Category: sermon

FOUR SOILS

FOUR SOILS

Mark 4:14-20 NET.

14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan comes and snatches the word that was sown in them. 16 These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy. 17 But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, 19 but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing. 20 But these are the ones planted in good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred.”

When Jesus told the parable of the planter, He wasn’t giving a lesson in agriculture. He was giving a lesson in evangelism. He was describing the most important interaction any human being will ever have: the moment when the word of God is planted in the heart. And in His explanation of the soils, Jesus shows us something both sobering and hopeful. Sobering—because not every heart receives the word. Hopeful—because God still produces a harvest in good soil.

But before we walk through each soil, we must notice something Jesus emphasizes—something we often overlook. Every soil hears the word—every single one. The path hears it. The rocky soil hears it. The thorny soil hears it. The good soil hears it. The difference is not in the hearing. The difference is in the response.

And that means something crucial for us: the word must be spoken.  The seed must be scattered. The message must be proclaimed. If the word is not planted, there is no possibility of a harvest. We are not responsible for the condition of the soil. We are responsible for getting the seed out of the bucket.

Let’s walk through Jesus’ interpretation and let His voice shape our calling.

1. The Path — Where Satan Snatches the Word

Jesus says the first group is like seed that falls along the path. The ground is hard. The seed cannot penetrate. It simply lies exposed on the surface. And before it can sink in, before it can be considered, before it can be understood, Satan comes immediately and snatches it away.

This is not a poetic exaggeration. Jesus is telling us that spiritual warfare happens every time the word is shared. The enemy is not passive. He is not indifferent. He is not waiting politely for the sermon to end. He is active, alert, and aggressive. He knows the power of the word better than many Christians do. He knows that if the word ever gets inside a person—if it ever takes root—it will change everything. So, he works overtime to keep it from entering.

Sometimes he distracts. Sometimes he confuses. Sometimes he stirs up cynicism or pride or boredom. Sometimes he whispers, “This isn’t for you.” Sometimes he whispers, “You already know this.” Sometimes he whispers, “You can deal with this later.” But the result is the same: the seed never enters the heart.

And yet the seed was heard. The message was proclaimed. The opportunity was given. The soil rejected it, but the sower was faithful.

This is why we must never measure our ministry by immediate visible results. Some hearts are hard. Some minds are closed. Some people are spiritually asleep. But our responsibility is not to soften the soil. Our responsibility is to sow the seed.

2. The Rocky Soil — Where Shallow Faith Collapses Under Pressure

The second soil is rocky ground. The seed falls in, and at first, it looks promising. There is quick growth. There is enthusiasm. There is joy. There is emotion. But there is no depth. No root. No endurance. And when the sun rises—when pressure comes, when persecution comes, when hardship comes, this shallow faith collapses.

Jesus is not describing a rare situation. He is describing a common one. Many people respond to the gospel with excitement. They love the idea of forgiveness. They love the idea of eternal life at the resurrection. They love the idea of God’s love. But they do not understand the cost of discipleship. They do not understand that following Jesus means dying to self. They do not understand that the Christian life is not a sprint of emotion but a marathon of endurance.

And when the heat comes, when obedience becomes costly, when faithfulness becomes unpopular, when trials come, they wither.

But again—they heard the word. The seed was sown. The opportunity was real. The response was shallow, but the planter was faithful.

This reminds us that emotional responses are not the same as spiritual transformation. We rejoice when people respond with joy, but we also pray that God will give them depth, roots, endurance, and perseverance. And we keep planting.

3. The Thorny Soil — Where Worries, Wealth, and Desires Choke the Word

The third soil is perhaps the most tragic, because it looks the most promising. The seed enters. It grows. It begins to develop. But it is surrounded by thorns—worries, wealth, and worldly desires. And these thorns grow faster than the seed. They wrap around it. They suffocate it. They choke it until it becomes unfruitful.

Jesus is describing the danger of divided hearts. Hearts that want God but also want the world. Hearts that want the kingdom but also want comfort. Hearts that want salvation but also want control. Hearts that want to follow Jesus but also want to follow their own desires.

Worry chokes the word by making us believe that our problems are bigger than God’s promises. Wealth chokes the word by making us believe that our security is found in what we possess. Desires choke the word by making us believe that satisfaction is found outside of God’s will.

This soil is not hostile. It is crowded. And a crowded heart cannot bear fruit. When we get ready to plant, we don’t just go and throw the seed and hope for the best. We remove the weeds, so the seed does not have to compete against them. We don’t have to sow the weeds, they are already there, and they had a head start.

But again, this soil heard the word. The seed was sown. The opportunity was given. The thorns and other weeds choked it, but the planter was faithful.

This reminds us that discipleship is not just about hearing the word but about clearing the heart and removing idols, cutting away distractions, and making room for God to work. We can model that for the people we are trying to reach. Or we can be just as busy and distracted as they are. If we prioritize evangelism, it will mean cleaning up the clutter in our lives.

4. The Good Soil — Where the Word Is Heard, Accepted, and Fruitful

Finally, Jesus describes the good soil. This soil hears the word. It accepts the word. It holds onto the word. And it bears fruit—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, a hundredfold.

This is the miracle of grace. This is the work of God. This is what happens when the word enters a heart that is open, humble, receptive, and surrendered. The seed does what seeds do—it grows. It transforms. It multiplies. It produces a harvest far beyond what was planted.

And notice again—this soil also heard the word. The difference was not in the hearing. The difference was in the response.

This is why we preach. This is why we teach. This is why we evangelize. This is why we share the gospel with our families, our neighbors, our coworkers, our communities, and our nations. Because somewhere out there is good soil. Somewhere out there is a heart God has prepared. Somewhere out there is someone who will hear and believe and be transformed.

We do not know who the good soil is. We do not know where the good soil is. We do not know when the good soil will appear. But we know this: if we sow the seed, God will produce a harvest.

