Is Jesus your King?

Text:

John 12:12–19 KJV 1900

On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt. These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

Introduction

As Jesus is making his way into Jerusalem on a day we refer to as Palm Sunday you will notice that it was not in a show of great power. No, it was in complete submission to the plan of God outlined in the Word of God. God always works in accordance with his Word, not in accordance with our wants. His ways are far better than ours and his plans far superior.

As he enters Jerusalem he is presenting himself to Israel as King!

Transition

The majority of people did not receive him as their king. But this morning as we look at this passage of Scripture we need to as ourselves is Jesus our King? Is Jesus my King?

Notice first...

I. The Presentation of the King

Jesus came exactly like the Bible said he would come!

A. The Method of His Presentation

It was humble an lowly and seemingly powerless

Who would see this as a procession of a true King? Not the Religious crowd - Not the Ruling crowd (The Romans) - only the one who knew the Word!

John 12:15 KJV 1900

Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

Zechariah 9:9–10 KJV 1900

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 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, And the horse from Jerusalem, And the battle bow shall be cut off: And he shall speak peace unto the heathen: And his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, And from the river even to the ends of the earth.

B. The Moment of His Presentation

The amazing precision of the Bible cannot be overlooked or overstated - everything we believe is predicated on this Book!

4 days before passover on Palm Sunday

In accordance with the prophecy in Daniel chapter 9

Daniel 9:24–27 KJV 1900

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

1. 70 weeks - weeks of years Dan 9:27, Dan 12:11

2. A 490 year period of time

3. General Timeline

Began with the order to rebuild Jerusalem Neh 2:1-6 (March 14th, 445 BC)

Next 69 weeks of years (2 portions)

7 weeks of years to rebuild Jerusalem (49 years)

Next there were 62 weeks of years or 434 years until Messiah would come - Taken literally these 83 years or 173,880 days would end on April 6, 32 AD, or the precise day Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey! There is no other book on the planet like the Bible!

After Messiah came several prophetic events were to take place

He will be “cut off” - or crucified

Jerusalem will be destroyed -

Matthew 24:1–2 KJV 1900

And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

iv. The Church age was inserted into the picture and the final 7 years have yet to be fulfilled

v. The final week (7 years) are known to us as the “Great Tribulation” or “Jacobs Trouble”

C. The Multitudes at His Presentation

John 12:13 KJV 1900

Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

The people who saw Jesus entering the city understood the implications of what He was doing.

Therefore, they cried “Hosanna” which means “Save now.”

In light of His miracles, most notable, that of raising Lazarus, and because of His public appeal, the people thought that Jesus would be the One who would overthrow the Roman government. These people were looking for a ruler. Yet, how fickle they were. In just 5 days, some of these same people would join their voices with those crying “crucify Him,” John 19:6.

John 19:6 KJV 1900

When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

While they expected him to come as a King, they never expected Him to die. When it became apparent over the next few days that Jesus would not overthrow Rome, these same people who cheered Him, turned on Him and rejected Him.

We have noticed The Presentation of the King now we will look at ....

II. The Purpose of the King

What was the purpose for Jesus coming to this world?

A. His purpose to die for sin

John 12:24–25 KJV 1900

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

This was the one thing the Jews could not accept

This is the one thing many people today cannot accept

Many Christians cannot accept this truth as it relates to living the Christian life

Romans 6:10 KJV 1900

For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

B. His purpose to draw men unto himself

John 12:32 KJV 1900

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

“lifted up” - literally means Crucified

Many came to Jesus before the Cross but Jesus tells of his death and how the cross would draw men to himself

We need to meditate more on the cross - it is a picture of agony and suffering but it is at the cross where we find strength and victory

1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV 1900

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

C. His purpose to duplicate his life in those who come by faith

John 12:23 KJV 1900

And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

Why would Jesus see His impending death as a glorifying moment?

He would not stay dead! He is alive today!

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Illustration: - Lazarus himself!!

The Presentation of the King - The Purpose of the King - and ....

III. The Prejudice against the King

Jn 12:24-43

A. They rejected His message

“lifted up”

John 12:34 KJV 1900

The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

They knew what “lifted up” meant - they could not receive that Jesus would die

How can death bring life - how can death deliver us!

Many still reject his message today

How about you? Have you received his message?

Hebrews 2:3 KJV 1900

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

B. They rejected His ministry

“...who is this son of man?”

Many today reject Christ just the same way - I do not want a man to rule over me - no one tells me what to do

Many Christians do not have Jesus Christ as their King - they are their own King - running their own lives

C. They rejected His miracles

John 12:37 KJV 1900

But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

“…so many miracles”

What miracles today?

We have the Bible

He is risen from the dead

Either the Bible is true or it is indeed the greatest hoax ever played on mankind

The Presentation of the King - The Purpose of the King - The Prejudice against the King - and finally...

IV. The Promise of the King

Those who receive Jesus as their King are given promises.

A. The promise of revelation

John 12:44–45 KJV 1900

Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

Jesus Christ is very God - God in the flesh

When we see Jesus we see God!

If any man desires to meet God he can only do so through the person of Jesus Christ

B. The promise of release

John 12:46 KJV 1900

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

The only way to see your way through this dark world is to walk with Christ

Illustration: There is something about darkness that we are naturally afraid of. My children are always asking me to leave a light on somewhere when they go to bed because they don’t like it to dark.

Adults.... we are comfortable with darkness so for us we want it as dark as it can be.

Often - we get so dull to the darkness around us that we forget

Jesus promised those who come to him would not “abide in darkness”

C. The promise of rescue

John 12:47–50 KJV 1900

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

We are under the judgement of the word but Christ delivers Salvation!!

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:9 KJV 1900

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

John 5:24 KJV 1900

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Romans 4:7–8 KJV 1900

Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Conclusion

The majority rejected Jesus as he humbly presented himself as the King of Israel. The reality is that he is the King of Kings and Lord or Lords!

One day the whole world will see:

1 Timothy 6:15 KJV 1900

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

One day the whole world will bow:

Isaiah 45:23 KJV 1900

I have sworn by myself, The word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall swear.

Romans 14:11 KJV 1900

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

At that time it will be to late for those who rejected the King - they will bow but they will be punished for eternity. Will you receive him today? Will you bow today? He is waiting and offering the gift of Salvation to you…Come and make Jesus your King!