The King Is Coming

Introduction- We talk a lot about being on mission at GCC because it's a phrase that should bring focus to our lives. For us to see that our lives don't belong to us but they have been bought at a price. Walking in our calling and purpose will cause people to look at us and they will try to put us in their box and place their expectations on us.Remain committed and humble. The text as recorded begins what is known as Passion Week as it regards the final days of Jesus’ life here on earth. The word passion in Latin means to suffer and despite how things start out with a time of jubilation and excitement Jesus finds himself at this point of our text being followed by a crowd as he prepares to enter the city of Jerusalem at the time of the Passover.Along the way he has performed the latest of many miracles. By restoring the sight of the blind man, restoring the health of those that were sick, even if it was a lengthy illness for years. Teaching Points- 1. Because the King is coming we must accept His reign (vv. 12-15) They kept shouting: "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord — the King of Israel!" - John 12:13 "Hosanna" - the Hebrew expression literally means "Save now." They wanted Jesus to save them. "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" (verse 13). When someone speaks kind words about the deceased at a funeral, what do you call that? A eulogy. That's the same word John uses here for "blessed." Blessed means to speak well of, to praise. The people are quoting from Psalm 118:25-26. "LORD, save us! LORD, please grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you." They are calling for him to be their earthly king. But look at the next verse (14): "Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it."There is significance here. If he was coming in as a military or political leader, he would come in on a horse. In fact, when they traveled from town to town, people only rode donkeys if they were traveling in peace. Verse 15: "Just as it is written." When you see that, the writer is going to quote from the Old Testament. Jesus is fulfilling another prophecy. "Fear no more, Daughter Zion; look! your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt" (Zech. 9:9). People were looking for a messiah — searching for a savior — and they expected Jesus to come in to Jerusalem and clean house. They expected Him to fight for an earthly kingdom. They thought they had the solution. He had fed the people. He had healed the sick. He had raised the dead. He came to dwell in the hearts of men and women - to recreate them in God's image. Jesus came to change people's hearts 2. Because the King is coming you should glorify him. (vv.16-19) Be a light - Calling out Hosanna Lord save us! People are not aware of the spiritual darkness in their lives Do not allow fear to move you to cover/dim your light to make others less aware of their sin. We should be having a gospel conversation with someone every single day. As the Lord leads you, give glory to Him. Our loved ones walk the path to destruction every day. We should not be okay with that. As a believer, we should be looking to commit to making disciples despite what inconvenience it may bring. He is concerned with the souls of men women and children. The crowd was greatly excited and filled with praise for the Messiah who taught with such authority, healed the sick, and raised the dead. (Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter) Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. - Luke 9:23-24 We've been in Jesus' time, and I want us to come back to present time.Isaiah 1:17 says Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. To live for Christ does not mean that we should be waiting to be ushered off to heaven on flowery beds of ease as one hymn writer put it. -Human trafficking -corruption (politically and religiously) -poverty/oppression of miseducated -injustice/discrimination toward certain racial/ethnic groups --violence in our community and city In closing, if Jesus showed up today I think we might expect the same things. Jesus could end war, poverty, and homelessness. He could eliminate stress - financial stress, marital stress, work stress, emotional stress, family conflict, fear. But what He did back then was go to the cross and sacrifice His life for us so that we could be transformed. We can sometimes lose sight of His love and faithfulness to us will sustain us through life’s challenges and commitments.. We say our vision statement as a church every week. Our core purpose as a church family is this: To make disciples. This is through spiritual transformation of individuals, families, our community, and the world for the glory of Jesus Christ. But it begins with you. Let Him change you. Then He will change your situation, then He will change your family, then He will change this church, then He will change this community, then He will change this world. Look again at this crowd. Who is there as the people wave their palm branches before Jesus and pave the road with their clothing? I would imagine Bartimaeus is there.I would imagine Zacchaeus is there. The woman with the issue of blood. Maybe Jairus as well. We know that Lazarus is there, along with Mary and Martha. That crowd was full of people He had healed, delivered and ministered to and they were praising Him. It’s a mighty long parade by now, but it is marching off toward eternity with Jesus in the lead. They can see that the king was coming then and He is coming now. Those who know Him are still praising His name and worshiping the One Who became poor so that we might become rich in Him!" Just four days later, Jesus will be arrested and put on trial sentenced to be executed by crucifixion. Through his death on the cross, He makes a way for you to have a relationship with God. Through his resurrection, He gives you the hope of resurrection from the dead and eternal life. Through his Holy Spirit, He wants to change your life. Since we know that the King is coming, let’s obey and worship the King!