The Common Denominator: Every Soil Hears the Word

This is the point Jesus wants us to see. Every soil hears. Every heart receives the seed. The difference is not in the message. The difference is not in the planter. The difference is in the soil.

And that means something essential for us: the message must be communicated. The seed must be scattered. The gospel must be spoken. If the word is not spoken, there is no possibility of fruit.

We are not responsible for the response. We are responsible for the opportunity. We cannot control the soil. We can only scatter the seed.

And God delights to use faithful planters.

Some of us hesitate to share the gospel because we fear rejection. But Jesus already told us: some soil will reject it. Some will ignore it. Some will choke it. Some will abandon it. But some—by God’s grace—will receive it and bear fruit.

Some of us hesitate because we think we need perfect words. But the power is not in our eloquence. The power is in the seed.

Some of us hesitate because we think we need perfect timing. But the planter in the parable scatters generously, freely, widely. He does not analyze the soil. He does not test the ground. He sows.

And God brings the harvest.

If you have been sowing faithfully, keep going. If you have been discouraged by hard hearts, keep going. If you have been disappointed by shallow responses—keep going. If you have been heartbroken by people choked by the world, keep going.

Because somewhere, God is preparing good soil. Somewhere, the seed you sow today will bear fruit tomorrow. Somewhere, the words you speak will change a life, a family, a generation.

Our job is not to produce the harvest. Our job is to scatter the seed.

How to scatter the seed without preaching:

Christians can evangelize powerfully without ever delivering a sermon by letting the gospel become visible, audible, and tangible in everyday life. Here are four distinct, practical ways to do that.

1. Live a Life of Quiet Integrity

Consistence in honesty, humility, repentance, and compassion speaks louder than arguments. People are drawn to a life that looks whole and grounded.

2. Practice Intentional Kindness and Service

Helping neighbors, supporting coworkers, volunteering, or meeting practical needs makes the gospel visible. Love embodied becomes its own invitation.

3. Share Your Story, not a Speech

Testimony—how Christ has met you in fear, failure, or joy—opens hearts without pressure. It’s personal, not confrontational. And the more we testify to the truth, the more the seed has the chance to germinate in other people’s hearts. Most people will hear the gospel at least eleven times before they respond to it. Sow your story and sow it faithfully.

4. Offer Prayer When People Share Their Burdens

A simple “Can I pray for you about that?” is gentle evangelism. God often uses answered prayer to awaken curiosity and trust.

But I want to make it clear that our goal is not to be silent about things that really matter to us. The gospel is important, and we must communicate it. We cannot avoid saying words like God and Jesus and quoting from the Bible. We evangelize when our communication of his word becomes such a part of who we are that people see it as natural, not an act that we perform. The more we know God and his word, the easier it will be to plant his seed on every soil.

That is why our faithful reading of the Bible is so important. We are getting the word into us so that it can come out of us at the appropriate time to sow it.

LORD, help us to get Your excellent message out to our families, our communities, and our nations. Make us faithful sowers. Give us courage to speak, compassion to share, and perseverance to keep scattering the seed even when we cannot see the results. Prepare hearts. Break up hard ground. Remove stones. Cut away thorns. Pull up the weeds. And by Your grace, produce a harvest that brings glory to Your name. Amen.

LISTEN TO HIM

LISTEN TO HIM

Matthew 17:1-9 NET.

1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, and led them privately up a high mountain. 2 And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 Then Moses and Elijah also appeared before them, talking with him. 4 So Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make three shelters — one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5        While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my one dear Son, in whom I take great delight. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they were overwhelmed with fear and threw themselves down with their faces to the ground. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Do not be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, all they saw was Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

After fifteen months in the Old Testament, it feels good to return to the New Testament. But today’s passage helps us understand why those months mattered. The Transfiguration was a vision—a special moment where God pulled back the curtain so the disciples could see who Jesus really is. Moses and Elijah did not come back from the dead to talk with Him. Instead, God gave the disciples a picture, a lesson made clear through a vision. Jesus even told them not to share the vision until after His resurrection. So what was God showing them? He was revealing the truth about His Son, and that is what we will explore together in this text.

A Walk through the Transfiguration

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain.

Jesus chooses Peter, James, and John to go with Him up a high mountain. He doesn’t take all the disciples—just these three. This shows that sometimes Jesus brings certain people closer so they can learn something special. The climb up the mountain also matters. It takes effort, and it pulls them away from the busy crowds below. Many important moments in the Bible happen on mountains, where God shows His power and His plans. By taking these three with Him, Jesus is preparing them for the hard and important things they will face later. They will see His glory here, and later they will see His deep sorrow in the garden. They need both moments to understand who He really is. Going up the mountain teaches them that following Jesus means trusting Him even when the path is steep or confusing. It also reminds us that sometimes we need to step away from noise and distractions so we can see Jesus more clearly. When we follow Him, He often leads us to places where our faith grows stronger. The question for us is whether we are willing to follow Him, even when the climb feels hard.

He is transfigured — His face shines, His clothes become radiant.

On the mountain, something amazing happens. Jesus’ face begins to shine like the sun, and His clothes become bright and white. This moment is called the “transfiguration.” It doesn’t mean Jesus changed into someone else. Instead, His true glory—who He really is—shines through. The disciples get to see that Jesus is not just a teacher or a miracle‑worker. He is the Son of God, full of power and light. This shining glory shows that Jesus is greater than anyone else they have ever known. It also reminds us of stories in the Old Testament, like when Moses’ face glowed after meeting with God. But Jesus’ light is even greater, because it comes from inside Him. This moment is like a preview of what Jesus will look like after He rises from the dead. It helps the disciples understand that even though Jesus will soon suffer and die, He is still the King who rules forever. For us, the transfiguration teaches that Jesus is always glorious, even when we cannot see it. When life feels dark or confusing, we can remember that His light never fades. He is always powerful, always good, and always worthy of our trust.

Moses and Elijah appear, representing the Law and the Prophets.

