Understanding Jesus: From Celebration to Crucifixion
Summary
As we gather on this Palm Sunday, we are reminded of the excitement and anticipation that surrounded Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. The city was buzzing with the news of His arrival, and people were eager to see the man who had performed miracles and taught with authority. They welcomed Him with shouts of "Hosanna," recognizing Him as the Messiah, the one who would save them. Yet, within days, the same crowd that celebrated Him would call for His crucifixion. This dramatic shift in public opinion prompts us to reflect on the factors that led to such a change and how they might apply to our own lives.
One key factor was a misunderstanding of Jesus' mission. Many expected a political savior who would liberate them from Roman oppression, but Jesus came to offer a deeper freedom from sin and spiritual death. This misunderstanding led to disappointment and disillusionment when He did not meet their expectations. Similarly, we must guard against reducing Jesus to a means of personal gain, recognizing instead His true mission to bring us into His kingdom.
Another factor was the threat of losing status and possessions. The Pharisees, in particular, saw Jesus as a threat to their power and influence. Today, we might also struggle with the fear of losing what is precious to us, whether it be material possessions, social status, or personal pride. Following Jesus often requires sacrifice, but the eternal rewards far outweigh any temporary losses.
Fear and self-preservation also played a role. The fear of persecution and the pressure to conform to societal norms can lead us to deny our faith or compromise our values. Yet, Jesus calls us to stand firm, promising that the cost of discipleship is worth the eternal life He offers.
The cover of darkness, both literal and metaphorical, obscured the truth about Jesus. Many were swayed by false narratives and failed to see Him for who He truly was. In our world, we are constantly bombarded with misinformation and negativity about Jesus and His followers. It is crucial that we seek the truth and form our own relationship with Him, rather than relying on the opinions of others.
Ultimately, the solution to these challenges is to truly see Jesus for who He is. By coming to know Him personally, we can experience His love, joy, and purpose in our lives. This Holy Week, let us take the opportunity to deepen our understanding of Jesus and strengthen our relationship with Him, ensuring that we remain steadfast in our faith.
Key Takeaways:
1. Misunderstanding Jesus' Mission: Many in Jerusalem expected Jesus to be a political savior, but His mission was to offer spiritual freedom. We must be careful not to reduce Jesus to a means of personal gain, but rather embrace His true purpose of bringing us into His kingdom. [31:57]
2. The Threat of Losing Status and Possessions: The Pharisees rejected Jesus because He threatened their power and influence. Today, we might fear losing material possessions or social status, but following Jesus often requires sacrifice. The eternal rewards far outweigh any temporary losses. [45:04]
3. Fear and Self-Preservation: Fear of persecution and societal pressure can lead us to deny our faith. Jesus calls us to stand firm, promising that the cost of discipleship is worth the eternal life He offers. [48:49]
4. The Cover of Darkness: False narratives and misinformation can obscure the truth about Jesus. It is crucial to seek the truth and form our own relationship with Him, rather than relying on the opinions of others. [53:01]
5. Truly Seeing Jesus: The solution to these challenges is to truly see Jesus for who He is. By coming to know Him personally, we can experience His love, joy, and purpose in our lives, ensuring that we remain steadfast in our faith. [55:21]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Invitation to Easter Sunday
- [01:15] - The Excitement of Palm Sunday
- [03:00] - Jesus' Growing Fame
- [05:00] - Tension with the Pharisees
- [07:30] - The Buzz of Passover Week
- [10:00] - Jesus' Triumphal Entry
- [12:00] - The Crowd's Celebration
- [15:00] - From Hosanna to Crucify
- [18:00] - Misunderstanding Jesus' Mission
- [21:00] - The Threat of Losing Status
- [24:00] - Fear and Self-Preservation
- [27:00] - The Cover of Darkness
- [30:00] - Truly Seeing Jesus
- [33:00] - Invitation to Holy Week Activities
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 21:1-11
2. John 12:12-19
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the crowd's reaction when Jesus entered Jerusalem, and how did they express their excitement? [31:57]
2. How did the Pharisees perceive Jesus, and what were their concerns regarding His influence? [36:12]
3. What were the expectations of the people in Jerusalem regarding Jesus' mission, and how did these expectations differ from His actual mission? [49:33]
