The King Has Come

Intro:

What kind of reader are you?...... in school did you love it? did you hate it?..... I grew up really truly and honestly.... I didn’t love it...... I would find every way not to read a book in Middle school and high school........

But there is something different for me when it comes to the Bible..... and that is......Story that is true......

The Greatest Story is better than anything this world has heard.... or created.... or has been told.....

In our world. right now?!... can you hear the truth of this story louder than anything else in this world?

… Louder than the conflict in Ukraine

..... Clearer than the news of hollywood and a slap on stage

...... Truer than the political climate of the U.S.

....... Louder than the economic changes at the gas pump and your 401k

All of those things are most definitely true..... but the evil one’s strategy is for us to forget the GREATEST STORY of all time..... the true story of Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life.... who walked the roads on this earth, performed miracles..... who entered jerusalem on a donkey almost 2000 years ago to face a death on a cross...... die and be buried in the tomb… but left it empty..... Rising from the dead and ascending into heaven.....

The Greatest Story is that it is true about Jesus..... It really happened.... and this month..... It is my hope that we come face to face again with the TRUE story that Jesus is alive..... TODAY..... IT really happened!

1. The King Has Come

Matthew 21:1–11 ESV

1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

The passover was approaching..... crowds are coming… in pilgrimage.... and now we see Jesus..... in the mountainside overlooking Jerusalem......Mount of Olives.... the small village of Bethpage.... Matthew is painting us a clear picture..... The King is coming.... preparations are being made!

Who is this? The whole city is stirred up!

a.Prophet - verse 2 and verse 5.....confirmed by verse 6.

The crowd here in Matthew is not fully comprehending Jesus’ position, but they do see the truth of the historical Jesus that was born in Nazareth.... and here, Matthew gives us the clear picture of Jesus’ prophetic voice...... He sees the colt and tells the disciples to go and get it..... and that is exactly what happens!

Zechariah 9:9 ESV

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Who is this? There was a historical Jesus...... Real.... walked on this earth.... walked in these places..... This is a historical fact.... IT is real!

Antiquities 18:63 (Josephus was born a few years after Christ’s crucifixion) The standard text of Josephus reads as follows:

About this time lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was the achiever of extraordinary deeds and was a teacher of those who accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Messiah. When he was indicted by the principal men among us and Pilate condemned him to be crucified, those who had come to love him originally did not cease to do so; for he appeared to them on the third day restored to life, as the prophets of the Deity had foretold these and countless other marvelous things about him, and the tribe of the Christians, so named after him, has not disappeared to this day. (All Josephus citations, except the next, are from P. L. Maier, ed./trans., Josephus –The Essential Works (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1994).

b. King -

He is coming in peace and humility

A donkey not a warhorse

Not with military might, but with a purpose to the cross

2 Kings 9:13 ESV

13 Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.”

2 Samuel 7:11–16 (ESV)

11 Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.

12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,

15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.

16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”

c. Messiah -

The great snake crusher - Genesis 3:15

Genesis 3:15 ESV

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Line of Abraham, Jacob, David.... Genesis 12, 2 Sam 7, zech 9:9

He has come to bring salvation as the suffering servant - Numerous places in Isaiah 53

The crowds are recognizing it!

Matthew 21:9 ESV

9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Zechariah has already pointed towards this day coming.... this mountain side moment for Jesus!

Zechariah 14:4 ESV

4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.

Psalm 118..... even the peoples songs are pointing towards the connection between the OT and NT.... between the Passover and the LAMB of GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD!

Psalm 118:26 ESV

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.

Singing songs has always been a part of faith.... in OT and the NT.... Psalm 118 is a great prayer that was used in the jewish community to bring praise to God.... it was interactive.... the leader would pick the tempo and there would be a back and forth with those participating......

Yet in this moment..... this is what is pouring forth from the mouths of the crowd! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!

1. The King Has Come 2.The King deserves Praise

Matthew 21:9 “9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!””

Luke 19:37–40 ESV

37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Standing on the field at UA.... Joe Namath comes out..... and It was epic!.......

Jesus comes into town on a donkey and he deserves this praise..... more than any earthly praise can be given to an earthly thing!

How much praise do we give with our time talents and treasures?.........

Where is our worship?!

Jesus deserves praise then, now, and forever more.....

Hebrews 1:3–4 ESV

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

I mowed the lawn this week.... I felt accomplished.... but you know what I will need to do next week..... Mow the lawn.... take care of the weeds..... Sin is like those weeds in our lives..... we can do the best maintenance.... but they keep on coming.....

Sin and Jesus..... He completed the task..... he made 100% purification for sins.... and he sat down.... completed...... done! forever!

Revelation 5:11–14 ESV

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

We live in a life where we deserve something.... we usually get what we deserve......

I work hard.... I get paid ...... I work long enough I deserve retirment....

I am a vital part of an organization so that I get what I deserve.....

None of us deserve anything in view of who God is! and what God has done in Jesus Christ! Jesus Deserves the praise always!

1. The King Has Come 2.The King deserves Praise 3. The King will come again

Listen to the difference of this compared to Matthew 21 this morning..... which one sounds more triumphal!!!!....

Revelation 19:11–20 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. 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

The Bible never gives you what you expect...... We have the prophets that tell us what is to come.... and there is a pattern that it will turn out different than we think.... but it will happen.

The crowd that day.... the disciples that day..... thought the king has come! Rescue from our enemies..... But Jesus came riding on a donkey to bring PEACE through his sacrifice on the cross...... he will come again to bring vengeance on the enemies who remain in sin and in enmity with God!

I do not want to be on the wrong side of the triumphal entry.....

Just as Jesus came down the mountain into Jerusalem he will come again in this way..... TRUE Story..... not hypothetical.

This morning..... the greatest story is that Jesus accomplished these things in Jerusalem almost 2000 years ago.... and this morning the STORY IS STILL TRUE! It is the greatest story of all time!.....

If you know this story to be true facts.... the question for us this month..... Do I believe this in my heart!

1. Do you know this story? Do you believe this story? Do you this day?

2. Who in your life needs to hear this story?

Invitation:

Come and join our church or asked to be baptized

Come to faith in Jesus.... Who is this? He is King Jesus, worthy to be praised as Lord and Savior!

Convicted this morning.... that you need to see this as a TRUE Story and not less!