. [00:22:07]

If you recall in the gospel where Jesus had a conversation with Peter and Andrew, they were fishing by the sea there in Galilee. When Jesus came walking up, they had their own business. If you read the scripture, they were kind of, they were doing fine in actuality. But Jesus knew, somehow Jesus knew they needed more out of life. Jesus knew they needed more significance. He knew that they were looking for something greater and he created a disruption. [00:22:43]

Many of us need a new perspective. Your perspective is the framework through which you view the view. You view the world and you interpret everything that happens. Doesn't matter if it's right or wrong. If your perspective is right or wrong, it doesn't matter. Your perspective is your reality. Your perspective is your reality. So lots of us, listen to me, we create this perspective. How is our perspective created? [00:28:12]

Our perspective should develop as our relationship with Jesus deepens. The more you serve God, the more you're walking with Jesus, the greater your perspective should be of who God is in your life. Now here's the shame of it. I've seen people serving God two or three years. Their perspective doesn't change. Have the same old doubts, have the same bad attitude, and their perspective doesn't change. They don't trust anyone. [00:32:09]

When Jesus made that entrance, it was significant. It was a moment of change. It was a moment of transformation as these people were there saying "Hosana, hosana, save us." But the actual word hosana in the Arabic language, what it actually means, it means more than save us. It means relief from the crushing weight, relief from the crushing weight. So in actuality, what they should have been asking Jesus was to relieve them from this weight that was on them. [00:35:06]

All of us today in this world, we're trying to do things on our own. And you don't realize that God wants to help you. He wants to help you breathe. He wants to help carry the load. Look at what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28. Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I'm going to give you rest." All of us are carrying burdens and weights and stress and things on your life. [00:36:54]

Most of us don't know what a yoke is, but it's a farming term that when they would have two oxes, they would be yoked together. It was a wooden thing that kept these oxes. They were worked together. Usually, there was more an experienced oxen that would help the younger auction and train him and teach him how to work the load. But most of the time, the more experienced oxen carried the load. And Jesus was saying to all of us that take this yoke, but I'm going to help you carry it. [00:37:57]

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