Welcoming the King

Intro:

Take your Bibles and turn them to John 12:12-19

It is fitting that we have celebrated our Graduating Seniors as they are heading into their next chapter life.

Today, we are looking at the next chapter of Jesus’s life.

At this point, Jesus has been traveling from town to town…

He’s been teaching, performing miracles, performing signs....

But today, Jesus is heading into Jerusalem and will not be leaving in the same way this time.

The next 8 chapters will not contain miracles and signs as we lead up to His ultimate miracle of his resurrection!

And as Jesus is coming into Jerusalem, and He knows that He is walking in the shadow of His cross.

And as you walk in a shadow, the shadow starts getting more and more narrow the closer you get to the object.

You can only imagine Jesus entering into Jerusalem knowing the cross awaits!

However, we see this sweet moment in the life of Christ as he enters into Jerusalem!

John 12:12–19 NKJV

12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” 14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

As we look at this passage, there are a couple things that I believe the Lord wants you to consider today.

They are simple things....however, I believe they are life changing.

The first thing is a question for each of us to ask ourselves.

And then there are two assertions...

One about God’s work

And the other about our Work

I. How have we WELCOMED the King? (John 12:12-13)

In the passage, we see this sweet and powerful welcome of Jesus Christ as King.

And we will look at this in a moment....but I first want to ask how we have welcomed the King.

This is not a question of has the king come....

I have heard the phrase before… “Jesus is a gentleman and will not force Himself in one’s life”.

And while I understand the sentiment....I want us to be careful!

Jesus was not invited into the world....He was rejected!

He was rejected in the Garden....

He was rejected in the Manger...

He was rejected on the Cross...

However, PRAISE GOD THAT JESUS BROKE THROUGH THE DARKNESS, AND ENTERED INTO A WORLD THAT HAD REJECTED HIM AND WAS FILLED WITH HIS ENEMIES.

The KING HAS COME!

There is a thought that if I don't invite Christ into my life, he’s not there!

HOWEVER, He’s there....you just may not have surrendered to him.

But He’s there and He is KING!

He has authority over you

You are just not under his blessings!

You are an enemy of the King rather than an adopted Child of the King!

Your response does not change WHO JESUS IS!

However, it does change WHO YOU ARE.

Your either....

An enemy…or and adopted child

A foe....or a friend

Old self.....New Creation

Dead....or Alive

Bon Jovi…Wanted Dead or Alive

So, let’s go back to the passage where they welcomed Christ.

Through the book of John, we see this theme of A TASTE NOW....BUT GREATER THINGS TO COME

The Water to Wine

The Living Water to Everlasting Fountain

The Healing of the Lame man to No More Sickness

I believe we can see this theme here as well as Jesus comes into Jerusalem.

We call this the Triumphant Entry...

But triumphal is an interesting word.....

In terms of grandeur, maybe not so triumphant

Jesus was riding a donkey...

People had palm branches in their hands...

And they are shouting...

When I think of Triumphal entry....my minds goes to a Roman Triumph that would have occured!

The Roman World was their context....

And they had an actual Roman Triumph given if....

If a Roman General was victorious on foreign land

If there was at least a killing of 5,000 enemies

If they gained new territory.

And it was triumphant.....one of the highest honors as a triumphator

The person would wear a crown and clothed with purple.

They would ride in on a 4 horse chariot

And the enemies and spoils would be on display often in chains

Your army would be next in their robes

Met with much praise

Often would end with sacrifices or even with the wild beasts

And so now…here we have Jesus....

On a donkey

People with Palm Branches shouting praise

Being criticized the whole time by the religious leaders

However, remember....this is a taste of what is to come!

This entrance is a taste of the GREATER THINGS TO COME!

And there is a greater entrance that is to come.....

Revelation 19:11–16 NKJV

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

Revelation 7:9–17 NKJV

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” 14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

So, how have you welcomed the King!

He has come....and the way you have welcomed him now....will DECIDE HOW YOU WELCOME HIM THEN!

II. God is always working in FULFILLING His WILL. (John 12:14-16)

John 12:14–16 NKJV

14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

This is a simple truth but it is TRUTH THAT GIVES HOPE!

God is ALWAYS WORKING IN FULFILLING HIS WILL.

While riding in on a donkey is a little strange here....

God was fulfilling His Will that He promised and revealed to Zechariah 9:9

Zechariah 9:9 NKJV

9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

And you can know today that....NO MATTER WHAT IS GOING ON.....GOD IS WORKING IN FULFILLING HIS WILL!

This encourage me!

HE WINS!!!

This leads to something else though....

God’s work may not make sense at the time!

The disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered these things!

I have had this happen so many times....

I did not understand, but then I remembered later!

Maybe you need to hear that today....

You may not understand now....

But perhaps....one day soon…you will remember!

Or, we can at least say in as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:12 “12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”

III. Let us always work in TESTIFYING of the Work of God. (John 12:17-19)

John 12:17–19 NKJV

17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

Think about this....

Here is Jesus with a large crowd!

Many of them were there because of the Passover Feast was approaching.

But there were also a large group that had followed since Lazarus had been raised from the grave.

And what is this Large Lazarus Crowd doing?

They are Bearing Witness......TESTIFYING

And whats the result?

The World had gone after Him!

Oh how I long for this!

Invitation:

I want to bring you back to that question.....How have you welcomed the King!?

Have you really treated Him as your king?

Have you recognized His authority?

Have you submitted and obeyed?

Have you been in awe of His Majesty!

Or is today the day that you need to TRUELY WELCOME HIM, RECEIVE HIM AS YOUR KING!

Here is something that you need to know....

GOD IS AT WORK IN FULFILLING HIS WILL!

We should be TESTIFYING OF THIS GREAT WORK!