Crown Christ King of Your Life

Bible Passage: Matthew 21:1-11

Intro:

Book, Date, Style:

Gospel scribed by the Apostle Matthew, writing from Judea around A.D. 60 (about 30 years after Christ death). His purpose in writing is to show that Jesus is the Son of David, the Kingly Messiah who fulfills the prophecy of the OT.

The events that occur in the passage we will look at today occurred in either A.D. 30, or 33, scholars debate this date.

Location: Bethphage (beth-fayge) /Bethany (two small villages just east of Jerusalem near the hill known as the Mount of Olives.

If you don’t mind turning to Matthew 21:1-11

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Sermon Idea: I believe that this text bids modern readers to Crown Christ King of our Lives.

Division Statement 1

The first way I believe the text bids modern readers to Crown Christ King of our Lives is through our practices.

1. Our Practices

Matthew 21:1-7

Jesus' deliberate fulfillment of prophecy from Zechariah 9:9 where the humble and righteous messianic King rides a donkey as He enters Jerusalem.

Explanation:

Jesus having just entered Bethphage had no time to make arrangements for himself to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, so he decides to send his disciples to retrieve the donkeys for Himself. We notice an inkling of Jesus’ foreknowledge and omniscience from this verse, because as he sends the disciples, he explains to them exactly where the donkey will be, predicts the disposition of those overseeing the donkeys and provides a response that will enable the owners release of the donkey. In other words, he knew exactly what would happen and when it would happen, before it ever happened.

v.3- “The Lord hath need of them”

Christ tells them to respond to any questions of their retrieving the donkeys by stating that “The Lord hath need of them”.

The word Lord in Greek here is “kurios” which can mean earthly master, as well as the embodiment of the divine God of the Universe.

This statement has double meaning. In one way he tells them to state that the owner or master of these donkeys need them. In another way, he is stating that he is not only master over these donkey’s but master over all property, that he can rightfully demand at any time. In other words, here Christ is claiming to be “kurios” or Lord over all creation. He’s the King of the universe, and Since everything was created by Him, and for Him, He owns everything, and everything will be gathered unto Himself.

v.5- Matthew explains that Christ orchestrated this with intentionality, that he may fulfill the messianic prophecy of (Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; Lowly, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.” ) and Isaiah 62:11 “Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; Behold, his reward is with him, And his work before him.” )

Where the righteous messianic King rides a donkey as He enters Jerusalem, proclaiming peace to the nations. Rather than arriving as a military conqueror on a warhorse ready to lead a revolt against the Roman Empire, Jesus came humbly on a donkey, indicating that his victory would come not through arms and force, and his battle was not directed towards the Roman empire, but rather His victory would come through His sacrificial death, where he would win his battle against death, hell and the grave.

“ass” and “colt”

Colt is the younger version of a donkey, and we know from the other gospel accounts of this story that this was a donkey that had never been road before.

There is an adult donkey and a younger one that is retrieved and the younger one is ridden by Jesus.

The older donkey and younger one, symbolizes the fusion of the old and new, of earth and heaven now coming on earth.

Symbolism of Christ coming in on the donkey:

Why is the donkey so important in Messianic prophecy?

Abraham rode a donkey to Mount Moriah (the same region of calvary where Christ would later be crucified) to sacrifice his only son Issac— Now here is Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem, to be sacrificed as God’s only Son.

Moses put his family on a donkey when he went to liberate the Israelites from Egyptian captivity under Pharaoh— Here is Christ riding a donkey to liberate his people from the slavery and penalty of sin.

In other words, Christ rides a donkey, highlighting the fact that he is greater than both Abraham and Moses, and he is bringing a greater Sacrifice and greater salvation than either of them could provide.

Jesus riding in on this donkey symbolizes him harnessing all of the earth for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Our temptation is to do just the opposite, reversing these values and compromising the kingdom of heaven for the materialistic things on earth. This shows up practically in our lives with how much time, effort and money we waste on materialistic things. We clock in at work everyday and trade our time, and health for materialistic things. We sacrifice relationships with family over materialistic things. We work hard to acquire, upkeep, and pass along materialistic things. We spend more money on materialistic things than we do advancing the kingdom of God. Christ said stack our treasures in heaven, where rust and moths can’t devour them.

