03/30/2026
Blessed Holy Week, everyone! Yesterday, we had the privilege of hearing a sermon from Rev. Lee. We're posting it here for you to enjoy. Blessings!
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Brothers and sisters, can I ask you something?
Have you ever really hoped for something, and then it didn’t happen the way you expected? Maybe you prayed for something. Maybe you believed things would get better. But instead, things became harder.
When I was doing ministry in Korea, I met many faithful Christians. Most of them truly loved God. They were sincere and devoted.
But sometimes, I also saw something else.
There were a few people who believed well for a long time. But when serious hardship came into their lives, they became disappointed, even angry at God. And some of them eventually left the church.
When I saw that, I didn’t think, “Why are they like that?” Honestly, I thought, “Maybe I could become like that too.”
Today’s passage (John 12:12~19) shows us something very similar. Jesus is entering Jerusalem, and a large crowd is waiting for Him. They are excited. They are shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” They are praising Jesus like a king.
Why?
Because they saw what He had done. They witnessed Him healing the sick, caring for children and women, and performing miracles from time to time. Especially, they heard that Jesus had raised his friend, Lazarus, from the dead. They believed Jesus had power, and they had hope in Him. Their lives were not easy. They were living under Roman rule. They wanted freedom.
So they thought, “Maybe Jesus is the one who will change everything.” Even if they didn’t fully understand the meaning of the Messiah, their words still tell us something important. They had been waiting for the Messiah and they had finally come to believe that Jesus really was the Messiah, the one Israel had been waiting for, the one God had promised.
But here’s the important question: What kind of king is Jesus?
Because honestly, He doesn’t look like the kind of king they expected. Think about today. When someone is successful, they usually show it, right? Nice car, nice house, a strong and powerful image. But Jesus is different.
In today’s Gospel, we see that He does not come like that. He does not ride a war horse. He does not come with soldiers. He does not come with power. He comes riding on a donkey. He comes with humility.
And this was not random. Jesus knew exactly what He was doing. He was going to Jerusalem for a reason. Not to become a political king, but to fulfill God’s will, by going to the cross to redeem us of our sins, to make salvation available to us.
So here is the tension in the story.
The people are shouting for a king, but Jesus is walking toward the cross. They wanted a king, but Jesus came as a Lamb. Their expectations and God’s plan were completely different. And because of that, some people may have been disappointed. Some may have walked away. And some of those same voices that shouted, “Hosanna,” may later have shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” The same lips that had praised Jesus earlier, Were now rejecting Him.
So we have to ask ourselves: Do I believe in Jesus, or do I believe in the Jesus I want to believe in?
Because if our faith is based on our expectations, then when things don’t go our way, our praise can quickly turn into complaint. And we may become just like the crowd.
So who is Jesus?
Jesus is the true King, but not a king of comfort or success. He is the King who chose the cross. He is the King who obeyed God, His Father, completely. He is the King who loves us so much that He suffered and died for us.
Even in deep pain, He did not turn away. Because of His love for God and His love for us.
Can I be honest with you for a moment?
I was ordained in 2020 before coming to the United States. But even as a pastor, there was still a part of me
that held on to my own things, my time, my plans, my comfort. I loved God, and I loved the church. But still, I didn’t want to let go of everything.
But over the past two years here, I have experienced God’s grace in a deeper way. And now, I can finally say this.
I belong to the Lord. Everything I have belongs to Him.
So during this Holy Week, I hope and pray that we can spend time each day remembering Jesus, His sacrifice, His love, and His obedience. Even if we devote just a special part of each day to pray and reflect, we will have the opportunity to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ Death and eventual Resurrection.
But what about you?
How do you want to spend this week? As you leave today, I want to encourage you. Even just ten minutes, or even five minutes, take time to remember Jesus, who suffered, who carried the cross, and who gave His life for you. Let us not only say, “Hosanna,” but follow Jesus all the way to the cross.
