The King Who Was, Is, and Always Shall BeLuke 19:36-40; Revelation 5:6-14

Copyright April 14, 2019 by Bruce Goettsche

As Americans, we don't know much about royalty. Probably the closest thing we get to royalty is sadly, the Oscars, where actors and actresses get to walk the red carpet to the cheers of adoring crowds. Palm Sunday was NOT like that. The people of Jerusalem were not cheering a pretender, they were cheering the most "real" person who has ever lived. They cheered for the one they believed was the Promised One, the Messiah, the Savior sent from God.

It was the time of Passover. This was the time faithful Jews tried to make it to Jerusalem to be there to share in the Passover services. It was a sacred time for Jews. The City of Jerusalem was packed with people from all over the nation of Israel and beyond. Jesus also went to Passover. However, He knew something the others did not: He was not coming to overthrow the Romans, He came to die.

The Palm Sunday story is familiar to most of us. Each time you read it, imagine being a different character. What was Jesus thinking as the crowd cheered? How did the various disciples handle all the attention? Did they swell with pride or were they on edge looking for enemies? What did the owner of the donkey see and think? Today we are going to look at the account from the eyes of the cheering crowd.

36As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

38“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

39But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

40He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!

They Declared Him the King

Note the words, "Blessing on the King who comes in the name of the Lord." The crowd was declaring Jesus to be the long-awaited Messiah. The promised King had come from God. They declared Him to be King and acted like He was a King. They took their garments on the road (probably their cloaks, their most valuable it of clothing) so the King and His donkey would have a modified "red carpet" experience. It was a sign of honor and humble devotion. It was an extraordinary act.

Back in 1979 I was in Seminary. Pope John Paul II was the first Polish Pope. He made a visit to Chicago and the Northwest side where there was a large Polish population. The Pope made his way down Milwaukee Avenue just one block from my home. We found a seat outside my uncle's place of business and sat up on some scaffolding. What I saw was astounding. The streets were lined with people several deep. As the Pope worked his way down the street the people broke through the barriers and rushed to the car to get close to this one whom they believed was specially blessed by God. I wonder if that is what it was like as Jesus came to Jerusalem.

Or maybe it was like a rock or movie star who was swamped by fans. Or maybe like the Beatles where people screamed went delirious when they could see the Beatles. The point is: they declared Jesus to be King, not only of Israel but also of their lives.

Why Did They Believe Jesus to be the King?

The question we need to ask is: How did they know He was a King? What led them to this conclusion? I believe we can note three things for sure. First, there were the signs Jesus performed: He raised the dead, He healed the lame, made the blind see, cast out demons. Listen to the words of Jesus in Luke 7.

20John’s two disciples found Jesus and said to him, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’”

21At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. 22Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” (Luke 7:20-22)

The devout Jew knew Isaiah said this,

18In that day the deaf will hear words read from a book,

and the blind will see through the gloom and darkness.

19The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord.

The poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 29:18-19)

And in Isaiah 35 he said something similar.

5And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind

and unplug the ears of the deaf.

6The lame will leap like a deer,

and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! (Isaiah 35:5-6)

These people saw Jesus do things no one had ever done before. They came to the conclusion that this was the guy whey have been waiting for.

Don't we see the same thing today? People encounter the Lord and we see people's lives change. We see answers to prayer that can only be explained as the hand of God. We sense God’s presence and hear His whispers. And, it is all because of Jesus.

Second, they had heard his teaching. They said "He spoke as one who had authority." In other words, His wisdom did not come from books. He didn't quote other people. He spoke with an authority that was unique and powerful. The men on the road to Emmaus walked with Jesus and didn't know it. When they discovered who they were talking to they said, " “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32).

If you read the Scriptures, and especially the words of Jesus, you will find a wisdom that is more profound than any counselor. The Bible has a way of showing us the truth about ourselves, how to handle that truth, and what we need to do to change and grow.

Third, Jesus acted like a King should act. He cared about the poor and needy, He showed compassion to the Lepers and diseased. He refused to cater to those who wished to control Him. He told the truth. He did what was right. He put others before Himself.

Jesus's Response

There is a growing number of people who believe Jesus never intended for people to think of Him as God. Instead, they say Jesus was a good man and a captivating teacher who would be horrified if He knew we had elevated Him to the status of the Son of God!

But look at what happened in this account. The people cheer and call Him a King. Jesus never sought to discourage them (Like a good Jew would). He did not tear His clothes or put ashes on his head. When the Pharisees told Jesus to silence the crowd, He said “if the people were silent the STONES WOULD CRY OUT!”

The King Takes His Throne

So, here is the big question for us: Jesus may be the King of the Jews but what really does that have to do with us. In the book of Philippians, written by the Apostle Paul, he quotes what was likely an early Christian creed or song,

6Though he was God,

he did not think of equality with God

as something to cling to.

