Family Bible Series for March 26: Honor Christ through obedience

Posted: 3/15/06

Family Bible Series for March 26

Honor Christ through obedience

• Luke 19:28-32, 35-44

By Greg Ammons

First Baptist Church, Garland

What does it mean to honor someone? According to the American Heritage Dictionary, honor means “to confer distinction or hold in the highest regard.” Honor also implies the dignity you accord to a position.

What does it mean for a follower of Jesus to honor Christ? It means believers are to confer distinction upon their Lord and hold him in the highest regard. Christians are to live lives of dignity simply because of Jesus’ position as Lord.

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In Luke 19, Jesus was making his third and final visit to Jerusalem before his crucifixion. He traveled from Bethany to Jerusalem and back on the Sunday before his impending death on Friday. During this vital week, Jesus taught his followers what it meant to honor him.

Obey Christ as Lord (Luke 19:28-32)

Jesus approached Bethpage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives when he gave two of his disciples an interesting command. He told them to go to the village ahead of them and take a young colt they would find there (v. 30). The disciples were to untie the colt and take it. If anyone asked them about their actions, they were to tell them their Lord needed the young animal (v. 31). The two disciples obeyed exactly as Jesus had commanded (v. 32).

To honor Jesus, his followers must obey him. Often, his commandments make no sense to our logical reasoning, yet complete obedience still is expected. A church leader said recently, “If we continue to buy what we want, drive what we want, eat what we want and live where we want, then we have not submitted to the lordship of Christ.”

The Greek word for “Lord” is kurios, which means to give someone complete allegiance. It is closely related to the word “boss” in the English language. If the boss gives a command, the faithful employee will carry out the order. Since Jesus Christ is Lord, his faithful followers are to carry out his commandments completely. As a Christian, do you view Jesus as your “boss” and carry out each command diligently?

Praise Christ as king (Luke 19:35-40)

Jesus mounted the young donkey and rode it into Jerusalem. As he did so, his disciples spread their coats along the road and began joyfully to praise God in loud voices (vv. 35-36). “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God in the highest!” they shouted (v. 38).

When Jesus’ enemies, the religious leaders in the crowd, heard the praise, they ordered Jesus to rebuke the disciples (v. 39). He stated, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (v. 40). Even nature knows it is natural to praise the Creator. Mankind, the crowning creation, surely must return his praise.

Jesus accepted the praise of his followers as King. Although many in this crowd would forsake him just a few days later, he still accepted their praise as genuine. One of the greatest ways to honor Jesus today is to truly praise him from the depth of our heart.

Mark Twain once noted, “It is better to deserve honor and never have it than to have it and not deserve it.” Jesus deserves the highest honor as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. May his faithful followers give him the praise he so rightly deserves.

Share Christ’s concern (Luke 19:41-44)

As Jesus approached the city of Jerusalem, his heart went out to the citizens. He was moved with compassion and wept over the city (v. 41). Although his own approaching death brought no selfish tears, Jesus was moved with the plight of a city rejecting him.

In only 40 years, Jerusalem would be laid waste by a Roman army. In A.D 70, the Romans used an embankment to beseige the city and destroy it. Although the city was rejecting him, Jesus still showed concern for its residents.

It is easy to wish harm upon those who reject you. Yet Jesus gave his followers a wonderful example in that we are to display true love and compassion for even those who reject us.

Christ’s followers today still must be moved with the fate of those rejecting Jesus. Whenever a person fails to trust Jesus Christ by faith as Savior and Lord, the Bible declares clearly the person will perish. This fact moved our Lord to tears and should do the same for his followers today. A part of honoring Christ as Lord is sharing his same concerns.

Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish essayist and historian whose work was influential during the Victorian Era. Carlyle once said, “Show me the man you honor and I will know what kind of man you are.” What type of person do others know you to be based upon the honor you give to Christ?

Discussion questions

• Which commands of Jesus are difficult for you to obey? Why?

• What is your favorite way to praise the Lord?

• When was the last time you were moved to tears by a the plight of a lost person?