Palm Sunday Message - The True Purpose and Power Of Name Of The Lord Jesus Christ
“9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”” (John 12:9-15)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Never misunderstand, misuse nor underestimate the Purpose and Power of the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Graeco-Roman age, palm leaves symbolised victory with integrity – victory that is above board; victory where even the defeated would unreservedly concede defeat.
Early Christians would wave palm leaves to symbolize not only Christ’s integrous victory over sin and death; but also the Christian victory unto God’s Righteousness, Peace and Eternal Life.
To understand Christ’s victory in the Christian life comes with properly understanding the Purpose and Power of the Name of Jesus.
This divine understanding of Christ’s Name is the mark of the true ‘born-again’ believer.
The question we are always ask ourselves is:
Am I truly born-again?
To properly understand the Name of Jesus – to be truly born-again - is to honestly believe and feel right now: that your life’s greatest problem is the bondage and wages of sin; and that your greatest need is Jesus Christ, your Lord and Saviour.
For indeed, the true ‘born-again’ Christian waves the palm leaf at every circumstance in his or her life – in the faith that Christ has already given us the victory over the bondage and wages of sin, which is death; and in the assurance that we are destined for a new life – with an imperishable and glorious body – in the Kingdom of God, having received the gift of eternal life.
The Great Misunderstanding
However, that was certainly not the case when “the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!” "(John 12:12-13)
For this very multitude that welcomed Christ into Jerusalem would see to the crucifixion of Jesus in a mere few days.
This is a fickle crowd that was caught up in the Great Misunderstanding of who Christ truly is.
Do you misunderstand who Christ is?
“Hosanna” which literally and simply means “save”; contain within the biblical context the most desperate and urgent plea, “Save me, Lord!”
Indeed, Jesus “comes in the Name of the Lord”; but most precisely, He “comes in the Name of the Lord” who is:
“Elohim” – the Creator of the Heavens and the earth; and
“Jehovah” – God who is present to deliver, save and redeem us from an existential and eternal problem of sin, death and separation from God.
Yes, Christ “is the King of Israel”; but most precisely, He is the King of True Israel – the Holy Nation comprising of the People of God devoted to the Lord Jesus in this world; and destined for His coming, Eternal Kingdom.
The multitude that welcomed Christ in Jerusalem that day personified the ‘Great Misunderstanding’ that the world has formed regarding the Christ. This spiritual disease – afflicting all unbelievers, and even found lurking in the hearts of so-called ‘christians’ - stems from this ancient, singular problem:
What they wanted Him to be, was definitely not what they needed Him to be.
In the eyes of Israel back in the day, this young rabbi, Jesus, was exceptionally amazing.
With just a prayer of thanksgiving over five barley loaves and two fish, He can feed thousands upon thousands.
He was compassionate, and had the power to heal any sickness, diseases, and by extension, any wounds sustained on the battle field.
Bear in mind that the Greco-Roman world was an extensively polytheistic world – a world that embraced spiritualism and readily believed in the existence of gods. Every war was essentially a war between gods.
By His own authority, Jesus had the power to cast demons away.
In a world where rulers substantiated their worldly authority by making claims to be ‘sons’ to certain gods, thereby extending their alleged authority into the afterlife; Jesus’ consistent revelation of His connection to the Heavenly Father made a deep impression on all who heard His claim to be ‘One’ with the Father (Ref: John 10:30).
All these divine attributes and supernatural power, along with His genealogy, made Jesus a highly attractive candidate to be king of Israel.
But most of all, this crowd came not only to see Jesus, but to see Lazarus - whom Jesus resurrected from the grave having been dead for three days.
This supernatural ability to resurrect the dead would certainly be a useful skill for a king who could bring anyone back to life. An army that could be resurrected over and over would go much further than merely throwing off the Roman shackles; this is an army that would succeed in a world conquest, and bring Israel to far surpass even the golden age of Israel under King David.
There were here to see the miracle, and in doing so, lost sight of the God of miracles.
What they wanted Him to be was definitely not what they needed Him to be.
What they wanted was a deliverer from being slaves and subjects to their colonial masters, the Roman Empire; but what they needed was a deliverer from being slaves to sin to becoming servants of God and Righteous Living. (Romans 6:14-18)
Our Lord Jesus Christ never ever lost sight of our existential need for redemption and eternal life.
Seated on that donkey’s colt, He comes not only in Peace, Victory and Authority, but to bring eternal Peace, Victory and Authority – to those who truly know His Name and who truly believe.