While Jesus is shining with glory, two important men from Israel’s history appear—Moses and Elijah. Moses represents the Law, and Elijah represents the Prophets. Together, they stand for the whole Old Testament. Their appearance shows that everything God taught before was pointing to Jesus. Moses once asked to see God’s glory, but he only saw a small part. Elijah met God on a mountain, too, but only in a whisper. Now both of them stand with Jesus, seeing His full glory. This shows that Jesus is the One they were waiting for. He is the One who completes God’s plan. Moses and Elijah do not shine like Jesus. They do not speak from the cloud. They are important, but Jesus is greater. Their presence teaches the disciples—and us—that Jesus is the center of the whole Bible. All the stories, laws, and prophecies lead to Him. When we read Scripture, we should look for how it points to Jesus’ love, power, and saving work. Moses and Elijah standing with Jesus remind us that God’s plan has always been moving toward this moment, when His Son would come to rescue the world.

The Father speaks: “This is my beloved Son… listen to Him.”

As Peter tries to speak, a bright cloud covers them, and God the Father speaks. His voice says, “This is my beloved Son… listen to Him.” These words are powerful. God is telling the disciples that Jesus is not just another leader or prophet. He is God’s own Son, loved and chosen. The Father’s command—“listen to Him”—shows that Jesus’ words are the most important words they will ever hear. This moment also connects to the Old Testament, where Moses said that God would one day send a special prophet, and the people must listen to Him. Now God Himself says that Jesus is the promised One. Today, many voices try to tell us what to believe or how to live. Some voices are loud, and some sound wise. But God tells us clearly that Jesus’ voice must come first. Listening to Jesus means trusting what He says, obeying His teachings, and letting His words shape our choices. It means believing that He knows what is best for us. The Father’s voice reminds us that Jesus is the center of our faith. When we listen to Him, we find truth, hope, and life.

The disciples fall in fear; Jesus comforts them.

When the disciples hear God’s voice and see the bright cloud, they fall to the ground in fear. They are overwhelmed by God’s power and holiness. This reaction is common in the Bible—when people see God’s glory, they often fall because it is so great and so different from anything on earth. But Jesus comes to them gently. He touches them and tells them not to be afraid. The same Jesus who shines like the sun also bends down to comfort His friends. When they look up, they see only Jesus. Moses and Elijah are gone, the cloud is gone, and the bright light is gone. But Jesus remains. This teaches us something important: God’s glory is real, but so is His kindness. Jesus does not leave His followers shaking on the ground. He lifts them and helps them stand again. In our lives, we may feel afraid or overwhelmed, too. But Jesus is near. He reaches out to us with love and tells us not to fear. His presence gives us courage. The disciples learned that day that Jesus is both powerful and gentle, and we can trust Him in every moment.

The Transfiguration confirms Jesus’ identity.

The Transfiguration shows the disciples exactly who Jesus is. They had seen His miracles and heard His teaching, but on the mountain, they saw His true glory. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became bright. This was God’s way of reminding them that Jesus is not just another leader. He is God’s Son. The vision helped the disciples refocus their hearts and minds on Jesus Himself. They had grown up honoring Moses and Elijah, two of the greatest heroes in Israel’s history. But now God was showing them something new: even the best traditions and the greatest leaders must take second place to Jesus.

When Moses and Elijah appeared, it might have been easy for the disciples to think all three were equal. But then the Father’s voice came from the bright cloud and made everything clear: “This is my beloved Son… listen to Him.” God did not say to listen to Moses or Elijah. He pointed only to Jesus. This means that every part of our faith must be centered on Christ. He is the One who shows us what God is like. He is the One we follow. The Transfiguration teaches us that Jesus deserves our full attention, our trust, and our obedience.

The Transfiguration foreshadows Jesus’ resurrection and coming glory.

The Transfiguration gives the disciples a small preview of what Jesus will look like after His resurrection. On the mountain, His face shines, and His clothes glow, showing His true power and glory. This moment helps the disciples understand that Jesus is not only going to suffer and die—He will also rise again and return in glory as the true King. Moses and Elijah appear beside Him, and they represent the Law and the Prophets. All of the Old Testament pointed forward to the coming of the Messiah, and now the disciples see that Jesus is the One those Scriptures were talking about.

Peter gets excited and offers to build three shelters—one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. But this idea is mistaken. Peter is treating all three as if they are equal. God quickly corrects him. A bright cloud covers them, and the Father’s voice speaks from heaven: “This is my beloved Son… listen to Him.” God does not tell them to listen to Moses or Elijah. He points only to Jesus.

This teaches us that Jesus is the center of God’s plan. He is the King of the coming kingdom, and His words explain the meaning of the Law and the Prophets. Our job is simple: listen to Him.

Coming King, help us to keep our focus securely on you. Give us the wisdom to remain Christocentric. May we value the Old Testament because it is a testament of you. May we value the church because it is your church. But may we never lose sight of your words because they are the foundation for your coming kingdom.

FOUR FISHERMEN

FOUR FISHERMEN

Matthew 4:18-22 NET.

18 As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen). 19 He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.” 20 They left their nets immediately and followed him. 21 Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Then he called them. 22 They immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.

Today’s passage introduces us to four ordinary fishermen going about their daily work along the Sea of Galilee. The scene is simple and familiar: two brothers in one boat, and two more in another boat with their father, Zebedee. You can almost smell the fish on their hands and see the sun on their faces. They are doing what they had done countless times — casting their nets, mending their nets, preparing for another day of labor.

But on this particular day, everything changed.

Into this ordinary moment stepped Jesus Christ, and His call transformed their lives forever. These men would no longer spend their days pulling fish from the water. Instead, they would begin learning how to draw people into the life and kingdom of God. What began as a routine morning on the lake became the doorway to a mission that would reshape the world.

There is something deeply comforting and deeply challenging about this scene. Jesus did not call these men while they were in the synagogue or engaged in religious duties. He called them in the middle of their workday, right where life felt most ordinary. And He still does the same today. Christ meets us in the routines we know so well and invites us into something greater — a life of purpose, discipleship, and kingdom influence.