Don’t you find it strange that the Scriptures say that the streets of heaven are paved with Gold?

I thought to myself, maybe God was just showing off at that point but no really, the symbolism of this design is that the things that human beings waste their lives attempting to grasp, the things that we most value, in the carnal world is nothing but pavement on the ground to be walked upon in God’s kingdom. Heaven has a complete reversal of the world’s values. And the things of Heaven are more real than the things of this world. These things will pass away. Those things are eternal. This world is a facade, that world is reality. How can a man who has never seen encounter Christ and see for the first time. How can terminally ill beings be healed? How can the deaf live their entire lives not hearing and encounter Christ and hear for the first time? How can a man lying in his grave for 4 days be risen from the dead?

“The power and values of Heaven are far more real than the illusions of this earthly realm, and when they are put into action, it overturns and transforms what appears to be physical reality.”- Jewels Gray

Its why God has been attempting to communicate his power and values with mankind since the beginning. He wants us to prioritize souls, and giving to the poor, taking care of widows and forgiving each other. These are the realities of Heaven. These are the things that matter.

The monetary investments, the degrees, the legacy, the homes, and cars and clothes, they will all pass away. But these other things are eternal and they will remain.

v.6- “and the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them”

What seems to be so subtle and so simple of a verse need not be skimmed over. This verse is powerful. (repeat phrase) To go and do what Jesus commands us should be the aim of the Christian life. He once stated that if we love Him, we would obey His commands (John 14:15)

Illustration:

Have you guys ever traveled out of town and rented an Airbnb? (explain process)

I’m graduating soon, and my family is coming up from Alabama so I figured I’d rent an Airbnb, partially so we can all stay together under the same roof and spend some time together, and partially because the hotel prices are through the roof. It doesn’t make any sense, i guess since Liberty usually has 60,000 people at the graduation, the hotels within a 2hour drive decide to jack the prices up. I seen a $60 a night hotel go up to $300 a night online and then I knew something was up. I said man these prices are getting higher than my old college football teammates, and thats saying something because my old teammates used to get so high, that they started redefining what it meant to reach for the stars.

Gas is high too, the economy jacked up higher than a car with a flat tire.

But anyway, I went to reserve a airbnb and the owner allowed me to book it, so I tell my family that we have a spot to stay when they come in town and everything is looking good.

A few weeks after that, the owner canceled my reservation. And I thought to myself, he must have wanted to use the home that weekend, or he got a better offer price for it.

The reason I didn’t contend with the owner is because he owns the home, and has rights and privileges to demand it whenever he sees fit.

Argumentation:

Thats exactly what happens when Jesus sends His disciples in this text. He tells them to go into this village, untie this donkey that isn’t there’s and bring it back to Himself, as he demands what he rightfully owns. No negotiation, no explanation, except this:

“if anyone asks, tell them the Lord has need for it”.

The disciples don’t even hesitate to follow his instructions. They just go and do as he says. And I wondered why?

I believe its because they understood something most of us resist. If Christ truly is Lord, if he Truly is King of Creation, He owns it all. If he owns it all, he has the right to direct it all.

You see your life, is that donkey. Your habits, your decisions, your everyday practices, they don’t belong to you, but rather to Him, and I believe the text is showing this to us. I believe through this text Christ is calling to us saying the same words he uttered 2,000 years ago on this very day, but this time, pertaining to our very lives, and our very practices, “The Lord, have need of it”.

Question: If the King has need of our practices, why do we hesitate to obey his word every day?

Division Statement 2

The second way I believe the text bids modern readers to Crown Christ King of our Lives is through our praise and prioritization.

2. Our Praise and Proclamation

Matthew 21:8-11

Explanation:

v. 8 - “spread their garments in the way”

these garments were the outer mantles that were wore during this time period within this culture.

Taking off your mantle and laying it on the path of great conquerors, kings, princes, and royalty, was a sign of honor and respect.

