Liba Hopeson
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the city was filled with excitement. People gathered, shouted, and honored Him like a king. Outwardly, it appeared to be a moment of deep devotion. Yet inwardly, many had misunderstood who He truly was. They welcomed Him with great expectations, but those expectations were shaped more by their own desires than by God’s truth.
They saw Him as a king, but not the kind of King He came to be. They longed for a political deliverer—someone who would rise against oppression, overthrow rulers, and restore national strength. In their thinking, victory meant power, and salvation meant freedom from earthly enemies. They were ready to follow Him, but only as long as He fulfilled these hopes. However, Jesus did not come to establish His rule in the way they expected. He did not come to build His kingdom through political power or military force, but through sacrifice, humility, and obedience. His mission was not to destroy enemies, but to save sinners; not to take lives, but to give His life. Because they did not truly know Him, their understanding was shallow, and their expectations were misplaced. When He did not meet their desires, their enthusiasm quickly faded.
At the heart of this misunderstanding was a failure to recognize who Jesus really is. He is not merely a king among kings, but the promised Messiah, the Son of God, and the Savior sent to deal with the deepest problem of humanity—sin. His kingship is not limited to earthly systems, but extends over all creation. His authority is not temporary or political, but eternal and divine. To know Jesus rightly is to see Him as He has revealed Himself in Scripture—not as we imagine Him to be, but as He truly is. Without this right knowledge, even sincere devotion can be deeply misguided.
This moment reveals a sobering truth: it is possible to appear close to Jesus, to speak about Him, and even to celebrate Him, yet still not truly know Him. The same danger is very real today. Many claim to follow Christ, but their understanding of Him is often shaped by personal needs and ambitions. Some follow Him for success, hoping He will make life easier and more comfortable. Others follow Him mainly for blessings, treating Him as a source of benefits rather than the Lord of their lives. There are also those who turn to Him only in times of trouble, as though He exists primarily to solve problems.
In such cases, Christ is no longer the center—self is. Instead of surrendering to Him, people expect Him to serve their plans. Without realizing it, they reshape Him into someone they prefer, rather than receiving Him as He truly is. But a faith built on such a foundation cannot last. When expectations are not met, disappointment arises. When difficulties come, commitment weakens. A faith that is rooted in personal gain will not endure, because it is not grounded in the true knowledge of Christ.
To follow Jesus for the right reason, we must move beyond what He gives to who He is. True faith is not sustained by blessings, but by a deep and growing knowledge of His person—His holiness, His authority, His grace, and His worthiness. When we see Him rightly, we realize that He is not a means to an end; He Himself is the end. He is not valuable because of what He provides—He is valuable because of who He is.
True discipleship begins with knowing Him rightly. Jesus did come to establish God’s kingdom, and that kingdom is real and already at work. Yet it does not advance through the ways of worldly power, but through transformed lives, surrendered hearts, and faithful obedience. He is not merely a helper in times of need, nor simply a provider of blessings. He is the Son of God and the Savior who calls people to repentance, trust, and a life centered on Him.
Following Christ for the sake of Christ means that even if circumstances do not change, our commitment does not change. Even when prayers seem unanswered, we continue to trust Him. Even when following Him is costly, we remain faithful. This kind of discipleship is not based on convenience, but on conviction; not on comfort, but on truth.
When we truly know Christ, our reason for following Him changes. We no longer follow Him for what we can receive, but for who He is. We learn to love Him, trust Him, and worship Him, not because He fulfills our personal desires, but because He is worthy. Following Christ for the sake of Christ leads to a deeper, stronger, and more enduring faith.
The question, then, is not simply whether we follow Christ, but why we follow Him. Are we following Him because He meets our expectations, or because He is the Lord? Are we committed only when it is easy, or also when it is difficult? These questions reveal the true foundation of our faith.
Therefore, we must intentionally seek to know Him through His Word, align our expectations with His truth, and surrender our desires to His will. This means examining our motives, correcting our understanding, and choosing daily to follow Him—not for what we gain, but because He alone is worthy. Only then will our faith be genuine, our devotion rightly placed, and our discipleship able to endure.