As we look more closely at each of these four fishermen, may we listen for the same voice that called them. May we be ready to leave whatever holds us back and follow the One who still transforms ordinary people into His faithful servants.

The First Fisherman Is Simon, Aka Peter.

Peter, originally named Simon, was a fisherman from Bethsaida and later Capernaum, working alongside his brother Andrew on the Sea of Galilee. His life changed forever when Jesus called him to leave his nets and follow Him. Jesus renamed him Peter (Greek Petros, “rock”), signaling the foundational role he would play in the emerging community of believers.

Peter quickly became one of Jesus’ closest disciples. Bold, impulsive, and deeply loyal, he often acted as the spokesman for the Twelve. He was present at key moments: the Transfiguration, the raising of Jairus’s daughter, and Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane. His confession — “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” — marked a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. Yet Peter’s humanity was equally visible. Despite his confidence, he tried to convince Jesus not to go to the cross. He denied knowing Jesus three times during the trial, a failure that left him devastated. After the resurrection, Jesus restored him gently on the shores of Galilee, commissioning him to “feed my sheep,” a charge that shaped the rest of his life.

After Jesus’ ascension, Peter emerged as a central leader in the early church. On the Day of Pentecost, he preached the sermon that launched the Christian movement, leading thousands to faith. He performed miracles, confronted opposition from the Sanhedrin, and shepherded the growing community in Jerusalem. His encounter with Cornelius, a Roman centurion, marked a decisive moment in the church’s expansion, demonstrating that the gospel was for Gentiles as well as Jews.

Peter’s ministry eventually extended beyond Judea. Early Christian tradition places him in Antioch and later in Rome, where he continued preaching Christ in the heart of the empire. His two New Testament letters reflect a seasoned shepherd encouraging believers to endure suffering with hope, holiness, and steadfast faith.

According to ancient testimony, Peter was martyred in Rome during Nero’s persecution, likely in the mid‑60s AD. Tradition holds that he was crucified upside down, deeming himself unworthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.

Peter’s life is a portrait of transformation — from fisherman to apostle, from fearful denier to courageous witness. His story reminds believers that Christ forms ordinary people into instruments of extraordinary grace, grounding their hope not in their strength but in the life God alone can give.

The Second Fisherman Is Andrew, Peter’s Brother.

Andrew, one of the earliest followers of Jesus, was born in Bethsaida on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. A fisherman by trade, he worked alongside his brother Simon Peter, with whom he shared both a livelihood and a spiritual hunger. Before meeting Jesus, Andrew had been a disciple of John the Baptist, drawn to John’s call for repentance and readiness for the coming Messiah. It was John who first pointed Andrew to Jesus, declaring Him “the Lamb of God.” Andrew immediately followed Jesus and, after spending time with Him, became the first recorded disciple to bring another person to Christ — his own brother Peter.

This pattern of introducing others to Jesus became Andrew’s defining mark. While he never occupied the same public prominence as Peter, James, or John, Andrew consistently appears in Scripture as a quiet connector, someone who noticed people and brought them to the Lord. He brought the boy with the loaves and fish to Jesus before the feeding of the five thousand, and he helped facilitate the approach of Greek seekers who wished to meet Christ. Andrew’s instinct was always relational, always invitational.

Andrew was among the Twelve whom Jesus appointed as apostles, entrusted with preaching, healing, and casting out demons. He witnessed many of Jesus’ miracles and teachings, including the Discourse on the Mount of Olives, where Jesus spoke of the end of the age. After the resurrection and ascension, Andrew remained with the early believers in Jerusalem, praying and waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. Though the book of Acts focuses more on Peter and Paul, early Christian tradition preserves Andrew’s missionary legacy.

According to ancient accounts, Andrew traveled north and west, preaching the gospel in regions such as Scythia, Thrace, and Achaia. His ministry was marked by perseverance, humility, and a willingness to serve in places far from the centers of power. Tradition holds that Andrew was eventually martyred in the city of Patras, crucified on an X‑shaped cross — a form of execution he reportedly accepted with joy, considering himself unworthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.

Andrew’s life is a portrait of faithful, relational evangelism. He reminds believers that the kingdom of God often advances through quiet introductions, personal invitations, and the steady witness of those who simply bring people to Jesus.

The Third Fisherman Is A Man Named James, Son Of Zebedee.

James, the son of Zebedee and older brother of John, was one of the earliest disciples called by Jesus. A fisherman by trade, James worked with his family on the Sea of Galilee, likely in a prosperous business that partnered with Simon Peter. When Jesus walked by their boat and called them, James and John immediately left the nets they were mending and followed Him — a decisive act that reveals both their spiritual readiness and the compelling authority of Christ’s call.

James quickly became part of Jesus’ inner circle, along with Peter and John. These three witnessed moments of profound revelation that the other disciples did not. James was present when Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter, when He was transfigured on the mountain, and when He agonized in prayer in Gethsemane. These experiences shaped James into a man who understood both the glory and the suffering of the Messiah.

Jesus gave James and John the nickname “Boanerges,” meaning “Sons of Thunder.” The name likely reflected their passionate, fiery personalities. At one point, they asked Jesus if they should call down fire on a Samaritan village that rejected Him. On another occasion, they boldly requested seats at Jesus’ right and left hand in His kingdom. Though their zeal was sometimes misdirected, Jesus shaped it into courageous devotion.

After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, James continued as a leader in the early Jerusalem church. His boldness and prominence made him a target of opposition. In Acts 12, King Herod Agrippa I arrested James and had him executed by the sword, making him the first apostle to be martyred. His death, occurring around AD 44, demonstrated the cost of discipleship and the seriousness with which the early church’s enemies viewed its leaders.

James left no written works. The Letter of James we have in the New Testament is written by another James, the brother of Jesus. But this James’ legacy is profound. He was a man of action, loyalty, and intensity — a disciple who followed Jesus immediately, served Him passionately, and sealed his testimony with his blood. His life reminds believers that following Christ is both glorious and costly, and that God uses even fiery, imperfect people to advance His kingdom.

