The True King

It’s Palm Sunday!

King of kings

Focus:

It’s Palm Sunday!

I had hoped that we would be together today to celebrate the beginning of Easter. Unfortunately, the corona virus has prevented that. It is interesting that our current pandemic is named Corona – or crown and king. It certainly has tested us to find out who/what is the king of our lives. I’ve heard some say that faith isn’t valuable during a crisis. They have chosen medicine and science to be their king. Others are devastated by the news of the falling stock market and financial uncertainty. They have chosen money to be their king. Perhaps God is using this to shake the world and consider our first and greatest love.

And that opens the opportunity to tell you about the greatest King, the true King – Jesus Christ.

Today is Palm Sunday and together we celebrate the greatness of Jesus Christ just like the city of Jerusalem did as Jesus rode into the city on a colt with palm branches and coats being laid down in front of him. The crowds shouted to their hero as He rode past. When we understand the person of Jesus Christ, we ought to be celebrating as though we are standing with our hero – because He truly is.

Jesus is the Kings of kings

Jesus is the True King

The Gospel of John has a reoccurring theme of Jesus as the King of kings. It occurs first in the very first chapter. Jesus is bringing his disciples together and He comes across Nathaniel, a man of great reputation. After meeting Jesus, Nathaniel’s comments are very insightful:

John 1:49–51 NIV

Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

For a first meeting, recognizing that Jesus was the king of Israel was insightful. Israel never forgot their best and most famous king, King David. History tells us that Israel had a bunch of pretty bad kings. However, they did see flashes of excellence from time to time. David solidified a nation and expanded the borders of their nation. He brought security. He was able to show compassion and kindness. He honored the memory of his friend Jonathan and allowed Mephibosheth to eat at his table. King Solomon demonstrated wisdom and built the beautiful temple. King Hezekiah protected Jerusalem and honored God by rebuilding the temple. King Josiah restored the nation to the Word of God.

(NIV) 49Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

50Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”

51He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

For a first meeting, recognizing that Jesus was the king of Israel was insightful. Israel never forgot their best and most famous king, King David. History tells us that Israel had a bunch of pretty bad kings. However, they did see flashes of excellence from time to time. David solidified a nation and expanded the borders of their nation. He brought security. He was able to show compassion and kindness. He honored the memory of his friend Jonathan and allowed Mephibosheth to eat at his table. King Solomon demonstrated wisdom and built the beautiful temple. King Hezekiah protected Jerusalem and honored God by rebuilding the temple. King Josiah restored the nation to the Word of God.

Although the stories of these kings were treasures for the nation of Israel, they really didn’t know what a good king was like. They just knew they wanted one.

King Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a colt

John 12:12–16 NIV

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

Today, the Jews celebrated Jesus as King of Israel, but did they have any real idea of what to expect?

(NIV) 12The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.

13They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”

14Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

15“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

16At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

Today, the Jews celebrated Jesus as King of Israel, but did they have any real idea of what to expect?

What is a King?

We probably all can remember that the people of Israel got to a point when they wanted to be like all the other nations around them and have a king. You may not know that even before they settled into the promised land that God provided the job description.

God’s Description of a King

Deuteronomy 17:14–20 NIV

When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

God’s description of a king showed that the king should be (1) chosen by God; (2) a descendant of Abraham; (3) not prone to go back to Egypt; (4) a husband to one wife; (5) not interested in accumulating wealth; (6) dependent on the Law of God; and (7) humble.

(NIV) 14When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,”

15be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite.

16The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.”

17He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

18When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests.

19It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees

20and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

God’s description of a king showed that the king should be (1) chosen by God; (2) a descendant of Abraham; (3) not prone to go back to Egypt; (4) a husband to one wife; (5) not interested in accumulating wealth; (6) dependent on the Law of God; and (7) humble.

Let’s walk through this description and see if Jesus was qualified.

#1 and #2- Chosen by God and From the Line of David

We see that Jesus is chosen by God at His baptism

Matthew 3:16–17 NIV

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

His Transfiguration provides even greater evidence

(NIV)16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

Matthew 17:1–5 NIV

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

And Jesus was from the line of David

His Transfiguration provides even greater evidence

(NIV) 1After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

2There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

3Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

4Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

And Jesus was from the line of David

Remember those genealogy at the beginning of Matthew? The very first verse of the NT provides the family tree of Jesus back to Abraham.

Mission Focused/No Retreat

Come to do the will of the Father

Luke 4:18–19 NIV

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

John 6:38 NIV

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

(NIV) 18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,

Luke 22:42 NIV

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus made a conscious choice when He entered Jerusalem. Would He take advantage of the celebrity/power/energy of the moment and seize power, or would He go the way of the cross? As Jesus entered Jerusalem he could have turned and gone to the state house. The people wanted a King to throw off the yoke of Roman oppression. Jesus went to the temple. He did not clean out the state house…He cleaned out God’s House.

