community group discussion guide

Forgiveness and Renewal

John 12:12-19
(3/24/24)

April 26-27, 2024

Friday 7:30 pm, Saturday 3:30 pm & 7 pm

We highly encourage all CGs to attend this year’s spring conference together so that we, as a collective body, will be equipped to tackle current “hot button” issues with biblical wisdom and loving grace. We’ve invited some brilliant and engaging leaders to come speak, we hope your community group can experience them together! 

Register by April 1 for Early Bird Pricing!

5 minutes

During Lent, let us continue to spend our first 5 minutes together privately reflecting on these two questions. (Note for CG leaders: Add an optional discussion time as you see fit.)
  1. Where do I need to renew my relationship with God?
  2. Who do I need to forgive and whose forgiveness do I need to seek?
  3. What do I need to surrender to Jesus, the King?

introduction

Last week, we considered the upside-down kingdom values in Jesus’ sermon on the mount and the distinctive ways that the believer and the Christian community are to engage with others and the world around them. In our passage today, we’ll explore the account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and reflect on the upside-down nature of Jesus’ kingship. We’ll examine the various symbolisms in this narrative and their significance as we seek to deepen our understanding of God’s kingdom and his kingliness in our own lives.

opening question

Which king, whether from history, literature, or fiction, do you find most intriguing or admirable? Why?

read John 12:12-19 (ESV)

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
 sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

Take a few moments to reflect on the Scripture. Share some insights, questions, or points that strike you. Then read the following.

Jesus as the Promised King

Background. Today’s passage captures an incident on the day when Jesus entered Jerusalem during the Jewish festival of Passover. (Passover celebrates the Exodus, commemorating God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery in ancient Egypt.) John records this account, highlighting great crowds of people who came to see Jesus—some of these groups included those who had already been familiar with Jesus’ ministry, those who came on account of Lazarus, and others. It’s worth noting that John has framed this event within the continuing story of the raising of Lazarus in John 11:1-44. The news of Lazarus had roused a large crowd with great excitement to follow and believe in Jesus.

Hosanna! These large crowds who came to see Jesus took palm branches and persistently cried out, “Hosanna!” Waving palm branches was a typical and customary way to gesture honor and welcome for conquering heroes. Here, the people’s words and actions demonstrate their praise of Jesus as he entered Jerusalem.

The word “Hosanna” originates from Hebrew, and its literal meaning is, “give salvation now.” It’s a plea for deliverance and salvation, but the term had come to be a term of acclamation or praise. One commentator points out that though the crowds may have cried “Hosanna” without a clear understanding of its etymological significance, John emphasizes its significance in portraying Jesus as entering the city on a triumphant mission of salvation.1

King of Israel. The crowds’ succeeding words, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel” (v. 13) show that they were acknowledging Jesus’ exalted status. They were proclaiming the blessedness of Jesus rather than pronouncing a blessing. And their reference to Jesus as “King of Israel” is evidence of their messianic identification.

The meek king. But Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey symbolizes a very different kind of conception of messiahship from that of the crowds. By riding on a young donkey, Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. He does not enter Jerusalem as a conqueror on a war horse (cf. Isaiah 31:1-3, 1 Kings 4:26), or as the head of an army. But he comes on a donkey, which was often associated with a man of peace, a priest, a merchant, or the like.2

  1. One sense of the term “hosanna” is an expression of cry for help or deliverance directed toward God. In what areas of your life do you currently feel the need for God’s help or deliverance?
  1. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey symbolizes his kingliness, which consists in humility, lowliness, meekness, and gentleness. How does this portrayal of kingliness in Jesus translate into your life today?
  1. Read the quote below and discuss: 1) Do you tend to fall into one or the other (barbarian or wimp)? 2) What’s one new thing you can start doing to practice meekness in your service and leadership?

“Unless the kingliness of Christ comes into your life, you’ll be a barbarian or a wimp…Those two sides to human nature cannot be united except through this miraculous spiritual kingliness of Christ coming into your life… Real royal people are strong enough to be meek. A servant is somebody who comes in and listens and serves and finds ways to meet needs… There’s a kind of wimpy service, and then there are the barbarians who won’t even come close to even condescending to letting somebody else interrupt their schedule. But Jesus Christ will make you into a servant.”

—Tim Keller

  1. Where in the passage does it show the great crowd’s recognition of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah?
  1. Discuss what Jesus’ kingship means. Identify one encouraging area in your life where you see Jesus’ lordship growing and one area where you would like to see it have more impact.

_____________________________________________________________________
1 Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to John (Rev. ed.). NICNT. Eerdmans, 1995.
2 Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to John (Rev. ed.). NICNT. Eerdmans, 1995.

group application

Pray for one another based on your discussion of Question #3 (new things you can start doing to practice meekness in your service and leadership).

invitation to pray

Would you join us in praying for Redeemer West Side as we search for our next senior pastor? You can use the following meditative prayer guide to reflect on God’s living word and to intercede on behalf of our church. It will be updated monthly with new Scripture and prayer requests.

Note: If your group is short on time, you can start with the 3rd reading.

Tips for small groups:

  • Four volunteers can be the scripture readers.
  • The facilitator can read the silent reflection questions aloud and keep time (30–60 seconds).

During the prayer times after the 2nd and 3rd readings, we encourage you to use the style of conversational prayer, which emphasizes listening and uses short prayers that build upon one another. Review the Conversational Prayer Guide together before you begin.

meditative prayer

Psalm 40:1-4
I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

1st Reading: Read the Scripture aloud twice.
  • Silent reflection: What words or phrases stand out to you?
  • Share with the group: Take turns saying those words or phrases aloud.

2nd Reading: Read the Scripture aloud. 
  • Silent reflections (30–60 seconds each):
    • In your life, how has God shown you his presence and trustworthiness?
    • How has God shown his faithfulness to our church?
  • Pray conversationally about these topics: 
    • Who God is (his attributes; “God, you are…”) 
    • What God has done for you personally, for Redeemer, and for our City

3rd Reading: Read the Scripture aloud.
  • Silent reflections (30–60 seconds each):Based on these verses, how can you confidently and expectantly intercede on behalf of Redeemer West Side?
  • Pray conversationally about these topics: 
    • This transition period of our church
    • Pastors, staff, lay leaders, congregants
    • In February, the pastor search committee published our church and pastor profile and identified initial candidates to interview, and will continue the interview process in the month of March. While we will provide monthly updates to the congregation, to maintain the purity of the process, these interviews and candidates will remain confidential. We are humbled by the trust you have placed in us, and continue to rely on your prayers through this expectant phase of our work.
    • Redeemer’s future as part of God’s continued movement in the City

© 2024 Redeemer Presbyterian Church West Side

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Click here to learn about our community group philosophy of ministry and for additional reading resources on community and mission. Not yet in a group? Find one near you here.