James, son of Zebedee, stands as a model of courageous faith: a man who saw Christ’s glory, shared in His sufferings, and remained faithful to the end.

The Fourth Fisherman Is A Man Named John, Son Of Zebedee.

John, the son of Zebedee and younger brother of James, was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee before Jesus called him to discipleship. Working in a family business that appears to have been relatively prosperous, John likely grew up with both responsibility and religious devotion. When Jesus called John and James from their nets, they immediately left everything to follow Him — a decisive act that marked the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the Messiah.

John quickly became part of Jesus’ inner circle, along with Peter and James. These three witnessed some of the most intimate and defining moments of Jesus’ ministry: the raising of Jairus’s daughter, the Transfiguration, and the agony of Gethsemane. John’s closeness to Jesus is further emphasized by his position at the Last Supper, where he reclined next to the Lord, earning him the title “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” This phrase reflects not favoritism but the depth of John’s personal experience of Christ’s love.

John’s temperament was passionate — Jesus nicknamed him and his brother “Boanerges,” or “Sons of Thunder.” Yet over time, John’s fiery zeal was transformed into a mature, steadfast love that permeates his writings. At the crucifixion, John was the only apostle recorded as remaining near the cross, where Jesus entrusted him with the care of His mother, Mary. After the resurrection, John was among the first to believe upon seeing the empty tomb.

In the early church, John emerged as a pillar of leadership in Jerusalem alongside Peter. Later tradition places him in Ephesus, where he shepherded the churches of Asia Minor. His writings — the Gospel of John, three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation — reveal a profound theological mind shaped by intimate knowledge of Christ. John emphasizes themes of life, love, truth, and the identity of Jesus as the eternal Word made flesh.

According to early Christian testimony, John was exiled to the island of Patmos during a period of persecution, where he received the visions recorded in Revelation. Unlike most of the apostles, John is believed to have died a natural death in old age, leaving behind a legacy of pastoral care, theological depth, and unwavering devotion to Christ.

John’s life stands as a witness to the transforming power of Jesus’ love — turning a Son of Thunder into an apostle of truth and love whose voice still shapes the church today.

Principles we learn from the Four Fishermen

As we look at the lives of these four fishermen whom Jesus called, several powerful principles rise to the surface — principles that still speak to us today.

First, each of these men was willing to follow Jesus Christ. They did not understand everything at first, but they recognized His voice and responded. Their obedience began with a simple step: leaving behind what was familiar in order to walk with the Lord.

Second, all four were willing to let the Lord use them. They offered Jesus their ordinary lives — their hands, their skills, their personalities — and He shaped them into instruments of His kingdom. None of them brought impressive résumés; they simply brought willing hearts.

Third, their time with Jesus changed them deeply. His teaching, His compassion, His holiness, and His patience transformed them from the inside out. They were not the same men at the end of the journey as they were at the beginning.

Fourth, none of them started as people of great influence, yet by following Christ they became leaders who shaped the world. Their greatness did not come from natural ability but from walking closely with the One who is truly great.

Fifth, none of them felt worthy of Christ, yet they still served Him. Their humility became the soil in which God grew boldness, faith, and perseverance.

Sixth, each man had a family, yet their commitment to Christ came first. They loved their families well, but they loved their Lord supremely.

Finally, these men were dramatically different from one another, yet Jesus welcomed them all and wove their differences into His mission.

Lord, make us just as willing, just as humble, and just as ready to be changed by You.

WHY HE LIVES

WHY HE LIVES

1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 20-23 NET.

3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received — that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.

20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when Christ comes, those who belong to him.

When we discovered he lives

The events I want to describe to you this morning are those that took place on that first Easter morning, when Jesus woke from the dead. The story is taken from the Gospels: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20.

Before dawn on the first day of the week, a small group of women set out toward the tomb where Jesus had been laid. Mary Magdalene led the way, joined by Mary, the mother of James, Salome, and others who had prepared spices to complete the burial. The sky was still dim, and their conversation circled one anxious question: “Who will roll away the stone for us?”

As they approached, the ground had already shaken from an earlier earthquake. An angel of the Lord had descended, rolled back the massive stone, and left the guards trembling and paralyzed with fear. By the time the women arrived, the soldiers had fled, and the stone stood open.

Mary Magdalene, seeing the empty entrance but not yet seeing angels, panicked. She assumed the worst—that someone had taken Jesus’ body. Without waiting for the others, she turned and ran back toward the city to find Peter and John.

The remaining women stepped closer. Inside the tomb, they encountered heavenly messengers—one described by Matthew and Mark, two described by Luke—radiant, calm, and utterly unearthly. The angels spoke words that would echo through history:

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here. He has risen.”

They reminded the women of Jesus’ own promises, and the women, trembling with fear and joy, hurried away to tell the disciples.

Meanwhile, Mary Magdalene reached Peter and John breathless and distraught:

“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid Him!”

The two men sprinted toward the garden. John arrived first but hesitated at the entrance. Peter, true to form, charged straight in. The linen cloths lay there, undisturbed. The face cloth was folded separately. Something had happened—but not theft. John entered, saw, and believed, though neither yet understood the full meaning of the Scriptures. They left in stunned silence.

Mary Magdalene, having followed them back, remained at the tomb weeping. When she finally looked inside, she saw two angels seated where Jesus’ body had been. They asked her why she was crying, but before she could process their words, she turned and saw a man standing behind her. She did not recognize Him—grief has a way of blurring the obvious.

He spoke gently:

“Mary.”

At the sound of her name, everything became clear. She fell before Him, overwhelmed. Jesus sent her to tell the disciples that He was ascending to His Father and their Father.

While Mary was carrying this message, the other women were still on their way to the disciples when Jesus Himself met them. They fell at His feet, worshiping Him, and He told them not to be afraid but to go and tell His brothers to meet Him in Galilee.