7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

8he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor

and gave him the name above all other names,

10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)

Did you catch it? EVERY knee should bow and EVERY tongue declare that Jesus is Lord. When Jesus rose from the dead He showed He was a man like no other. He was set apart. When Thomas saw Him for the first time (we will talk more about this next week) he declared "My Lord, and my God!" In the book of Romans, we are told "If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved."

Recognizing King Jesus is a prerequisite to salvation. It is not enough to call Him a great man or a profound teacher. We must acknowledge Him as Lord and Master.

Not only IS Jesus the King. . . He will FOREVER be the King. Listen to these great words in the book of Revelation, chapter 5.

6Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. 7He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. 8And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9And they sang a new song with these words:

“You are worthy to take the scroll

and break its seals and open it.

For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation.

10And you have caused them to become

a Kingdom of priests for our God.

And they will reign on the earth.”

11Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12And they sang in a mighty chorus:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—

to receive power and riches

and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and blessing.”

13And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power

belong to the one sitting on the throne

and to the Lamb forever and ever.”

14And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb. (Revelation 5:6-14)

Someday, Jesus will be acknowledged by all as the King that He is. And on that day, all of creation will praise Him. I am not going to make predictions about when the Lord will return. Jesus told His disciples that "no man knows the day or the hour." I am going to take Him at His Word.

Here is what I do know: it could be today! Jesus told us when He comes, He will catch people by surprise. At that time, the opportunity for grace and mercy will pass. Those who have not by that time bowed before Him will be treated as traitors; infidels.

Loyal Subjects of the King

Jesus was and always shall be the King. So how does a subject of the King live?

Before you could ever see the Queen of England or any of the royal family you would need to learn the protocols for how to properly relate to the Queen. These are ways to demonstrate respect and honor to someone in authority. Any time someone is in an elected office or has a position of authority over us we instinctively understand that there are right and wrong ways of approaching these people. If you do it the wrong way, security may have you pinned down before you know it.

What are the protocols for relating to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

Reverence and Respect. Sadly, we have become a largely irreverent society. Many men do not remove their hats when the flag passes by or when they enter a church. You don't hear "Yes sir!" or "No Sir!" very often. We don't stand when a woman enters a room. People often treat older people as a nuisance rather than with the respect that should come with the wisdom of the years. Sometimes people who serve in the military are treated as the enemy rather than as respected defenders of our land. People treat the law with disrespect when they swear to tell the truth in court and then lie without a twinge of conscience. So, the concept of reverence is difficult for many people to grasp today.

To show reverence to God means we stand before Him as servants and not as equals. We talk sparingly and listen intently. It means we trust His wisdom above our own because we know he is drawing from a vast wisdom and experience. Reverence is not the songs we sing or the words we recite, it the heart from which we do these things. It is an inner attitude of respect that is shown in our words, our posture, and our heart.

Obedience. The person who is under the King does what the King commands. There must be an absolute trust in this person. Think about an athlete who says they would "run through a wall for their coach." To say you deeply respect someone and yet not do what they say shows you are not telling the truth about your respect.

A King who gives instructions that are ignored is either a King without any authority or the one to whom He gives the command is not one of his subjects. If you know what He wants you to do (the first command is to repent and follow Him) but are not willing to do it . . . is it more likely that He has no authority or that you are not a genuine subject of the King?

The third characteristic is Loyalty. People who serve the King are loyal to the King. They will defend His monarchy with their very lives. "But," you say, "what about in the case of a corrupt King?" That is not relevant to our illustration. We do not belong to a corrupt King! We belong to a King who laid down HIS life for US. There is every reason for us to be loyal to Him,

In the way we speak and the enthusiasm with which we speak about Him to others.

In our worship, our calendars, and our spending

In our service . . . we should be eager to serve a King of such noteworthy character.

In our truth-telling and morals

So on this Palm Sunday, where are you? Are you one who is proclaiming Him King? Not just as an earthly King but as Your personal Savior and Lord? Are you showing the sincerity of your proclamation by the way you live your life? Or are you just pretending?

Are you standing on the sidelines trying to silence the crowd? Are you somewhere in between: curious about Jesus but not yet convinced? If that last group best describes you, don't you think it makes sense to examine Him more fully? Look at the evidence. Read what He did and how He taught. Examine the Resurrection facts carefully. Hear the consistent message of Scripture: Christ came into the world to save sinful humankind. He gave His life so you could be free from bondage to sin. He came so you could be part of His glorious Kingdom. So that you could be forgiven and made new.

You cannot proclaim Him King and then live as if other things take precedence in your life. Someday the King will rally His followers to live with Him forever. The others will live without Him and an absence of all that is good. It's important to think carefully and examine the evidence fully. Let's face it, you don't want to be wrong on this one.