You may say this seems a little weird, taking off your clothes to be trampled on by a king to show them respect, but it was symbolic. As their garments were under his feet, it was as sign of their pledge to submit under his rulership as King.

Story of being in England and visiting the Parliment and Palace, Westiminister Abbey

Essentially they were making a carpet for the king to enter in on.

“others cut down branches from the trees and strawed them in the way”

These were palm branches. They were previously used in celebration of the liberation of the Jews by the Maccabees in the Second Century BC., which is celebrated during Hannakah. So they were being used as a sign of the expectation of deliverance, rather than being connected to the fulfillment of direct prophecy. So the name Palm Sunday, actually stems from history rather than prophecy. The name of this day should probably be Donkey Sunday, but that wouldn’t be as aestetically pleasing now would it. Besides, the younger kids would see it as their only justified shot to use the word “ass”.

The only biblical connection of use really is that the Palm tree was used in the OT during the Feast of the Tabernacles. The harvest of the palm fruit marked the end of summer, and God commanded the Israelites to gather palm branches to construct temporary shelters for the seven-day festival. The palm reminded people of the harvest and prompted them to give thanks to God for abundance. By Christ’s day, the palms had become a national sign of victory.

This ironically connects in this story because the crowd began to celebrate a misplaced victory, thinking Christ would liberate them from Roman tyranny. In other words, they celebrated a victory they did not understand, using imagery of harvest that would actually find its fulfillment on the cross rather than through a political kingdom.

v.9- “Hosanna” is a proclamation of praise, but is not to be confused with Hallelujah as some do.

It was a praise but more than just a praise, it was a request. It literally means (save, we pray)

It finds its roots in Psalm 118:25 (“Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.” )

The phrase translated save now is Hosanna. The first word is hoshi’ah, which has the Aramaic root yasha’, where the name Yeshua or Jesus comes from. It means salvation. Yasha is causitive, meaning it is rendered as saved, rescued or delivered. The construct is two-fold with the other part of the compound being anna, which has a root of anah which means to answer or respond.

In other words, a proper rendering of the praise phrase (better explained as a praise request) that these excited followers of Jesus are shouting is, “Please answer our prayer of deliverance”

This crowd, as they say this phrase, is acknowledging Jesus as their savior, and Messiah. The problem is that they weren’t seeking salvation from sin, but rather from Roman tyranny. They desired a political freedom, rather than spiritual.

As they call him the Son of David, and hail him as coming in the name of the Lord, and waving and throwing palm branches and their garments at his feet, they are praising Jesus, and deeply embedded within their praise was this plea for deliverance.

Luke 19:39–40 “And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” as it records this account, mentions that when the Pharisees, saw them praising and calling Him these names that could only be attributed to the Reigning King and Messiah, they told Christ to make these people refrain from calling him such things. His response was what really shook their minds. He told them, if he stopped their praise, the rocks would cry out.

All throughout the OT the bible talks about how God’s creation praises him, and even mentions those things that don’t have breath praising God such as the sea and mountains.

Here Christ essentially says “If these people stop praising me as God, then the stones would take their place and begin praising me”

Not only was he claiming to be the Messiah, but he was claiming to be the King of Heaven, as he was receiving praise, and telling the Pharisees that nothing could stop me from receiving praise in this moment.

v.10-11- “the city was moved, saying who is this”

“eseithē” is the greek word for moved and is used of earthquakes (so moved is a rather mild word for what was going on concerning the city) they were wild with excitement in this moment.

This response calls others to question, who is this Jesus? to which they respond, he is the Prophet, of Nazareth of Galilee

Illustration:

Bandwagon Fans

They jump on board after things start going well.

They participate in the praise part of the equation, but they’ve missed the mark on the proclamation part all throughout the season.

This principles aligns with a key tension in this Triumphal entry story— The crowd is crying out Hosanna, or Deliver us, and their praise is so loud that it shakes the city. But when that same shaken city asks who this Jesus is, they respond by simply calling him a Prophet. Their proclamation falls short of his true identity, and their proclamation doesn’t match their praise of Him as their everlasting King.