Back in the city, the guards who had witnessed the angel’s descent reported everything to the chief priests. A bribe was arranged, and a false story was circulated: the disciples had stolen the body while the guards slept.

But the truth was already spreading.

The tomb was empty.

The angels had spoken.

Jesus had appeared.

And the world had begun to change.

This is the story of the beginning of the great miracle we celebrate every Easter. But there is more to the story. Last Sunday, I asked and answered the question, “Why did Jesus have to die on Calvary’s cross? Today I want to address another question.

Why did Jesus wake from the dead?

After all, when we share the gospel with our friends and neighbors, we tell them that Jesus died for their sins, that because of his death, we are now free from the consequences of our sins – the second death in hell. But if we tell people that, we are not telling them the whole gospel. The death of Christ indeed atoned for our sins. But that is not all we need. We need a living Christ.

This morning’s text explains why Jesus lives.

Jesus had to wake from the dead because the same Scriptures that predicted his sacrificial death also predicted his resurrection.

Jesus himself had noted that the prophet Jonah’s experience of being in the great fish for three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17) was a prophetic sign of his own resurrection. He said, “For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights” (Matthew 12:40).

The early Christians also often quoted Hosea 6:2, which says, “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us, that we may live before Him.”

Peter and Paul both quote Psalm 16:10, in which David writes, “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor let Your Holy One see decay.” Sheol is the Hebrew word for the state of being dead. The apostles understood that Jesus’ resurrection was proof that he was God’s chosen savior.

Psalm 22 speaks of the suffering servant who cried out for help, and God responded. It says that many who are descending to their graves will tell future generations about what God did for the Messiah. We now know what God did: he raised Jesus from the dead.

Isaiah 53 predicted the crucifixion of Jesus in vivid detail. But it also says that after suffering and death, the Servant “will see His offspring,” “prolong His days,” and be vindicated.

In addition to these Old Testament predictions, there are nine specific references in the Gospels in which Jesus predicted his own resurrection on the third day after his crucifixion.[1]

That explains why Paul summarized the gospel message in today’s text: “…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

But Paul goes on to tell us that there is another reason why Jesus had to be awakened from the dead. He said that Christ is the firstfruits. His resurrection is the first part of God’s great harvest. He is the firstfruits, the first, best portion of the harvest, offered to God, guaranteeing the full harvest to come. He is the firstfruits of the resurrection, guaranteeing that all who belong to Him will be raised in the same way.

Firstfruits teaches that Jesus is the first to receive immortal resurrection life. No one else has it yet. His resurrection guarantees that God will give His people the same miraculous, permanent life at the final harvest. That will happen when he returns. Paul teaches this explicitly in verse 23: “But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.”

As we celebrate the resurrection of Christ this morning, we also anticipate the glorious new life that we will experience when the rest of the harvest happens. Happy Easter.

[1] Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22–23; Matthew 20:17–19; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31; Mark 10:34; Luke 9:22; Luke 18:33; John 2:19–22.

WHY HE DIED

WHY HE DIED

Hebrews 2:14-15; 9:24-28 NET.

14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), 15 and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.

24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another — 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world. Still, now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

The joy of Palm Sunday

In Matthew 21:1–11, Jesus gives two of His disciples a simple but unusual job: find a donkey and her young colt and bring them to Him. They do exactly what He says. Soon, Jesus is riding into Jerusalem on the young donkey.

What happens next is amazing. People start taking off their coats—things that were very valuable back then—and laying them on the road like a carpet for a king. Others cut branches and wave them in the air to celebrate. When Jesus rides by, the whole crowd shouts with excitement: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” This isn’t quiet clapping. It’s the loud cheer of people who believe their long‑promised King has finally arrived.

Matthew stops to remind us that this moment was predicted long ago in Zechariah 9:9, where God told His people to rejoice because their King would come to them humbly, riding on a donkey. The joy of the crowd isn’t random. It’s exactly the kind of joy the prophet said would happen hundreds of years earlier.

In Mark 11:1–11, the story happens almost the same way—there’s the donkey, the coats on the road, and the branches waving in the air. But Mark focuses on what the people were hoping for. They shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Then they add something that shows what they’re expecting: “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

They aren’t just cheering for a man who can do miracles. They believe Jesus is the King who will bring back the great kingdom David once ruled. Their excitement is huge. They think Jesus isn’t only going to help others—He is going to change their own lives in a big way.

In Luke 19:28–44, the feelings in the story are even stronger. As Jesus rides the young donkey, His disciples start praising God loudly because of all the amazing miracles they have seen Him do. They shout, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” They are excited and proud to follow Him.

But then Luke tells us something surprising. While the crowds are cheering, Jesus begins to cry. He knows something the people don’t. Even though everyone is happy right now, the city of Jerusalem will not accept the peace He brings. Their joy is real, but it doesn’t go very deep, and it won’t last.

This reminds us of something important. Even when we celebrate Palm Sunday and worship Jesus as our King, many people in the world still ignore Him or push Him away. Jesus feels that sadness, even in the middle of all the cheering.

In John 12:12–19, the celebration becomes the biggest and most excited of all the Gospel stories. John is the only one who mentions palm branches, which were symbols of victory and national pride. Huge crowds rush out to meet Jesus, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel!”

John also tells us why everyone is so thrilled. Just before this, Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. News of that miracle spread everywhere, and people couldn’t stop talking about it. So when Jesus arrived, they weren’t just welcoming a great teacher. They were welcoming the One who had shown power over death itself.

Their joy is the joy of people who feel like they are seeing the beginning of a brand‑new world—one filled with hope, life, and the promise that everything is about to change.

The irony of Palm Sunday

Right after the exciting Triumphal Entry, Jesus enters the temple and finds people cheating others and making dishonest money. He turns over the tables of the moneychangers to stop the corruption. This makes the religious leaders very angry. They challenge Him in front of everyone and ask, “Who gave you the right to do this?” Then they try to trap Him with tricky questions about paying taxes, the resurrection, and which commandment is the greatest. They aren’t looking for real answers. They want to catch Him saying something wrong. This is the first big rejection: they refuse to accept Jesus as the Messiah or even as a true teacher.

