The Messiah-King is Here!

THE KING IS HERE! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? Matthew 21:1-17 – MHAFB, 14 Apr 19 Series: Life of Jesus / Topics: Life of Jesus; Kingdom of God; Kingship; Palm Sunday; Honoring God; Submission; Praise; Celebration ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Songs: Hosanna (Praise is Rising), You're Worthy of My Praise, Lamb of God (Special), Shout to the Lord Opening Psalm: Psalm 118:19–29 Transition Slide: Palm Sunday Introduction 1. Attention: a. Do you ever wish you could custom design the president of our country? i. Not specifically our current president, the previous president, nor any other-ii. But let’s say you could chose the traits of our next president-1. If you could, what traits would you chose? iii. What things would you want this president to accomplish? b. You know, in Israel at the time of Jesus, i. Much like any other nations, ii. They wanted a strong leader to accomplish their interests. c. And they knew that God’s Word prophesied about a coming Messiah that would reign as a powerful King! i. They looked & longed for this Messiah for hundreds & hundreds of years ii. Yet they often looked & longed for a Messiah of their own design instead of the one that God chose… 2. Big Picture: a. Since August we’ve been looking at the story of Jesus, God’s chosen Messiah i. We’ve seen the good news that “Jesus Messiah (Christ) is Lord!” ii. During this time we have largely been tracking key teachings and stories of Jesus in the book of Matthew b. Throughout His ministry He has served throughout ancient Israel i. His ministry focused on preaching & teaching the Kingdom of God ii. While performing miraculous acts, from healing & beyond, that demonstrated that the Kingdom of God had come! iii. And not only this, but His words & actions were beginning to help Israel see that He was the King of this kingdom-1. He was the Messiah they had looked & longed for! 2. Slide: Title The Messiah-King is Here! iv. As a matter of fact, during the 3-years of Jesus’ public ministry there were times that people wanted to make him their political king by force! 1. But every time this happened Jesus slipped away, a. Knowing they did not understand or yet receive the type of King that He truly was b. Knowing that when He was publically embraced as the King, it would lead to His death... i. And His time had not yet come (John 6:15) v. But something changed on Palm Sunday as He came to Jerusalem— 1. Slide: The Route You can see his journey here (from Bethphage, through the Mount of Olives, into Jerusalem) 2. Jesus knew that His glorification as on the cross was almost here! (Matthew 26:45; Mark 14:41; John 12:23, 12:27, 13:1, 17:1) 3. And so He made a strategic public statement that declared His Messiah-kingship to Israel. 4. A public statement that “beckons the question,” a. If Jesus is the Messiah-King—what are you going to do about it? vi. Some chose to receive Him as their King, 1. At least in the way they understood it vii. But others clearly chose to reject Jesus as their King, 1. No matter which way it was understood! viii. How about you, how do you respond to Jesus’ claim to Messiah-kingship? 1. I encourage you to engage with the Lord in your Spirit about this very question today & in the time ahead c. Slide: Thesis: I hope that through today’s verses we will each recognize that... i. Knowing & honoring Jesus as the Messiah-King radically transforms & rightly focuses our lives 3. 8 Slides: Verses: Join me now in Matthew 21:1-17 as we see these very things… Matthew 21:1–17 CSB 1 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, 2 telling them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there with her foal. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: 5 Tell Daughter Zion, “See, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” 6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and its foal; then they laid their clothes on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9 Then the crowds who went ahead of him and those who followed shouted: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven! 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar, saying, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” 12 Jesus went into the temple and threw out all those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. 