Anticipating the Return of the King

Introduction

In 2019, Avengers: Endgame was released and became the number one highest grossing movie release of all time. In its first weekend, the film grossed over $1.2 billion, doubling the previous record from the year before which had been set by its prequel, Avengers: Infinity War. The anticipation which led up to the release of Avengers: Endgame was like nothing the movie world has ever seen.

There were several factors that made the anticipation particularly intense. For one thing, the Avengers series is based off a very popular series of comic books made by Marvel. Many adults grew up reading these comic books as kids, so Marvel already had a sort of cult following amongst many adults. Secondly, the previous Avengers movies had been big hits, wildly successful in the box office. In fact, 15 of the top 50 grossing movies of all time have been movies on Marvel comic books—this doesn’t include movies made on other comic book series like Batman or Superman.* Thirdly, the previous movie—Infinity War—which had topped the charts just the year before, had ended on a horrible cliffhanger where half of the world’s population had been wiped out by a villain names Thanos (who is named for the Greek word thanatos, meaning “death”). Endgame was thus poised to be the grand finale. It was going to wrap up the story, resolve the cliff hanger, and satisfy the cravings of millions for another blockbuster comic book movie.

Fans from all over—full grown adults with kids of their own—dressed up as super heroes and flooded the theaters. Why? Because of the anticipation of what that movie was going to deliver.

God has so designed us that we’re not happy with unfinished stories. We need that resolution. In John’s gospel, what we see is an infinitely greater story reaching its climax. While Infinity War ended with the tragedy of half of the world’s population being killed, the most optimistic estimates would probably show that over 90% of everyone who has ever lived up to this point will end up in Hell, dragged down by an enemy far greater than Thanos.

There have been many stories which have come before it, but this story is the greatest. While many heroes throughout the Old Testament have tried to fix God’s broken creation, none have succeeded. But now, the greatest hero of all takes the stage. But he didn’t come with flashing lights and million dollar advertising campaigns. He came quietly, and humbly, and people didn’t even recognize who he was at first.

Turn with me in your Bibles to John 1.

John 1:43–51 ESV

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

FCF: In our society, many people think of Jesus as just another great teacher. Even in church where we recognize that Jesus was God, we oftentimes fail to live in light of that fact. We often live as if he’s not coming back, as if the kingdoms of this world are what truly matter.

Main Idea: But as John reveals Jesus’ identity in this passage, we are reminded of the extent of Jesus’ authority and reign and we are reminded that we ought to eagerly anticipate his return and live in light of it.

Background

We don’t know for sure what happened under that fig tree, but whatever it was, Jesus’ demonstration of supernatural knowledge was obvious to Nathanael.

Nathanael realized quickly that Jesus was more than just an ordinary man, but he doesn’t seem to realize the full extent of Jesus’ glory yet.

Jesus is the long awaited hero—the Messiah, the Son of Man, and the Son of God. These titles reveal a lot about the hero of our story.

Jesus is the Son of God and the King of Israel (Jn. 1:49)

When Nathanael recognizes that Jesus is the “Son of God,” we often jump quickly to the conclusion of Jesus’ divinity.

That’s absolutely true, but it’s not what Nathanael meant.

It’s clear from other passages in the gospels that the full realization of Jesus’ nature didn’t become clear to the disciples until later on, perhaps even after Jesus’ resurrection.

Matthew 8:27 ESV

27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Later, of course, the disciples put two and two together and finally realize that Jesus isn’t just a mere man, he is also God:

Matthew 14:33 ESV

33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

So, if Phillip didn’t mean to refer to Jesus’ divinity, what did he mean when he called him the “Son of God?”

When Nathanael calls Jesus the “Son of God” and the “King of Israel” he’s picking up on some OT prophecies.

Particularly, Ps. 2:7

Psalm 2:1–9 ESV

1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

The “Son” of God was God’s anointed Messiah, his chosen one.

Most Jews didn’t realize that the coming Messiah would be none other than God himself. They expected a mere man.

But, in a way, Nathanael speaks more truly than he realizes. While Nathanael probably did not yet realize that Jesus was divine, by calling him the “King of Israel,” he’s also echoing a prophecy from Zephaniah 3.

Zephaniah 3:14–17 ESV

14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. 17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Isaiah 9:2–7 ESV

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

It’s a little ironic, but the term “King of Israel”—which we assume just has human connotations—actually has some divine implications if you read some of the OT prophecies closely.

And that’s especially true if we pay close attention to Jesus’ title of himself

But again, Nathanael probably doesn’t realize yet that Jesus is more than just the long awaited Messiah. But Jesus’ response begins to reveal his true nature.

Jesus’ title as the “Son of Man”

This is Jesus’ favorite title for himself, so we had better understand what he meant by it.

When we hear the term, “Son of Man,” we immediately think “human,” someone born from another human being.

And that’s not wrong. In fact, this title is used of Ezekiel the prophet repeatedly in his book and Jesus is, indeed, human.

But Jesus is drawing primarily from Daniel when he uses this term, foretelling of a coming day when God’s Kingdom would overtake the kingdoms of the earth

Daniel 7:1–8 ESV

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

This vision comes to Daniel around 550 B.C. during the time that Daniel and many of the Israelites are in captivity in Babylon.

These four successive beasts are images of four earthly kingdoms which would arise. We’re not going to debate or discuss all the finer points of this vision, but suffice it to say that most Evangelical scholars believe these to represent the empires of Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece, and possibly Rome.

The point is that each of these empires is great and threatening. Each successive empire is fiercer than the last. Each one threatens the destruction of many people.

For the Jews, sitting in exile in Babylon, this was a vivid reminder of their situation as conquered people.

But the story wasn’t finished yet. Look at what Daniel sees next...

Daniel 7:9–14 ESV

9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. 11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

When Jesus calls himself the “Son of Man,” this is what he is referring to.

Even though the kingdoms of this world will have their day, they will all come to an end. Even though Satan seems to reign in this world with unchecked power, his reign is finite.

The Jews were eagerly anticipating a day when “one like a son of man” would come and establish his Kingdom here on earth.

This being would be like a human—"like a son of man”

But he would be like no other human.

He receives complete dominion

ALL peoples, nations, and languages will serve him

His kingdom will never end.

Does that sound like a mere human to you?

When Jesus came the first time, he set up this Kingdom. His Kingdom is already here, present amongst those of us who do his will.

Conclusion

But the story isn’t finished yet. The Bible ends on a cliff hanger.

Revelation 7:9–17 ESV

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Right now, we live in a world torn by sin. We live in a world where Satan seems to have free reign over all. Where death steals away the ones we love. Where our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer persecution under evil rulers. Where we are ridiculed and thought fools for serving Christ. But one day, all will be set right.

Revelation 19:11–16 ESV

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Jesus is going to return one day. Right now, we find ourselves in a similar position to the first century Israelites—waiting for the culmination and fulfillment of what has been promised.

But are you eagerly anticipating that day? Are you living in light of the judgment to come?

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_openings_for_films