After Jesus tells several parables exposing the leaders’ hypocrisy, they become even angrier. They decide that Jesus must die. The chief priests and elders meet in secret and make a plan. They agree to arrest Him quietly so the crowds won’t find out. They look for the perfect moment when no one is watching. This is the strongest rejection of all: they choose, on purpose, to work together to kill Him.

One of Jesus’ own disciples becomes part of the leaders’ plan. Judas agrees to betray Jesus in exchange for a bag of coins. After that, he starts watching for the right time to hand Jesus over. This is a very personal kind of rejection—a painful betrayal from someone in Jesus’ closest group of friends.

When Jesus is arrested, His disciples become scared and run away. Even though they had promised to stay with Him no matter what, their fear is stronger in that moment. This is a painful kind of rejection: the people who loved Him most leave Him alone when He needs them.

Jesus is taken to the high priest’s house for a trial in the middle of the night, even though this was against Jewish law. People are brought in to lie about Him, but their stories don’t match. Some accuse Jesus of saying He would destroy the temple. When Jesus says clearly that He is the Messiah, the Son of Man, the council becomes furious. They say He is guilty of blasphemy. Then they spit on Him, hit Him, and make fun of Him. This is a terrible kind of rejection: the religious court wrongly condemns the true Judge of Israel.

While Jesus is being mocked inside, Peter is outside in the courtyard. Three different times, people ask him if he knows Jesus, and each time Peter says he doesn’t. When the rooster crows, Peter suddenly remembers Jesus’ warning. He realizes what he has done and begins to cry bitterly. This is an emotional kind of rejection: fear makes even Jesus’ bravest disciple deny knowing Him.

Jesus is taken to Pilate, the Roman governor. The religious leaders accuse Him of claiming to be a king. Pilate looks into the charges and says he can’t find anything Jesus has done wrong. But the crowd, pushed by the leaders, begins shouting for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate doesn’t want trouble, so he gives in to the pressure and hands Jesus over to be killed. This is a kind of public, government rejection: Rome chooses to punish an innocent man to keep the peace.

The same city that cheered for Jesus with palm branches now chooses someone else instead of Him. Pilate offers to let Jesus go free, but the crowd shouts for Barabbas, a man who had committed serious crimes. Then the crowd begins to yell, “Crucify Him!” This is a public rejection: the people choose a criminal over their true King.

Everyone around Him rejects Jesus. The Roman soldiers make fun of Him and pretend He is a fake king. People walking by the cross shout insults at Him. The religious leaders laugh at Him and challenge Him to save Himself. Even one of the criminals being crucified next to Him joins in the mocking. This is complete rejection: leaders, crowds, soldiers, and criminals all turn against Him.

Between Palm Sunday and Good Friday, Jesus is rejected again and again. The religious leaders turn against Him. One of His own disciples betrays Him. His friends run away. False witnesses lie about Him. Peter denies knowing Him. The Jewish council hands Him over to the Romans. Rome sentences Him even though He is innocent. And the same crowds that once cheered for Him now shout for His death.

Why did Jesus have to die?

After seeing the huge, joyful crowd on Palm Sunday, it’s hard to understand how everything went so wrong so fast. One day, the people are cheering for Jesus, and only a few days later, He is rejected and killed. It doesn’t seem to make sense. So we naturally ask, Why was Jesus rejected? And why did He have to die?

But we don’t have to stay confused. God never gives us a question without giving us an answer in His Word. When we look at today’s passage, we find many reasons that explain why Jesus was rejected and why His death was necessary.

Today’s passage in the Book of Hebrews gives us three big reasons why Jesus had to die on the cross. To make them easy to remember, we can use three words that all start with the same letter: slavery, sacrifice, and salvation.

These three words help us understand that the cross was not an accident. It wasn’t a mistake or a surprise. It was part of God’s perfect plan. God chose to send His one and only Son to die on a cruel cross so that His people could be set free, forgiven, and saved forever.

The first reason Jesus had to die is connected to the word slavery. The writer of Hebrews explains that God’s children are human—they have flesh and blood—so Jesus became human too. He did this so that through His own death, He could break the power of the devil, the one who uses death to scare people. By dying, Jesus set people free from being slaves to the fear of death their whole lives.

In other words, Jesus died to break our chains. He died so we wouldn’t have to live scared of death anymore.

One of the big problems Jesus came to fix by dying on the cross was the slavery problem. This problem began with Satan. In the Garden of Eden, Satan appeared to Adam and Eve as a serpent. He tempted them to disobey God’s command and eat the fruit God had forbidden. When they listened to him, sin entered the world, and people became trapped—like slaves—under the power of sin and death.

Jesus came to break that slavery. He came to undo what Satan started and to set people free from the fear and power of death.

Satan knew exactly why God told Adam and Eve not to eat the forbidden fruit. God wanted to protect them from the power of sin and from the pain of death. God had warned them that if they disobeyed, they would become mortal—their bodies would grow old, break down, and eventually die.

Satan understood this. He knew that if he could get them to disobey, they would fall under the power of sin and death. And that is exactly what happened. By tempting them, Satan helped bring death into the human story, and people became trapped in fear and brokenness.

We don’t have to look far to see that this is exactly what happened. The world around us shows the results of that first terrible choice in the Garden. We know we are mortal—we are flesh‑and‑blood people who live only for a short time. Our lives are fragile, and every breath reminds us that one day our bodies will stop working.

Because of this, many people live with a quiet fear of dying. That fear follows us through life like a shadow. The writer of Hebrews calls this slavery—being trapped by the fear of death and unable to escape it on our own.

Jesus came to break that slavery. He came to set us free.

The worst part of this slavery is that we can’t fix it ourselves. There is nothing we can do to stop being mortal. Doctors can help us for a while, but eventually, even they reach a point where they can’t repair our bodies anymore. Science tries to make our lives longer, but even then, it can only stretch out the time, not remove death. Sometimes people live longer in their bodies while their minds fade away.