13 He said to them, “It is written, my house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves!” 14 The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 When the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonders that he did and the children shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant 16 and said to him, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” Jesus replied, “Yes, have you never read: You have prepared praise from the mouths of infants and nursing babies?” 17 Then he left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there. 4. Transition: May we be such ones that so praise Messiah Jesus. a. Pray with me. (Father, prepare our hearts for Your Word today.) Slide: Main Point 1a The Messiah-King is Revealed 1. Explain: a. Throughout several previous sermons we’ve talked about what the Messiah is i. A custom of the day was to anoint people with olive oil as a way to signify their appointment to a special position 1. It is similar to the European tradition of ‘crowning’ someone as king ii. “Messiah” comes from the Hebrew word for “anointed one” 1. The Greek Jews used the word “Christ” for this Hebrew word iii. God’s Word shows that the Messiah was... 1. MP1b: One specifically chosen (or anointed) by God for a special role— a. MP1c: Either a prophet (teacher, judge, & forth-teller), priest (teacher, mediator to God), or king (high leader) b. These men were often referred to as “the Lord’s anointed” 2. Over time, God began to share that these "anointed ones” were just a foreshadowing of an ultimate Anointed One of His salvation plan… a. An ultimate Messiah who would not merely be a prophet, a priest, or a king— i. MP1d: He would be all three! (c.f. Deut. 18:15-19; Zech. 6:11–13) ii. And as such, He would be the center of God’s salvation plan b. Our Perfect Prophet, the Great High Priest, the King of Kings! i. The One specifically chosen by God for the special task of saving God’s people! b. MP1e: Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem claimed this position as Israel’s Messiah-King in four key ways… i. MP1f: He received very public Messianic praises! 1. This was quite a contrast to earlier festivals when Jesus would sneak in unannounced (John 7:10)! 2. Now He enters with a crowd, a. Allowing them to spread their garments on the ground before them as people would do for kings of that day (2 Kings 9:13) 3. And the praises the crowd declared were Messianic praises a. Psalm 118:25–26, which we read from at the beginning of service, declares i. “Lord, save us!” (which is what “Hosanna!” means), 1. A word that, in the time of Jesus, “had become a fixed liturgical expression used as a prayer for help, an exclamation of praise, and a shout of celebration.” (CSB Study Bible) ii. “Lord, please grant us success! He who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed.” (or “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” as they declared) iii. “From the house of the Lord we bless you.” 4. Furthermore, the called Him “the Son of David,” a. Fulfilling the many prophesies that the Messiah would be from the kingly line of King David (e.g. 2 Sam. 7:12–16; Is. 11:1; Jer. 23:5–6, Amos 9:11-12) 5. Instead of rebuking the crowd for their mis-use of prophesy... a. Jesus accepts these declarations! b. Jesus even rebukes those who try to rebuke the crowd with another Messianic Psalm (Ps. 8:2)! ii. MP1g: He entered as Zechariah & Isaiah prophesied! 1. As Zechariah 9:9 shares, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; he is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (CSB) 2. And as Isaiah 62:10–11 shares, “Go out, go out through the city gates; prepare a way for the people! Build it up, build up the highway; clear away the stones! Raise a banner for the peoples. Look, the Lord has proclaimed to the ends of the earth, “Say to Daughter Zion: Look, your salvation is coming, his wages are with him, and his reward accompanies him.” (CSB) 3. While a king riding horse into a city was often a sign of war, a. When a king rode a donkey with such public praise, it was a sign of victory and peace! b. This could explain why the Romans did not interfere with this parade, i. Jesus wasn’t making a military threat, ii. He was symbolically declaring His present victory & peace! iii. MP1h: He declared (and demonstrates) authority over God’s temple! 1. While the entire Jewish religious and political establishment accepted how the temple was managed... 