What Are You Expecting Jesus To Be?
John 12:13
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Thought:
The crowd shouted “Hosanna,” which means “save” or “save us.” They were asking for a Savior, but they mostly wanted a political king who would defeat Rome and make their lives easier. They were waving palm branches, which is a national symbol that said, “Give us victory now.”
Their expectation was small compared to what Jesus came to do. They wanted freedom from Rome but Jesus came to bring freedom from sin, death, and the wrath of God. They wanted a change in government. Jesus came to change hearts.
This teaches us something important about our own hearts. We can come to Jesus wanting Him mainly to fix our problems, heal our hurts, restore our finances, or improve our circumstances. He does care about our needs, but His main mission is deeper. He came to save us from our guilt, cleanse us from our sin, and bring us back to God.
If we only expect Jesus to give us a better life on earth, we will miss the greater gift of eternal life with Him. The crowd wanted a crown without a cross. But Jesus knew the only way to truly save was to go to the cross first!
Ask yourself: What do I mainly want Jesus to do for me? Change my situation, or change my heart? He is a Savior, not just a helper. He did not come first to sit on a throne in Jerusalem. He came first to hang on a cross for the world.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, sometimes I want You to only fix my problems and make my life easier. Forgive me for wanting a small kind of salvation. Help me to see that my greatest need is to be forgiven and made right with God. Thank You that You came to save me from my sin, not just from hard circumstances. Teach me to seek You for who You are, not only for what You can give. In Jesus name, amen.
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Thought:
The crowd shouted “Hosanna,” which means “save” or “save us.” They were asking for a Savior, but they mostly wanted a political king who would defeat Rome and make their lives easier. They were waving palm branches, which is a national symbol that said, “Give us victory now.”
Their expectation was small compared to what Jesus came to do. They wanted freedom from Rome but Jesus came to bring freedom from sin, death, and the wrath of God. They wanted a change in government. Jesus came to change hearts.
This teaches us something important about our own hearts. We can come to Jesus wanting Him mainly to fix our problems, heal our hurts, restore our finances, or improve our circumstances. He does care about our needs, but His main mission is deeper. He came to save us from our guilt, cleanse us from our sin, and bring us back to God.
If we only expect Jesus to give us a better life on earth, we will miss the greater gift of eternal life with Him. The crowd wanted a crown without a cross. But Jesus knew the only way to truly save was to go to the cross first!
Ask yourself: What do I mainly want Jesus to do for me? Change my situation, or change my heart? He is a Savior, not just a helper. He did not come first to sit on a throne in Jerusalem. He came first to hang on a cross for the world.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, sometimes I want You to only fix my problems and make my life easier. Forgive me for wanting a small kind of salvation. Help me to see that my greatest need is to be forgiven and made right with God. Thank You that You came to save me from my sin, not just from hard circumstances. Teach me to seek You for who You are, not only for what You can give. In Jesus name, amen.
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