No matter what we try, slavery continues. We cannot free ourselves from death or the fear that comes with it.

The writer of Hebrews says that the devil holds the power of death. He has this power because our first ancestors gave it to him. When Adam and Eve listened to Satan’s temptation and chose to disobey God, they handed themselves—and all of us—over to the power of sin and death.

By following Satan’s lie instead of God’s truth, they placed themselves under his control. In that moment, we became like slaves, trapped by sin.

Since we are slaves to sin and death, we cannot free ourselves. No matter how hard we try, we cannot pay the price needed to break our chains. For us to be set free, one of us would have to pay the price for all of us. But none of us qualifies, because we are all sinners and all mortal.

So God sent Jesus.

Jesus is God’s only begotten Son, but He came into the world and became one of us. He took on our humanity—our flesh and blood—so that He could die a sinless death in our place. His perfect life and His willing death became the ransom that frees us from our slavery to sin and death.

Jesus did what none of us could ever do. He paid the price to set us free.

Because we were slaves to sin and death, we also had a sacrifice problem. We knew we were sinners, and we knew that sin needed a perfect, spotless sacrifice to make things right with God. But none of us could make that sacrifice. Even the best people in the world are still touched by the failure that began in the Garden of Eden.

No human being is completely pure. No one is without sin. So none of us could offer the perfect sacrifice God required. We needed someone who was truly without sin—someone who could stand in our place.

Under the old covenant, God told the Israelites to offer sacrifices as part of their worship. These sacrifices were important, but they did not solve the problem of sin forever. They were more like a temporary fix—something to hold things together until a better, final sacrifice would come.

People could bring an animal to the altar, but that didn’t always mean their hearts were truly changed. Someone could offer a sacrifice without real repentance or without turning away from their sin. So even though the sacrifices were part of God’s plan, they could not remove sin completely or change the human heart.

They pointed forward to a greater sacrifice that was still to come.

The writer of Hebrews explains this in chapter 9, verses 24–26. He says that Jesus did something no other priest or sacrifice could ever do. Instead of bringing an animal into an earthly temple, Jesus brought His own life as the perfect sacrifice into the heavenly sanctuary—God’s true presence.

All the sacrifices in the Old Testament were pointing forward to this one moment. They were like signs showing that a greater sacrifice was coming. And when Jesus came, He offered Himself once for all. Hebrews says He appeared “at the end of the ages” to put away sin by giving His own life.

In other words, Jesus didn’t need to be sacrificed again and again. His one sacrifice was enough to deal with sin forever.

The last problem we face is our need for salvation. We needed someone to rescue us from slavery to death. We needed a perfect, sinless sacrifice to take our place. But we also needed someone who could save us forever.

The writer of Hebrews explains this in chapter 9, verses 27–28. He says that every person is appointed to die once, and after that comes judgment. That means we will all stand before God one day. But here is the good news: Jesus has already been offered once to carry the sins of many people. He died once, and that sacrifice was enough.

And Hebrews says something even better. Jesus will come again—not to deal with sin, because He already did that—but to bring salvation to everyone who is waiting for Him with hope.

In other words, Jesus’ first coming took away our sin. His second coming will restore his universe.

For our salvation to be complete, we needed two things. First, we needed our sins to be paid for, and Jesus did that when He died on the cross. His death provided the atonement we could never earn on our own.

But even after our sins are forgiven, we still face another problem: we still die. Our bodies still grow old, break down, and eventually stop working. That’s because our first death comes from Adam’s sin, not our own. The Bible says, “In Adam, all die.” Jesus’ death on the cross paid for our sins, but it did not remove the physical death that comes from being part of Adam’s family.

So even forgiven people still experience the first death. That’s why we need something more—something only Jesus can give.

For our salvation to be complete, we needed more than a perfect sacrifice. Jesus’ death on the cross paid for our sins, and that was essential. But even after our sins are forgiven, we still face physical death. That first death comes from Adam’s sin, and Jesus’ sacrifice did not remove that part of our human condition.

So we needed something else.

We needed a Savior who would come back and rescue us from our graves. We needed someone who had already defeated death to come and pull us out of it. Until that happens, our salvation is not finished. We can say we are saved because we trust Jesus to complete the work He began.

That’s why the Bible talks about salvation in three tenses:

  • We have been saved — Jesus paid for our sins on the cross.
  • We are being saved — Jesus is changing us and keeping us in faith.
  • We will be saved — Jesus will return and raise us from the dead.

All three are true because of what Jesus did on the cross and what He will do when He comes again.

So now we come back to the cries of the crowds on that first Palm Sunday. They shouted “Hosanna!” Many people today think of that word as a kind of praise, but at first it wasn’t praise at all. It was a prayer. The word comes from the Hebrew phrase hôshîʿah-nnaʾ, which means “Save us, please!” or “Please rescue us!” Over time, the meaning of the word changed. It became a way of celebrating the salvation God had already given. That’s why we often use it as a joyful word of praise today. But it is still right—and very fitting—for us to use the word in its original meaning too. We still need God to save us. We still need Jesus to finish the salvation He began. So when we cry out “Hosanna,” we are both praising God for what He has done and praying for Him to complete His work when Christ returns. “Hosanna” is both a shout of joy and a cry for help. It is the perfect word for people who trust Jesus to save them completely.

We still live in a world that is trapped in the slavery of fearing death. So we pray, “Save us, Christ, we pray!” We still need forgiveness for our sins and rescue from the damage they cause. So again we cry, “Save us, Christ, we pray!”

And we still wait for the day when our salvation will be complete—when the One who conquered death will return and pull us out of our graves. Our hearts long for that day, so we say once more, “Save us, Christ, we pray!”

This is the true meaning of Hosanna. It is the cry of people who trust Jesus to finish what He started. It is the prayer of those who believe He will come again to save us fully and forever.