2. Jesus declares & demonstrates authority over the temple to build it up rightly, a. Supplanting the Jewish religious & political establishment, b. Quoting Isaiah 56:7 & Jeremiah 7:11 in rebuke of how the temple was being used. c. And fulfilling the a Messianic prophesy Zechariah 6:12–13, 14:21! iv. MP1i: And finally, He healed as Isaiah prophesied for the Messiah 1. Isaiah 35:5-6a, “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy...” 2. Previously when He healed people, He often did so quietly, even instructing them not to tell people about it a. Remember, in those days, “It was not yet His time” 3. But now “His time had come!” a. And so in a very public setting, in the midst of a holiday week with MANY people around to witness it, including His enemies… b. He heals the blind & the lame! 2. Transition: Liberty Chapel—behold your God! a. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the long awaited Son of David—our King! b. Let this bold declaration sit for a moment. c. So, what should we do about it; how should we respond? i. Let’s first look at how people responded on Palm Sunday… Slide: Main Point 2a Responding to the Messiah-King 1. Explain: Matthew presents several different groups to us that witnessed Palm Sunday, consider how each responded... a. MP2b: The Disciples: Obedience & Honor i. Although they didn’t totally understand what was happening (John 12:16)... ii. They recognized & honored the leadership of Jesus, 1. MP2c: By obeying in both words & actions iii. Furthermore, they honored Him by offering their garments for Him to sit upon b. MP2d: The Welcoming Crowd & Children: Joyful & Anticipatory Praise i. You see, the Passover Feast was a great annual celebration that brought in Jewish pilgrims from around the world (John 12:12)! 1. Jesus was traveling along the route with many pilgrims 2. Many of these may have been from Galilee & had heard of, or even experienced, Jesus’ miracles a. Had they... i. Drunk the wine He created at the wedding? ii. Eaten the bread with the 5000 or the 4000? iii. Known Jairus and his resurrected daughter? iv. Spoken with the many blind men, lepers, mute, & paralyzed that He healed? b. Even more of them heard of these miracles! i. Which attracted many people to Jesus’ public appearance (Luke 19:37, John 12:9, 1718)! ii. Their joy overflowed as they spread their clothes & tree branches ahead of Him on the road iii. And the Old Testament prophesies that they declared were filled with anticipation & hope 1. Anticipation & hope that Jesus was indeed the Messiah! 2. The He would save them! a. (Although undoubtedly like the disciples, they didn’t quite understand how this would happen!) c. MP2e: The Jerusalem Crowd: Intellectual Curiosity i. We don’t hear much from them here, but what we do hear is that they were interested… 1. And in this you see that the Galilean crowd shared their understanding that “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee” (v11, c.f. Deut. 18:18) ii. Sadly many of these city-dwellers (& perhaps even some of the Galilean pilgrims) call for Jesus’ death a mere 5 days later alongside the religious leaders (Matt 27:22–25), speaking of which… d. MP2f: The Religious Leaders: Indignation, Rebuke, & Rejection i. Matthew shares how the Chief Priests & Scribes responded to Jesus’ declaration as the MessiahKing with indignation, 1. That is to say, annoyance and anger due to judging these Messianic praises of Jesus as wrong ii. Luke 19:39-40 shares that these leaders commanded Jesus to rebuke His disciples, which He refused to do 1. John 12:19 share how they commiserate with each other at “how the whole world has gone after Him!” iii. And later on this week these same leaders begin to plot together to stealthily arrest and kill Jesus! (Mark 11:18, 14:1; Matthew 26:4) iv. Perhaps these religious leaders wanted a messiah 1. But they wanted one of their own design 2. One that would not call them out in their sins 3. One that did not question their control or power 4. One that did not change the status quo 2. Transition: But what about you— a. What type of a Messiah do you want? b. How do you respond to Jesus’ claim to Messiah-kingship? Slide: Conclusion-a Conclusion 1. Reiterate: Knowing & honoring Jesus as the Messiah-King radically transforms & rightly focuses our lives a. Jesus was clearly revealed as the Messiah-King! i. And I want you to realize… The King is Here! ii. Still today, even now, He is here! b. This revelation demands a response from us! 2. Con-b: Apply: So, how should we respond? a. Con-c: Do not demand a messiah of your own design i. The religious