4. How did the events of Palm Sunday lead to a dramatic shift in public opinion about Jesus within a few days? [53:01]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why do you think the crowd's understanding of Jesus' mission was so different from His true purpose? How does this misunderstanding reflect in today's context? [49:33]
2. In what ways did the fear of losing status and possessions influence the Pharisees' rejection of Jesus? How might similar fears affect people today? [45:04]
3. How does the concept of "the cover of darkness" relate to the spread of misinformation about Jesus, both in biblical times and today? [53:01]
4. What does it mean to truly see Jesus for who He is, and how can this understanding impact a person's faith journey? [55:21]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own expectations of Jesus. Are there areas where you might be misunderstanding His mission in your life? How can you align your expectations with His true purpose? [49:33]
2. Consider a time when fear of losing something valuable held you back from fully following Jesus. How can you overcome this fear and embrace the sacrifices that come with discipleship? [45:04]
3. In what ways have societal pressures or fear of persecution influenced your faith decisions? How can you stand firm in your beliefs despite these challenges? [48:49]
4. How do you discern truth from misinformation about Jesus in today's world? What steps can you take to deepen your personal relationship with Him and see Him clearly? [53:01]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel the need to experience Jesus' love, joy, and purpose more deeply. What practical steps can you take this week to strengthen your relationship with Him? [55:21]
6. How can you actively participate in Holy Week activities to gain a deeper understanding of Jesus' mission and strengthen your faith? [01:01:53]
7. Think of someone in your life who might have misconceptions about Jesus. How can you engage them in a conversation to help them see Jesus for who He truly is? [55:21]
Devotional
Day 1: Misunderstanding Jesus' Mission
Many people in Jerusalem expected Jesus to be a political savior who would liberate them from Roman oppression. However, Jesus' mission was to offer a deeper freedom from sin and spiritual death. This misunderstanding led to disappointment and disillusionment when He did not meet their expectations. In our own lives, we must be careful not to reduce Jesus to a means of personal gain, but rather embrace His true purpose of bringing us into His kingdom. By understanding His mission, we can align our lives with His teachings and find true fulfillment. [31:57]
Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV): "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'"
Reflection: In what ways have you misunderstood Jesus' mission in your life? How can you realign your expectations with His true purpose today?
Day 2: The Threat of Losing Status and Possessions
The Pharisees rejected Jesus because He threatened their power and influence. They were more concerned with maintaining their status and possessions than embracing the truth He offered. Today, we might also fear losing material possessions or social status, but following Jesus often requires sacrifice. The eternal rewards far outweigh any temporary losses. By focusing on the eternal, we can find the courage to let go of what is temporary and embrace the abundant life Jesus offers. [45:04]
Hebrews 13:5-6 (ESV): "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'"
Reflection: What is one possession or status symbol you are afraid to lose? How can you trust Jesus to provide for you as you consider letting go of it?
Day 3: Fear and Self-Preservation
Fear of persecution and societal pressure can lead us to deny our faith or compromise our values. The crowd that once celebrated Jesus quickly turned against Him, driven by fear and self-preservation. Yet, Jesus calls us to stand firm, promising that the cost of discipleship is worth the eternal life He offers. By trusting in His promises, we can overcome fear and live boldly for Him, even when it means standing against the tide of popular opinion. [48:49]
2 Timothy 1:7-8 (ESV): "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God."
Reflection: What societal pressures are causing you to compromise your faith? How can you rely on God's power to stand firm in your beliefs today?
Day 4: The Cover of Darkness
False narratives and misinformation can obscure the truth about Jesus, just as they did during His time. Many were swayed by these narratives and failed to see Him for who He truly was. In our world, we are constantly bombarded with misinformation and negativity about Jesus and His followers. It is crucial that we seek the truth and form our own relationship with Him, rather than relying on the opinions of others. By doing so, we can discern truth from falsehood and live in the light of His love. [53:01]
Ephesians 5:8-10 (ESV): "For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord."