Argumentation:

You see its possible to have volume in your praise, but vacancy in your proclamation. It’s possible to show up to church Sunday after Sunday, and go through the motions of praise, with actually proclaiming him in your everyday life.

Conversely its possible to proclaim to be a follower of Christ, yet not praise Him with your life.

Christ wants to be crowned King of your Praise AND your proclamation. Not one without the other.

He wants to be the sole object of your praise and worship, and the fruit that is on your lips daily.

If he truly is King of your life, he can’t just be the focus of your life for a moment when you come in these four walls, but he has to be your focus as you boldly declare his truth to the outside world when you leave this place.

England connection to the many lives given for proclamation of God’s word and attempts to share the gospel with every tongue by translating it into their respective languages.

So the question that this text posits, is not just do you praise Christ as your King, but does your life clearly proclaim who he truly is as well?

Application/Call to Respond

Preaching for Faith moment:

I can stand up here and proclaim God’s word, explain how Christ has been recognized as King of the entire world since the beginning of time, and even illuminate how the Jews 2,000 years ago understood this truth. But what good is it if you aren’t faced with this very question: Will You Crown Jesus King of your life? Will you surrender your practices, praise, and proclamation to him?

When he calls you to bear that child in difficulty, or start that business, quit that job, leave that relationship, or forgive that person that sought to harm you, or reconcile with that family member, or chase that long-lost dream, or give up that persisting habit, will you crown him King of your practice?

When there’s no food in the fridge and no money in your pocket, when job losses occur, when sudden life changes throw you in a whirl, not just when life starts getting better but when all hell is breaking through in your life will you panic, or crown him King of your Praise ?

When God lays it on your heart to share the gospel with that coworker, and serve that neighbor that keeps blasting their music at 100% during the wee moments of the night keeping everyone up although they should know that you all have work in the morning—ok I may have got too specific with that one but you get the point , When God moves you to pray with that relative that has went wayward in their faith, or speak up against the wrong that’s been occuring on the job, or go on that corner and shout his gospel for the entire city to hear, Will you suppress Christ, or will you crown Him King of your Proclamation.

Today God has sent me here to speak to your heart, and change your life forever, but the question is, will you leave this place the same way you entered or will you trust Him, believe Him, Surrender to Him, Follow Him, and Render Him as King of Your Life.

If you’ve heard the good Lord speaking to you through this sermon today, just for the next minute or so, we’ll have a moment of silence and I just want you to speak to God and remind Him and yourself that you have and are continually crowing Him king of your life. Think about that place in your life that if God put on display the things that you allow to occur in that place, you’d be embarrassed and quite ashamed. Think about that place that you haven’t reached full maturity at yet and God is still sanctifying you in. Think about that person you haven’t made things right with, that co-worker you haven’t forgave. Think about that guilt that you’ve been carrying from those old mistakes that you’ve made. Take those places to Him in this moment and ask Him to enter those places and fill them with His glory. Ask Him to use His Holy Spirit to help you Crown Him King in those places of Your life. Ask Him to allow His precious grace to carry you through the pain of those places.

Outro: Amazing Grace Song

Invitation:

If there is one who like several of those amongst the crowd on Palm Sunday 2,000 years ago, asked who is this Jesus? Or maybe another who hasn’t realized him fully as the King, Lord and Savior of their life, the bible says:

All have sinned.., The wages of sin…, for God so loved the world…., If we believe in our heart…

So I invite you to come to the front, or stay right where you are and I will lead you in the prayer of salvation, in your mind and heart, repeat after me:

Salvation Prayer:

Father I have sinned and I have been separated from you because of this sin. I could never live up to the perfect standard your law has set for mankind. I thank you that you have offered me a gift of salvation in your Son Jesus Christ. I thank you that you have sent him to live a sinless life, die an unjust roman cruxifixion, be buried in a tomb where he lied for 3 days, and then you raised Him from the dead, giving Him the name above every name in all existence and eternity. I believe all of this with my very soul and I thank you for your life and sacrifice Jesus. I ask you now to come into my heart, and fill me with your spirit. Teach me and enable me to follow you, and never let me wander astray. I receive your gift of eternal life. I now crown you King of my very own. In Jesus name, amen.

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