(NIV) 38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

(NIV) 42“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Jesus made a conscious choice when He entered Jerusalem. Would He take advantage of the celebrity/power/energy of the moment and seize power, or would He go the way of the cross? As Jesus entered Jerusalem he could have turned and gone to the state house. The people wanted a King to throw off the yoke of Roman oppression. Jesus went to the temple. He did not clean out the state house…He cleaned out God’s House.

“Salt of the Earth” Good Guy

I have a friend who describes men and women who are good citizens, moral, and hardworking people, the “salt of the earth”. Most of us don’t think about a king being “salt of the earth”. In fact, we think it is exactly the opposite. Our first thoughts about a king is privileged, silver spooned, and eccentric.

We all love stories about people who rise from nothing and become great. Stories of commonplace kings fascinate us. Braveheart, Rob Roy, Robert the Bruce, and even Disney fairy tales capture our hearts and imaginations. Most of all, as common people, we want to be understood and appreciated.

God’s expectation for a king of Israel was that he would be the husband to one wife. He would not chase riches at the expense of the people. Jesus met these expectations. He did not even a place to sleep!

Luke 9:57–58 NIV

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

(NIV) 57As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

One of the great and good Tsars of Russia frequently visited the cities and towns of his kingdom incognito to see how his subjects fared. On one occasion, dressed in a peasant's garb, he knocked at the door of an inn. The innkeeper, who answered the door, listened to the 'peasant's' request for a night's accommodation, and was about to dismiss him with the words, 'There are many of the king's nobles in this inn tonight, and there is no room for a peasant here. You must seek a lodging elsewhere,' when one of the knights, having heard the voice and recognized the accent of his liege lord, rushed to the door and, bidding the king enter, said, 'The dress may be that of a peasant, but the voice is the voice of my lord, the King.' (; ; ; )

(NIV) 57As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

One of the great and good Tsars of Russia frequently visited the cities and towns of his kingdom incognito to see how his subjects fared. On one occasion, dressed in a peasant's garb, he knocked at the door of an inn. The innkeeper, who answered the door, listened to the 'peasant's' request for a night's accommodation, and was about to dismiss him with the words, 'There are many of the king's nobles in this inn tonight, and there is no room for a peasant here. You must seek a lodging elsewhere,' when one of the knights, having heard the voice and recognized the accent of his liege lord, rushed to the door and, bidding the king enter, said, 'The dress may be that of a peasant, but the voice is the voice of my lord, the King.' (; ; ; )

I love that last statement, “The dress may be that of a peasant, but the voice is the voice of my lord, the King”! Jesus is King, but completely approachable as “the salt of the earth”.

Obedient and Humble

Jesus rode a colt into Jerusalem. The people shouted “Hosanna” (save us). What a disparity between the picture of Jesus on a humble little animal and the expectation of the people of Jerusalem. “Save Us”! No army. No horses and chariots. Just a little colt. IMPRESSSIVE!

Philippians 2:1–11 NIV

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We have to conclude that Jesus was extraordinarily qualified to be the king of Israel. He met all seven qualifications (1) chosen by God; (2) a descendant of Abraham; (3) not prone to go back to Egypt; (4) a husband to one wife; (5) not interested in accumulating wealth; (6) dependent on the Law of God; and (7) humble.

(NIV) 1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,

2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We have to conclude that Jesus was extraordinarily qualified to be the king of Israel. He met all seven qualifications (1) chosen by God; (2) a descendant of Abraham; (3) not prone to go back to Egypt; (4) a husband to one wife; (5) not interested in accumulating wealth; (6) dependent on the Law of God; and (7) humble.

As King, He Deserves Our Hearts

It is a wonderful and terrible truth at the same time that King Jesus will not force His rulership on you. We were created to be His sons, to be a part of His Kingdom, but He leaves the choice up to us. The prophet Samuel told the nation of Israel that choosing a king for themselves was a bad choice:

1 Samuel 8:1–18 NIV

When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

1 Samuel 8:101

All of us know what happens when the wrong king is ruling our lives. Power corrupts. There is never enough money. Pleasure is an addiction that leaves you unsatisfied. It is only the Kingdom of God that answers the great issues of life: origin, purpose, meaning, and destiny.

(NIV) 10Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king.

11He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.

12Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

13He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.

14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants.

15He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants.

16Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use.

17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

18When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

All of us know what happens when the wrong king is ruling our lives. Power corrupts. There is never enough money. Pleasure is an addiction that leaves you unsatisfied. It is only the Kingdom of God that answers the great issues of life: origin, purpose, meaning, and destiny.

When Robert Bruce was fleeing from the English, when they invaded Scotland, he came to a poor old Highland woman's house, and asked for a night's lodging. 'Who are you?' said she. 'I am a stranger, and a traveler,' said the King. `All strangers and travelers are welcome here,' said she, 'for the sake of one.' And who is that one?' asked the king. 'Our good King Robert the Bruce,' said she, 'whom, though he is hunted by hounds and horns, I acknow­ledge to be the rightful king of all Scotland.' She could not enthrone Him except in her heart, but she would if she could; and in his rejection she acknowledged him as her rightful king.—Indian Christian

Palm Sunday reminds us of the true King of our lives – Jesus Christ. Have you enthroned Him into your heart?