Reflection: What false narratives about Jesus have you encountered recently? How can you seek the truth and deepen your relationship with Him today?
Day 5: Truly Seeing Jesus
The solution to the challenges we face is to truly see Jesus for who He is. By coming to know Him personally, we can experience His love, joy, and purpose in our lives. This Holy Week, let us take the opportunity to deepen our understanding of Jesus and strengthen our relationship with Him, ensuring that we remain steadfast in our faith. By truly seeing Him, we can live in the fullness of His grace and share His love with others. [55:21]
Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV): "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of Jesus this week? What steps can you take to strengthen your relationship with Him and truly see Him for who He is?
Quotes
"And stories were everywhere about his miracles. He's healing blind people and deaf people and crippled people and lepers. And the word was out about these miracles that Jesus was doing. It was in all the papers. Man, it was blowing up on social media. It was just, there was this incredible buzz about Jesus. And people everywhere wanted to hear him teach. And people wanted to come to him for healing. And a lot of people were beginning to think that maybe he's the Messiah." [00:28:31] (29 seconds)
"How did these people go from worshiping him as king to torturing him to death? How did these people slip from excitement and love and joy to anger and to hate? They turned away from Jesus, they turned away from light and truth and healing and life and they turned towards doubt and darkness and death in four days. And I'm really curious about what happened to them and you know why? Because I don't want it to happen to me and I don't want it to happen to us." [00:40:47] (45 seconds)
"Misunderstanding Jesus' mission. When they called Jesus savior, pretty much all those people in Jerusalem thought he was going to be like a war hero, he was going to be like a political leader and he was going to save them from Rome. You know, he was going to relieve them of oppression of Rome, he was going to give them political clout and he was going to give them their land back and he was going to take away these taxes." [00:44:13] (24 seconds)
"Jesus comes in and says, God is close to the humble, but he opposes the proud. And I think for a lot of people, when they see Jesus riding in on a donkey, he's living his life on the road. He doesn't own anything. And I think the Pharisees look at Jesus and say, yeah, that's not what I signed up for when I said I wanted to be a religious leader." [00:46:06] (28 seconds)
"Fear and self-preservation. And in fairness to these people, they had some legit stuff to be afraid of if they followed Jesus. Going against the Pharisees could mean trouble, man. That's like you're going to get kicked out of the synagogue. And in that days, that was horrible because everything in the Jewish community centered around being in the church." [00:50:13] (21 seconds)
"Jesus told his disciples, look, they're killing me. They're killing me. And you're my followers. So you're going to face persecution. It's going to be worth it to be in my kingdom and to be with me here and forever. But people are going to come after you and people are going to hurt you. And really following Jesus still means persecution, especially in other parts of the world where it's a lot worse than it is here." [00:51:47] (27 seconds)
"The truth was covered by the darkness. And for us, we live in a dark world, you know, and people say all kinds of negative things about Jesus, that he's not who he says he was or that he didn't exist at all or that he did exist and he's evil. And we hear the negativity all the time. Well, Christians are awful. You know, church is a bunch of hypocrites." [00:54:56] (27 seconds)
"But what we've been learning is we're learning more about intentional spiritual formation is that whether we know it or not, whether we're aware of it or not, whether we see it or not, we are all being formed by something, right? The news, our friends, the world, the people around us, social media, culture, advertising, politics, those things are forming our thoughts." [00:55:36] (27 seconds)
"And to me, as I'm thinking about all of these things that happen to them and how they could also happen to us, it's like, well, what are we going to do about it? You know, what's the solution to this? And I think this is the solution. It's not seeing Jesus under the cover of darkness. It's not taking the word of the world or the internet or the Pharisees or other people about Jesus." [00:56:41] (29 seconds)
"And it's not buying the hate. It's just meeting him yourself and turning on the lights and really seeing him and really coming to know him personally. You know, when Jesus called his first disciples, he said something really interesting, really simple, really life-changing. He said, come and see. He didn't prove anything to them. He just said, come and see." [00:57:12] (24 seconds)
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