With the possibility of becoming the highest officers in the king’s courts, even the disciples were seduced by the worldly benefits that came with Jesus becoming king of Israel; ensnared in the devilish ploy that fueled the Great Misunderstanding.
John 12:16 was the afternote pertaining to this fact.
“At first his disciples did not understand all this.
Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.”
What we want vs. what we need
When Israel wanted a king who could provide all of life’s physical essentials, Jesus meets all our needs for eternity when He proclaimed that He is the “Bread of Life - bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die.” (John 6:50)
When Israel wanted a king who could establish true justice, Jesus meets all our needs for eternal righteousness when He proclaimed, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will be given the light of life” (John 8:12)
When Israel wanted a savior-king who could fully liberate them from oppression and tyranny unto a perfect society, Jesus meets all our spiritual needs in redeeming and saving us from the bondage and wages of sin, and reveals that He is the only Entrance to God’s Kingdom, when He proclaimed, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they (my sheep) may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:8-10)
When Israel wanted a king who could completely protect them, Jesus unambiguously took for Himself one of God’s titles in the Old Testament: “Shepherd” (Psalm 23:1) when He proclaimed, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ... ... 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:11, 14-15)
When Israel wanted a king who is a resurrector of lives, Jesus revealed that He alone fulfilled God’s Promise to His Children: “[God’s] dead will live; their bodies will rise” (Isaiah 26:19) and that He alone holds “the keys of death and hades” (Revelation 1:18) when He proclaimed, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26) Apart from Jesus, there is neither resurrection nor eternal life.
When Israel wanted a king to establish the law and culture of a perfect society, Jesus revealed that: He, alone, is the Way to God; He, alone, is the Truth that undergirds and permeates God’s Kingdom culture; and He, alone, is the Life who is the source of perfect, eternal life - when He proclaimed, “I am the Way, Truth and Life; No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)
When Israel wanted a king who had a true connection to God, resulting in a productive life for all, Jesus proclaimed, “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ” (John 15:1-3).
Whatever Man’s need is, the LORD is able and willing to come to the soul that trusts in Him.
As “I AM”, Christ is the all-sufficient God who meets every need.
But what do we really need?
Do you commit the wicked fallacy of solely asking God to meet your earthly needs?
Are you worried about your career, or financial situation? Are you worried about your health or your family?
Or do you recognise that your greatest problem is existential and spiritual in nature – to be delivered from the bondage of sin and redeemed from the wages of sin, which is eternal death?
Christ tells us clearly, “do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear... ... For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:25, 32-33)
Do you recognise that sin your greatest problem?
Do you recognise that your greatest need is salvation from the bondage and wages of sin in our life?
Do you recognise that Christ is the divine Resolution to your greatest need?
Do you seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness?
Indeed, Christ is the only Saviour of the world; only through Him may we enter God’s Kingdom and attain God’s Righteousness.
Our Lord Jesus never lost sight of who He is; and what He needed to do.
We, too, must never lose sight of who we are; and what we need to do.
Our Lord Jesus tells us precisely here.
“20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival.
21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request.
“Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”
22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.
My Father will honor the one who serves me.” (John 12:20-26)
Who are we?
Children of the One, True Living God – saved by Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and honored by the Heavenly Father, because we serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
What do we need to do?
Hate our lives in this world; serve and follow Jesus. (Ref: John 12:25-26)
Our Lord Jesus alludes to this same reality in Matthew 16:24:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Are you truly serious about becoming Christ’s disciple?
Are you truly serious about being saved?
Never misunderstand, underestimate, nor misuse the purpose and power of the Name of Jesus to save you from the bondage and wages of sin.
Is Christ ‘lifted up’ in your life?
“27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?
No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven,
“I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.
31 Now is the time for judgment on this world;
now the prince of this world will be driven out.
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’?
Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” (John 12:27-34)
As the multitudes hear more deeply from Christ, cracks begin to form in their misunderstanding of who He really is.
That is a good thing.
They are beginning to realize that Christ did not come simply to fulfill their ‘wants’, but rather the ‘needs’ of the world.
Indeed, the “Messiah will remain forever”; but in God’s divine time, Christ was lifted up on the Cross at Calvary to atone for the sins of the world. (Ref: Hebrews 2:15, 1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:10)
Our Lord Jesus never lost sight of who He is.
He is the Son of Man.
Is the Son of Man ‘lifted up’ in your life?
