Sermon Tone Analysis

*Thy Kingdom Come: The Authority of Jesus*

*March 28, 1999             Palm Sunday*

 

*Scripture: Luke 19:27-48 *

 

*Introduction:*

 

We pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

In so praying, we acknowledge the authority of the Son of God.

Thy:            the authority to claim ownership

 

Kingdom:    the authority to exert leadership

 

Come:         the authority to receive worship

 

And we acknowledge this proclamation of his authority as we celebrate Palm Sunday today.

Certainly the Son of God came into Jerusalem in humble proclamation of ownership for his capitol, the City of God, hoping the people would accept his leadership and worship him as both King and Priest.

We see his authority to rule in his triumphal procession into Jerusalem.

We see his authority to judge in his dramatic predictions regarding his rejection.

And we see his authority to discipline in his righteous purification of the temple.

The people could have permanently ushered in his kingdom that day.

Some proclaimed his praise, but most did not.

And so today we still pray, “Thy kingdom come.”

And it will.

But we can celebrate it today because his kingdom exists in our hearts.

His kingdom lives in the heart of anyone who accepts his authority.

A.

The Triumphal Procession: the Authority of Jesus to Rule  (28-40)

 

          1.

There was the constraint to go to Jerusalem: To suffer and die                            (28)

 

/After his convicting statement in the previous verse, Jesus sets his heart upon Jerusalem, going on ahead he knew his cause and purpose.

He would be a king like none the world had ever known.

He would earn the right with his own blood, not the blood of others.

Such a king deserves the allegiance of those whose blood would be spared, but not all would be as generous toward him as he was toward them.

The road led up but the blood would flow down.

/

         

          2.

There was the deliberate claim to be King  (29-35)

                   a.

He planned a dramatic demonstration in detail

                   b.

He used the title “the Lord” in laying claim to men’s                                  property

                   c.       His instructions were carefully followed

                   d.

He accepted the recognition of the disciples

 

/His claim to the throne was not in any sense of fleshly power or presumption but with spiritual savvy and sophistication.

Once again, Jesus was going to blow people’s minds with a miracle.

This time it would be with a miracle of the mundane.

Nobody, absolutely nobody who would be a king, would ride into camp on a donkey.

It was ridiculously stupid in man’s eyes but not in God’s eyes.

God doesn’t need to prove to men who he is.

His presence speaks for itself, to those who would see for themselves, without the blindness of following others.

This would be a test for what men sought in a leader.

It would be an example for any who would seek to be leaders./

/ /

/Pres.

Clinton’s staff spent a lot of time, energy and money making him look good.

He needed it.

But Jesus didn’t need a public relations staff - he was good.

Isn’t it a breath of fresh air to know a leader whose actions speak louder than words in a positive sense, who isn’t afraid to be real, whose position and authority flow directly from God?  Just as Jesus put a new spin on love and generosity, so now also on leadership./

/ /

/Notice that his instructions were that the Lord needs it.

He has a claim to everything that we might call ours.

Would we be so generous when prompted by the Holy Spirit?

This not only fulfilled prophecy and revealed Christ’s intentions of leadership, it was a miracle that this unbroken colt could readily be ridden.

And it was a necessity of holiness that it was never put to other use except for the King.

Perhaps we should be so readily broken as this donkey that the King could ride our backs to glory.

And what if Christ were to send us on an errand?

Would we obey him to the letter?

His purpose may depend upon us.

Would we give our cloaks for him to sit on?

What if he asked for our tunics too?

Certainly he accepts the offerings of a humble and obedient heart./

3.

There were the people proclaiming Him to be King  (36-38)

 

/Notice the actions of the people following the actions of the two disciples.

They put their cloaks on the colt.

The people spread their cloaks on the road.

As a bride walks down the aisle on a cushion of unrolled velvet, so now Jesus rides down the road upon an interlaced network symbolizing man’s greatest gift.

These cloaks may have been the only real possession many of these people had.

In laying them down, they were saying in effect that I am your subject.

I bow before you and desire that I should be a road for your feet.

Upon me you may go wherever you wish.

You are my King.

I give myself to you./

/ /

/Now the road is nearer Jerusalem and the praise picks up intensity.

The people in one voice of charismatic diversity each praise him for what each has heard and experienced.

In some way Christ has spoken to each heart and now each responds in the unison of diversity.

There seems to be no end to the network of praise.

What a picture of heaven on earth.

What a picture of the birth of the church.

What a blessed hope – Thy Kingdom Come!/

 

          4.

There was the insistent claim of Jesus; He was to be proclaimed                         King by the people  (39-40)

                   a.

The religionists rebuked Him

                   b.       Jesus insisted: Proclaiming Him King was inevitable

 

/It seems to be a principle of life that there is a rotten apple in every barrel.

Some of the bottom scrapes off on the Pharisees who croak rebuke upon the praise.

Can you imagine their indignation and the responsibility they must feel for being so wise as Israel’s teachers?

Certainly they must protect the people from their misguided exuberance.

But Jesus puts them in their place by pronouncing that even rocks have more brains than to keep quiet when it is time to praise God./

 

B.

The Dramatic Prediction: the Authority of Jesus to Judge  (41-44)

 

          1.

The great love of Jesus for the city  (41-42)

                   a.

He wept over the city

                   b.

The reason: The city rejected the way of peace; that is, it                                     rejected the Messiah

 

/Jesus has done everything possible to show these men that he was on a mercy mission - even his manner of entry.

Wouldn’t you weep if you had arrived in time to save someone from disaster but they refuse help?

Jesus weeps over God’s city.

Certainly he does not want to see it destroyed.