3/25/26 These Are Written: The Hour Is Come, pt.3

In this sermon from Faith Church, the pastor explores John 12:12–19, focusing on the contrast between the public triumphal entry of Jesus on Palm Sunday and the fickle, self-focused praise of the crowd. He highlights how the people, energized by the recent resurrection of Lazarus, hailed Jesus as a national deliverer, waving palm branches symbolizing victory and Jewish liberation. Yet their enthusiasm was rooted in political and nationalistic hopes rather than spiritual understanding. The sermon draws a sharp contrast with Mary’s private, selfless act of worship, emphasizing that true devotion is not swayed by circumstances or crowd mentality. The pastor warns that many in the crowd would soon turn against Jesus, demonstrating the danger of shallow, self-centered praise. He underscores that only through the cross and resurrection of Jesus can we gain the clarity to worship Him rightly—without fickleness, without selfishness, and with a heart transformed by grace. The message challenges listeners to examine their own hearts: is their worship genuine, consistent, and Christ-centered, or is it merely reactive to circumstances? Key takeaways include: (1) True worship flows from repentance and holiness, not crowd enthusiasm; (2) Our praise must not be fickle or self-focused, but rooted in the cross; (3) The resurrection of Jesus provides the clarity needed to understand who He is and what He has done; (4) The same people who shouted 'Hosanna' would soon cry 'Crucify Him'—a warning against emotional, conditional faith; (5) We are called to worship Jesus even when no one else is, because He is worthy at all times.