You can only if you acknowledge that your most insurmountable problem is your sin; and your deepest need is to be forgiven through Christ Jesus our Messiah; and delivered from the bondages of sin – which makes you addicted to sin; and saved from the wages of sin, which is death. (Ref: John 8:34, Romans 6:6, Romans 6:16, Romans 6:23)
You must be absolutely clear about the purpose and power of the Name of Christ.
Because in this, history will never repeat itself.
There will be no more mistaken triumphant entry of Jesus Christ.
The next time Christ enters the earth, He will indeed be triumphant; but there would be no misunderstandings, misappropriations or mistakes about who He truly is.
Revelation 1:7 reveals:
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him; even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.
In fact, our Lord Jesus tells us Himself in Mark 13:26:
“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.”
To be ready for Christ’s Return is to acknowledge your greatest problem of sin; and your deepest need for Christ your Lord, Saviour and God today.
Are you ready?
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Holy Spirit, grant that I may never misunderstand, misuse, nor underestimate the Purpose and Power of Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Bestow upon me the deeper understanding of who Christ truly is; and all that He has done for me through His death on the Cross, and His resurrection from the grave.
I acknowledge that my greatest problem is the bondage and wages of sin in my life; and that my greatest need is Christ Jesus, my Lord and Saviour.
Increase my faith, Holy Spirit, that I would daily be assured of Your victory in my life over the bondage and wages of sin; and of Your gift of Eternal Life found only in my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Whenever I cry, “Hosanna”, may my heart be focused on the divine reality that You, O Lord, have saved me from death unto eternal life in Your Holy Kingdom.
For You, Lord, are Elohim, Jehovah and King over True Israel.
May I always be found as part of Your body; and of Your Holy Nation – as part of Your People wholly devoted to serving the Lord Jesus Christ in this world; destined for Your Kingdom.
Thank You for delivering me from being a slave to sin, to becoming servants of God and Righteous Living. (Romans 6:14-18)
Lord Jesus, You are the ‘I AM’; the all-sufficient God who meets our every need.
Forgive me, O Lord, for my wicked fallacy of solely asking You to meet my earthly needs.
Holy Spirit, teach me to hate my life in this world; and direct my life to serve and follow Jesus wholly.
May I live in the absolute truth about the Purpose and Power of Your Holy Name!
May the Promise of God’s honor energise me to serving You alone, Lord Jesus – all the days of my life!
Lord Jesus, remain in my life forever; that I may always be ready for Your Glorious, and Imminent Return!
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”” (John 12:9-15)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Never misunderstand, misuse nor underestimate the Purpose and Power of the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Graeco-Roman age, palm leaves symbolised victory with integrity – victory that is above board; victory where even the defeated would unreservedly concede defeat.
Early Christians would wave palm leaves to symbolize not only Christ’s integrous victory over sin and death; but also the Christian victory unto God’s Righteousness, Peace and Eternal Life.
To understand Christ’s victory in the Christian life comes with properly understanding the Purpose and Power of the Name of Jesus.
This divine understanding of Christ’s Name is the mark of the true ‘born-again’ believer.
The question we are always ask ourselves is:
Am I truly born-again?
To properly understand the Name of Jesus – to be truly born-again - is to honestly believe and feel right now: that your life’s greatest problem is the bondage and wages of sin; and that your greatest need is Jesus Christ, your Lord and Saviour.
For indeed, the true ‘born-again’ Christian waves the palm leaf at every circumstance in his or her life – in the faith that Christ has already given us the victory over the bondage and wages of sin, which is death; and in the assurance that we are destined for a new life – with an imperishable and glorious body – in the Kingdom of God, having received the gift of eternal life.
The Great Misunderstanding
However, that was certainly not the case when “the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!” "(John 12:12-13)
For this very multitude that welcomed Christ into Jerusalem would see to the crucifixion of Jesus in a mere few days.
This is a fickle crowd that was caught up in the Great Misunderstanding of who Christ truly is.
Do you misunderstand who Christ is?
“Hosanna” which literally and simply means “save”; contain within the biblical context the most desperate and urgent plea, “Save me, Lord!”
Indeed, Jesus “comes in the Name of the Lord”; but most precisely, He “comes in the Name of the Lord” who is:
“Elohim” – the Creator of the Heavens and the earth; and
“Jehovah” – God who is present to deliver, save and redeem us from an existential and eternal problem of sin, death and separation from God.
Yes, Christ “is the King of Israel”; but most precisely, He is the King of True Israel – the Holy Nation comprising of the People of God devoted to the Lord Jesus in this world; and destined for His coming, Eternal Kingdom.
