Beyond Sunday with Pastor Nic
Join me for a more personal look into the weekend sermons, as well as some thoughts on theology, marriage, parenting, and leadership. I will also explore some of your most asked questions throughout the year.
www.nic-williams.com
Beyond Sunday with Pastor Nic
Triumphal Entry: Lessons from John Chapter 12
Reflecting on the powerful statement by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him to come and die," we delve into the paradox of life and death that Jesus presents. This episode is a heart-stirring call to examine your own commitments and the true cost of following Christ. Through the divine affirmation of Jesus' mission by a voice from heaven, we underscore the significance of His impending sacrifice. Don’t miss this riveting exploration of Scripture that promises to deepen your faith and understanding, and inspire you to embrace a life of sacrificial love and humility.
Hey podcast world. Welcome to Beyond Sunday, where we explore scripture to uncover deeper truths that guide us in our walk with Christ. Today we're looking at John, chapter 12. And in fact, I actually just walked off stage after preaching three services and I'm so excited about this passage I decided to record this podcast now. Normally I wait till another time where my voice is a little stronger, but this passage is so exciting. It encapsulates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, his profound teachings on discipleship and sacrifice. In fact, if you haven't read this passage in a long time, I would encourage you to pause this podcast. Open up your Bible. John chapter 12, and the whole chapter is incredible. But last week we looked at verses 1 through 11, but today we're looking at 12 through 50, through the end of the passage. And now for just a second.
Speaker 1:Imagine a celebrated leader who enters a city with promises of change and hope. The crowds are ecstatic seeing a bright future ahead. However, the leader's path isn't about political triumph, but about sacrificial love leading to unexpected challenges for those who follow him. This is the story of Jesus, maybe not verbatim, but this is what happened to him. Let me ask you this have you ever followed someone because you believed in their vision, only to find the path was more challenging than you expected. How did this reshape your understanding of true leadership and commitment?
Speaker 1:In John, chapter 12, we witness a pivotal moment in Jesus's ministry. John, up to this point, has focused on the three years of Jesus's ministry, of the miracles that he's performed and the stories, and it's incredible and riveting. But now he shifts focus. As he enters Jerusalem, he is celebrated as a king, yet the nature of his kingship challenges the expectations of many, leading to a discourse on what it truly means to follow him. The crowd that day. They were screaming Hosanna. They wanted him to be the king. They wanted him to overthrow the Roman Empire. This triumphal entry, as you will.
Speaker 1:As Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowds hail him as the king, shouting Hosanna, which means save me now. The scene fulfills ancient prophecy, but it also symbolizes his humble approach to kingship. And think about it for a moment. If you were, in your last week of life, wanting to make sure as many people noticed you as they could, you probably wouldn't ride into town on a donkey, much less. Scripture says it's the colt of a donkey, which means it's a donkey under four years old, a male, small, probably about the size of a German shepherd. And I say that because I want you to imagine what it looked like for Jesus to ride in on this tiny donkey into town, people all around screaming Hosanna, ponder this for a moment. How does Jesus' entry on a donkey, a symbol of peace, contrast with the typical images of a worldly king? What does that tell you about the nature of his kingdom? Zechariah 9.9 prophesies this humble arrival, highlighting the peaceful reign of the Messiah, contrasting sharply with earthly rulers who often seek power through force. I think it's important, as you and I read scripture, especially when it comes to Jesus, to remember that there was prophecy in the Old Testament that said certain things would happen to prove who he was, and this is one of those moments that he would ride this donkey.
Speaker 1:The second point is the paradox of life and death. Jesus teaches that those who love their life will lose it, while those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. This paradox challenges us to consider the cost of discipleship. What might hating your life in this world look like today? How does this principle challenge the way we prioritize our values and our actions? Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously said, when Christ calls a man, he bids him to come and die. This statement underscores the depth of commitment expected from Jesus' followers. It's a total surrender that leads to true life.
Speaker 1:The third thing that happens is probably one of my favorite parts of the story. There's a voice from heaven as Jesus speaks about his impending death. A voice from heaven affirms his mission. It's honestly startling the crowd. It's John, chapter 12, verses 28-30. This divine endorsement emphasizes the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and His alignment with the Father's. Will Now reflect for a moment on the importance of divine approval in Jesus' mission. How does this heavenly affirmation affect our understanding of Jesus' teachings and actions? John 12, 28 says and 27,.
Speaker 1:Jesus is having that conversation with himself, but with God. He says man, should I ask God to save me from this, which I love, because, honestly, that's our prayer most of the time. God, save me from the trouble, save me from my own consequences, my own decisions, save me from this hardship in life. That's usually our prayer. But then he answers. He says no, that's not going to be my prayer. He says my prayer is, father, glorify your name prayer. But then he answers he says no, that's not going to be my prayer. He says my prayer is Father, glorify your name. Then a voice comes from heaven and God says I have glorified it and I'm going to glorify it again, pointing to the divine purpose behind Jesus's earthly journey.
Speaker 1:The fourth thing I want to point out is the judgment of the world. We didn't get to this fully this weekend, but Jesus speaks about his death as the moment when the ruler of this world will be driven out. That's verse 31. His crucifixion is not just a moment of suffering, but a victory over darkness. How does understanding Christ's crucifixion as a victory change our view of suffering and triumph in our own spiritual battles? Colossians 2.15 explains that Jesus disarmed the powers, and this victory narrative provides hope and empowerment to believers facing trials.
Speaker 1:Now there is so much I could say about this passage. In fact, I debated preaching on it for several weeks and, for the sake of the study we're doing right now, I'm going to move on to the next part of the story. But I want to encourage you, if you haven't, to go ahead and read the last part of John, chapter 12, probably the last 20 verses or so and just see that discord that Jesus has with himself to a degree, but also with those that are around him, whether it's the Pharisees, the disciples, the crowd. It is an absolutely incredible moment as we consider these teachings from John 12,. Let us embrace the challenges of discipleship, understanding that true following involves sacrifice, true following of Jesus involves humility. And to truly follow Jesus involves a focus on the eternal rather than the temporal.
Speaker 1:Matthew 16,26 says For what profit is to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? May you and I find the courage to follow Christ's example, prioritizing eternal values over fleeting worldly gains. Thank you again for joining me today. I hope that this passage of Scripture, even beyond what I've talked about, whether it was at church today or on this podcast, speaks directly to your heart and challenges you to live in an eternal mindset Until next time. May you walk in the light of Christ's truth, holding fast to the life that he calls us to live.