Easter 2023 Message 2

Easter 2023

Message 2

King of Kings

John 18 & 19

Monthly Business Meeting

a. The dread of many pastors

i. They can last for couple of hours.

ii. Of course, we are different.

iii. We have an annual business meeting.

1. It lasts less than thirty minutes.

b. The problem

i. We live in a democracy.

ii. We vote and elect our government officials.

iii. We do not want a king to rule over us.

iv. We call it freedom.

v. This has bleed over into the church.

The Church is a Theocracy.

i. We listen to God and follow that lead.

ii. The everyday business of the church is run by myself and a few other called a Pastor’s council.

iii. This is explained to every new member.

iv. It has worked wonderfully well these past 5 years.

v. God wanted Israel to be a theocracy.

vi. Judges 21:25 (NLT) — 25 In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

Judges 21:25 NLT

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

Israel demands a King.

a. An Old Testament Theme

i. One of the central themes of the Old Testament is the coming King who will reign over an eternal kingdom.

ii. This theme sets the stage for what happens in John.

iii. Israel gets its wish.

An Eternal King

i. Saul – David - Solomon

ii. After Solomon the kingdom divides and it’s history of mostly bad kings.

iii. But God makes a promise to David.

iv. 1 Chronicles 17:11–14 (NLT) — 11 For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong. 12 He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for me. And I will secure his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you. 14 I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever.’ ”

1 Chronicles 17:11–14 NLT

For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for me. And I will secure his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you. I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever.’ ”

v. Who is this King?

vi. John 1:49 (NLT) — 49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”

John 1:49 NLT

Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”

vii. Jesus is arrested and stands before Pilate.

viii. John 18:33 (NLT) — 33 Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.

John 18:33 NLT

Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.

ix.

King of Kings

a. Watch Pilates actions!

i. Four times in this account Pilate publicly refers to Jesus as the “King of the Jews.”

ii. The first time comes after he questions Jesus.

iii. John 18:39 (NLT) — 39 But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?”

John 18:39 NLT

But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?”

iv. After having Jesus whipped, Pilate brings him out before the Jews and says, “Here is your king!”

v. John 19:14 (NLT) — 14 It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, “Look, here is your king!”

John 19:14 NLT

It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, “Look, here is your king!”

vi. Then he asks, “Should I crucify your king?”

vii. John 19:15 (NLT) — 15 “Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!” “What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.

John 19:15 NLT

“Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!” “What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.

viii. Pilate has a sign made.

ix. John 19:19 (NLT) — 19 And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

John 19:19 NLT

And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

x. It doesn’t really matter if he mocking or became convinced

xi. The sign says King of the Jews for the world to see.

The King is mocked.

a. Remember Jesus is controlling the events.

i. Pilate mocks Jesus and the Jews.

ii. The soldiers who strike Jesus do so to taunt him, but they don’t understand that Jesus is a King unlike any king this world has ever seen.

iii. He’s a King who humbles himself to die so he might deliver those who hate him and rebel against him.

iv. The garments they place on him and the horrible crown they force him to wear reveal he is a humble King who rules through his suffering.

Why Jesus should be King.

a. The problem with business meeting.

i. We want our way it does matter what God thinks.

ii. When pride, greed, dishonesty, and selfishness run a church…

iii. When Jesus is king we surrender our preferences and answer the call of God.

Jesus Suffered.

i. When you read the gospels, you have no doubt that Jesus was mistreated.

ii. If you look closely, it will reveal something to you.

iii. The suffering of Jesus reveals the wickedness of our sin.

iv. And That we cannot please God.

v. His grace in saving us is the only hope we have.

vi. The horrible mistreatment of Jesus gives us confidence in God’s promises.

vii. Reminds us Jesus is our ultimate treasure.

viii. For only his death could satisfy the debt of sin we owed.

Is Jesus King?