leaders & the crowd that called for His crucifixion rejected Jesus as God’s MessiahKing ii. Undoubtedly they had in mind a Messiah that was more palatable to them 1. Perhaps one that went along with social trends better 2. One that would approve of lifestyles & life-choices that their culture had come to accept 3. One that would downplay sin and highlight God’s love at the expense of God’s justice 4. One that wouldn’t question their sense of control, a. Letting them live life how they thought best b. After all, “Judge not.” iii. Sounds a lot like our world today, doesn’t it? 1. Sounds a lot like the internal struggles that we have, doesn’t it? iv. Since the Garden of Eden humans have made many messiahs of our own design 1. And when God finally revealed the true Messiah… they killed Him v. We need to avoid trying to ‘remake Jesus’ in a more culturally accepted way. 1. Humbly allow God to reveal to you the truth of who Jesus is as the Messiah-King 2. Receive the Holy Spirit’s work in teaching & reminding you of Jesus (John 14:26) 3. Allow His inspired Word to fulfill this intended goal; as James 1:21–22 shares, “Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (CSB) b. Con-d: Move beyond intellectual curiosity i. Intellectual curiosity is a very good thing! 1. But mere curiosity quite quickly leads to indifference & forgetfulness… ii. Let us be those who maintain intellectual curiosity-1. Diving into the word of God 2. Seeking His truth 3. Resolving doubts & disheartening questions iii. But don’t only stay there! (See Titus 1:1) 1. A mere mental acknowledgment of God is not what He demands of you! He also requires that you… c. Con-e: Submit to His Rule i. In faith, surrender to Jesus as your King! 1. Remember His rebuke in Luke 6:46, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?” (CSB) ii. If He is truly God’s Messiah-King, 1. Let us respond to Him as our King as the disciples demonstrated on Palm Sunday, 2. …with total obedience in words, actions, & attitudes. iii. Jesus comes as a humble king 1. He didn’t come on a warhorse to conquer & destroy you 2. Rather, He came as the Good Shepherd to save, heal, nurture, & guide you! iv. Will you accept His loving & peaceful victory over your life? And finally… d. Con-f: Celebrate His Rule i. The crowd outside the city demonstrated this so well! ii. They joyfully celebrated the truth of Jesus’ kingship! 1. Do you have joy in knowing who Jesus is? a. Do you celebrate this? Individually? As a family? In chapel? Throughout the week? 2. Let your praise & worship of God be unreserved! a. Overflow with joy as you consider who He is & what He does! 3. And declare His praises to others! a. As this crowd did when the people of Jerusalem asked, “Who is this?” 4. If you are looking for help to grow in this area, I encourage you to look into the Psalms a. They are the songs of praise for God’s people, guiding us to worship Him through every season of life! iii. Furthermore, the praises of the pilgrims demonstrated their confident assurance (hope & anticipation) that Jesus would act on their behalf. 1. They truly believed that He could save them! 2. Do you believe this? a. Do you have confident assurance that Jesus will save you in the ‘ultimate sense’ of eternal life? i. If you have not, I invite you to do so today, through prayer with your God. 1. You can also speak with me & I would love to help you learn the amazing confident hope that is in Jesus, our Messiah-King! ii. But beyond the confident assurance of ‘eternal life,’ I wonder… b. Do you have confident assurance that Jesus will save you through the ‘daily struggles of life?’ i. Sometimes we become disillusioned with God because He doesn’t stop certain things or because He do certain things 1. We lose our ‘daily confidence’ in Him, relenting to a hopelessness that He doesn’t truly care to act on your behalf 2. We lose God’s perspective on our hardships & trials and become beaten down in our life ii. To those who struggle in this area—I urge you... 1. Look again on Jesus as your Messiah-King 2. See His heart of love & care for you 3. Learn how He will, as the Good Shepherd, lead you “through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4) 3. Appeal: Knowing & honoring Jesus as the Messiah-King radically transforms & rightly focuses our lives a. Do you know Him this way? b. Do you honor Him this way? 4. Conclude: May He we receive His radical transformation & right focus for each of our lives! a. Pray with me...