The multitude that welcomed Christ in Jerusalem that day personified the ‘Great Misunderstanding’ that the world has formed regarding the Christ. This spiritual disease – afflicting all unbelievers, and even found lurking in the hearts of so-called ‘christians’ - stems from this ancient, singular problem:
What they wanted Him to be, was definitely not what they needed Him to be.
In the eyes of Israel back in the day, this young rabbi, Jesus, was exceptionally amazing.
With just a prayer of thanksgiving over five barley loaves and two fish, He can feed thousands upon thousands.
He was compassionate, and had the power to heal any sickness, diseases, and by extension, any wounds sustained on the battle field.
Bear in mind that the Greco-Roman world was an extensively polytheistic world – a world that embraced spiritualism and readily believed in the existence of gods. Every war was essentially a war between gods.
By His own authority, Jesus had the power to cast demons away.
In a world where rulers substantiated their worldly authority by making claims to be ‘sons’ to certain gods, thereby extending their alleged authority into the afterlife; Jesus’ consistent revelation of His connection to the Heavenly Father made a deep impression on all who heard His claim to be ‘One’ with the Father (Ref: John 10:30).
All these divine attributes and supernatural power, along with His genealogy, made Jesus a highly attractive candidate to be king of Israel.
But most of all, this crowd came not only to see Jesus, but to see Lazarus - whom Jesus resurrected from the grave having been dead for three days.
This supernatural ability to resurrect the dead would certainly be a useful skill for a king who could bring anyone back to life. An army that could be resurrected over and over would go much further than merely throwing off the Roman shackles; this is an army that would succeed in a world conquest, and bring Israel to far surpass even the golden age of Israel under King David.
There were here to see the miracle, and in doing so, lost sight of the God of miracles.
What they wanted Him to be was definitely not what they needed Him to be.
What they wanted was a deliverer from being slaves and subjects to their colonial masters, the Roman Empire; but what they needed was a deliverer from being slaves to sin to becoming servants of God and Righteous Living. (Romans 6:14-18)
Our Lord Jesus Christ never ever lost sight of our existential need for redemption and eternal life.
Seated on that donkey’s colt, He comes not only in Peace, Victory and Authority, but to bring eternal Peace, Victory and Authority – to those who truly know His Name and who truly believe.
With the possibility of becoming the highest officers in the king’s courts, even the disciples were seduced by the worldly benefits that came with Jesus becoming king of Israel; ensnared in the devilish ploy that fueled the Great Misunderstanding.
John 12:16 was the afternote pertaining to this fact.
“At first his disciples did not understand all this.
Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.”
What we want vs. what we need
When Israel wanted a king who could provide all of life’s physical essentials, Jesus meets all our needs for eternity when He proclaimed that He is the “Bread of Life - bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die.” (John 6:50)
When Israel wanted a king who could establish true justice, Jesus meets all our needs for eternal righteousness when He proclaimed, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will be given the light of life” (John 8:12)
When Israel wanted a savior-king who could fully liberate them from oppression and tyranny unto a perfect society, Jesus meets all our spiritual needs in redeeming and saving us from the bondage and wages of sin, and reveals that He is the only Entrance to God’s Kingdom, when He proclaimed, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they (my sheep) may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:8-10)
When Israel wanted a king who could completely protect them, Jesus unambiguously took for Himself one of God’s titles in the Old Testament: “Shepherd” (Psalm 23:1) when He proclaimed, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ... ... 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:11, 14-15)
When Israel wanted a king who is a resurrector of lives, Jesus revealed that He alone fulfilled God’s Promise to His Children: “[God’s] dead will live; their bodies will rise” (Isaiah 26:19) and that He alone holds “the keys of death and hades” (Revelation 1:18) when He proclaimed, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26) Apart from Jesus, there is neither resurrection nor eternal life.
When Israel wanted a king to establish the law and culture of a perfect society, Jesus revealed that: He, alone, is the Way to God; He, alone, is the Truth that undergirds and permeates God’s Kingdom culture; and He, alone, is the Life who is the source of perfect, eternal life - when He proclaimed, “I am the Way, Truth and Life; No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)
When Israel wanted a king who had a true connection to God, resulting in a productive life for all, Jesus proclaimed, “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ” (John 15:1-3).
Whatever Man’s need is, the LORD is able and willing to come to the soul that trusts in Him.
As “I AM”, Christ is the all-sufficient God who meets every need.
But what do we really need?
Do you commit the wicked fallacy of solely asking God to meet your earthly needs?
Are you worried about your career, or financial situation? Are you worried about your health or your family?
