The Crown

A Jesus-Centered Christmas  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Introduction

This Christmas has come and gone. We have celebrated a Jesus-Centered Christmas by recognizing the world’s need for the Christ as we looked at Genesis 3:15 and were reminded of how sin entered into the world. We looked as the serpent and how it enticed Eve to question God’s Word. We saw how the seed from Eve would rise up so that indeed mankind would have a Savior.
We looked at the Cradle described as a manger in Luke 2:7 and how this Savior came into the world.in a way that did not seem feasible. Ritually unclean, royally un-regimented, realistically unexpected, and reconciled unimaginable. Yet, this Savior was born as a human to identify with us and us able to identify with Him.
We looked at the Cross recognizing that the baby was born to die. We were reminded from 1 John 4:9-10 that the Son, the Savior, was our atoning sacrifice as He died on the cross and ultimately rose from the grave conquering sin and death.
Today, as we continue to celebrate a Jesus-Centered Christmas and we look forward to a New Year, I want to invite you to look at the Crown. Our text is from Revelation 17:14:
Revelation 17:14 NIV84
They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
We see in the context of this verse that the war is raged from evil. Satan and his following strives to overcome the ways of the Lord through rebellion, selfishness and outright evil. The war is attempted, but cannot avail. The Lamb overcomes because He is Lord of lords and King of kings. From this one verse, I want to invite you to look at the Crown of Jesus and how it indicates His Royal Reign, His Righteous Reign, and His Redemptive Reign.

The Royal Reign

I am fascinated with the modern day royalty of the United Kingdom. The pomp and circumstance they do is quite interesting. I watched this week via the royal website Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas and end of year speech. I found it quite amazing that in her speech she referenced the teachings of Jesus multiple times. As I listened, I thought about this topic of the crown. There I sat listening to one that wears a crown because of a bloodline talk about the One who wears the crown because He is the King of kings. We see that phrase in verse for today. His royal reign begin way before He came to Earth as a baby.
We learn from John 3: 11 that Jesus said He came from Heaven.
John 3:11 NIV84
I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.
This is also pointed out by John the Baptist in John 3:31.
John 3:31 NIV84
“The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.
The royal reign of Jesus reveals His magnificence.
Isaiah 28:29 NIV84
All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom.
Can you imagine this magnificence demonstrated? The royal reign we see in the King of kings is one that is also quite majestic. We see this a few times in scripture. Just this past week we marveled at the conjuncture of Saturn and Jupiter. I was reminded of Psalm 8,
Psalm 8 NIV84
For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 111:3 NIV84
Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.
The majesty of the Jesus is implied in Revelation 19:16.
Revelation 19:16 NIV84
On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
We hear the majesty of God echoed in Peter’s Second Epistle.
2 Peter 1:17 NIV84
For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Jesus, being the Lord of lords and the King of kings is also mighty.
Deuteronomy 10:17 NIV84
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.
Jesus is mighty and the deceiver wants to try to copy Him. The deceivers followers are always trying to wage a war against God Almighty.
Revelation 16:14 NIV84
They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.
Daniel prophesied the royalty of Jesus long ago.
Daniel 7:14 NIV84
He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

The Righteous Reign

The royal reign this Crown brings is also a righteous reign. Jesus declared that He was One that held to the principles and precepts of truth. He said it plainly.
John 14:6 NIV84
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus, being the Son of God, guides Himself in the precepts and principles of God.
Psalm 119:40 NIV84
How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness.
The longing of the precepts and principles of God prove to be a way of righteousness that is a characteristic that comes with the crown. It is one that is proper and right.
Galatians 6:9 NIV84
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
It is also a sign of those that follow the King.
1 Peter 2:17 NIV84
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
The Righteous reign that comes with the crown Jesus has is powerful. It has been witnessed by His apostles.
2 Peter 1:16 NIV84
We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
His power is also demonstrated in the assembly of His believers.
1 Corinthians 5:4 NIV84
When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present,
King Jesus is praiseworthy.
Hebrews 13:15 NIV84
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.
The crown Jesus wears signifies His royalty and His righteousness. He is the Lamb who over overcomes.We see evidenced in our text that the King of kings is victorious. His victory comes because of the character of that Lamb -He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. That again, is praiseworthy! Indeed I get goose bumps thinking of the royal reign of King Jesus. I get chills when I think of the righteous reign of King Jesus. The thought that gets me most though, is His redemptive reign.

The Redemptive Reign

Revelation 17:14 NIV84
They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
Look at that last phrase: “and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.” That phrase gets me. I am not be any means worthy of being called by such royalty and righteousness. Yet, in His great mercy, I am.
Romans 8:30 NIV84
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
I cannot fathom that King Jesus would call such a pauper like me. It is unheard of, yet He has called me and justified me.
Romans 4:25 NIV84
He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
King Jesus does not need such paupers to use as His resources or His aids. King Jesus calls such to simply share in His triumph. He chooses those whom He calls. Wow. What a thought. King Jesus has chosen someone like me. He has chosen someone like you. He has written our names in the Book of Life. However, if one’s name is not written in that Book of Life, it will not be a victorious time.
Revelation 17:8 NIV84
The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come.
1 Peter 2:9 NIV84
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
King Jesus has a royal reign, a righteous reign, and a redemptive reign. He calls, He chooses and those who follow do so in faithfulness. You see, because He cares for us, because He has done so much for prompts on our part, faithfulness. I am going to serve King Jesus because of His great love for me in that while I was still a sinner, He died for me according to Romans 5:8.
He wants me to cast all my worries and concerns over to Him, simply because He cares for me.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV84
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
King Jesus is not an unapproachable monarch that no one can ever access. Rather, He is a royal, righteous heir who has redeemed you. Aren’t you glad?
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