We celebrated Palm Sunday in worship and the word. Eric Jones led us in understanding how we find significance in Christ from His words, “I am thirsty.” Jesus, in his humanity, chose to suffer and die for every person ever created. His mission was to “become sin, so that we could be perfect.” (Hebrews 10:14 – “It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people.” – MSG)
Sermon Processing Questions:
1. When Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross fulfilled prophecy, what do you suppose the Jews were thinking (many of whom had memorized the entire Old Testament or Torah) who witnessed that event? What hits you first about Christ’s fulfillment of scripture – all 574 prophecies and promises (the probability calculated at 1-in-100 quadrillion)?
2. In John 19:28, we are told, “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, ‘I am thirsty.’” Have you ever been so thirsty that you’d have drank anything? What was your experience like? Even in being thirsty, a prophecy of the Messiah was fulfilled in Jesus on the cross – “I was hungry and they gave me bitter food. I was thirsty and they offered me vinegar.”(Psalms 69:21) What was significant about Jesus experiencing thirst, telling the soldiers of his thirst, and the meaning for all believers of His” thirst?”
3. Eric candidly shared about how, at age 12, his father’s funeral shaped his definition of significance. He began placing value in what others thought of him, how orderly his home and family were, and how financially successful he was. What are some ways that you’ve sought significance in others, or in title, status or material posessions instead of from your identity in Jesus?