Or do you recognise that your greatest problem is existential and spiritual in nature – to be delivered from the bondage of sin and redeemed from the wages of sin, which is eternal death?
Christ tells us clearly, “do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear... ... For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:25, 32-33)
Do you recognise that sin your greatest problem?
Do you recognise that your greatest need is salvation from the bondage and wages of sin in our life?
Do you recognise that Christ is the divine Resolution to your greatest need?
Do you seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness?
Indeed, Christ is the only Saviour of the world; only through Him may we enter God’s Kingdom and attain God’s Righteousness.
Our Lord Jesus never lost sight of who He is; and what He needed to do.
We, too, must never lose sight of who we are; and what we need to do.
Our Lord Jesus tells us precisely here.
“20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival.
21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request.
“Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”
22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.
My Father will honor the one who serves me.” (John 12:20-26)
Who are we?
Children of the One, True Living God – saved by Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and honored by the Heavenly Father, because we serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
What do we need to do?
Hate our lives in this world; serve and follow Jesus. (Ref: John 12:25-26)
Our Lord Jesus alludes to this same reality in Matthew 16:24:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Are you truly serious about becoming Christ’s disciple?
Are you truly serious about being saved?
Never misunderstand, underestimate, nor misuse the purpose and power of the Name of Jesus to save you from the bondage and wages of sin.
Is Christ ‘lifted up’ in your life?
“27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?
No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven,
“I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.
31 Now is the time for judgment on this world;
now the prince of this world will be driven out.
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’?
Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” (John 12:27-34)
As the multitudes hear more deeply from Christ, cracks begin to form in their misunderstanding of who He really is.
That is a good thing.
They are beginning to realize that Christ did not come simply to fulfill their ‘wants’, but rather the ‘needs’ of the world.
Indeed, the “Messiah will remain forever”; but in God’s divine time, Christ was lifted up on the Cross at Calvary to atone for the sins of the world. (Ref: Hebrews 2:15, 1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:10)
Our Lord Jesus never lost sight of who He is.
He is the Son of Man.
Is the Son of Man ‘lifted up’ in your life?
You can only if you acknowledge that your most insurmountable problem is your sin; and your deepest need is to be forgiven through Christ Jesus our Messiah; and delivered from the bondages of sin – which makes you addicted to sin; and saved from the wages of sin, which is death. (Ref: John 8:34, Romans 6:6, Romans 6:16, Romans 6:23)
You must be absolutely clear about the purpose and power of the Name of Christ.
Because in this, history will never repeat itself.
There will be no more mistaken triumphant entry of Jesus Christ.
The next time Christ enters the earth, He will indeed be triumphant; but there would be no misunderstandings, misappropriations or mistakes about who He truly is.
Revelation 1:7 reveals:
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him; even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.
In fact, our Lord Jesus tells us Himself in Mark 13:26:
“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.”
To be ready for Christ’s Return is to acknowledge your greatest problem of sin; and your deepest need for Christ your Lord, Saviour and God today.
Are you ready?
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Holy Spirit, grant that I may never misunderstand, misuse, nor underestimate the Purpose and Power of Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Bestow upon me the deeper understanding of who Christ truly is; and all that He has done for me through His death on the Cross, and His resurrection from the grave.
I acknowledge that my greatest problem is the bondage and wages of sin in my life; and that my greatest need is Christ Jesus, my Lord and Saviour.
Increase my faith, Holy Spirit, that I would daily be assured of Your victory in my life over the bondage and wages of sin; and of Your gift of Eternal Life found only in my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Whenever I cry, “Hosanna”, may my heart be focused on the divine reality that You, O Lord, have saved me from death unto eternal life in Your Holy Kingdom.
For You, Lord, are Elohim, Jehovah and King over True Israel.
May I always be found as part of Your body; and of Your Holy Nation – as part of Your People wholly devoted to serving the Lord Jesus Christ in this world; destined for Your Kingdom.
Thank You for delivering me from being a slave to sin, to becoming servants of God and Righteous Living. (Romans 6:14-18)
Lord Jesus, You are the ‘I AM’; the all-sufficient God who meets our every need.
Forgive me, O Lord, for my wicked fallacy of solely asking You to meet my earthly needs.
Holy Spirit, teach me to hate my life in this world; and direct my life to serve and follow Jesus wholly.
May I live in the absolute truth about the Purpose and Power of Your Holy Name!
May the Promise of God’s honor energise me to serving You alone, Lord Jesus – all the days of my life!
Lord Jesus, remain in my life forever; that I may always be ready for Your Glorious, and Imminent Return!
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.