Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Those words rung out from the people in Jerusalem as Jesus rode the donkey from Bethany towards the city.

Some Pharisees admonished Jesus for allowing his followers to speak like that, to have this show into the city.

But Jesus answered them, “If they were silent then even the rocks would cry out.”

This was the celebration they had been waiting for for countless generations.

Israel had not been a free people for almost 70 years.

They were hungry for a new messiah.

For those of us who did not come to faith early in our lives today holds a special meaning.

We understand what that oppression feels like.

We know how it feels to be in such great need of a savior and when we finally accept Jesus we want to shout it from the roof tops.

We can’t be silent or even the rocks will cry out.

We all need this king in our lives, just like the people of Israel.

But what is a king.

A modern understanding of a king is someone who controls a population.

I think of King Edward I in the movie Brave Heart.

He is a cruel ruler who chooses to suppress the people and when they do not listen to his rule his edicts became more restrictive and more sever.

So is this the king that the people of Israel were excited for or were they looking for something different.

To really understand Jesus as our king we must understand the role of a king in the Ancient Near East.

Kings Protect

(Mighty Warrior)

A kings first responsibility in the ANE was to defend their kingdom

Kings did not sit back in their castles while the army went out

Kings did not sit on some high hill and watch the battle take place.

Kings lead their troops into battle.

This is why the people claimed they wanted a king in

Saul led his armies into battle.

David led his armies into battle.

All of the kings after them did the same

Jesus lead the way into battle against the enemies of the Kingdom of God

He confronted false teachers (Pharisees)

He stood up to evil spirits and demons (τὴν χώραν τῶν Γερασηνῶν, Λεγιὼν ὄνομά μοι, ὅτι πολλοί ἐσμεν)

He even stood up to satan.

He did all of this to protect his flock, his subjects

Kings Teach

(Lawgiver and Judge)

A king gives order through teaching the law and judging it properly

Solomon was a wise king and taught the people much

He also kept the peace

A King is responsible for making sure his subjects are knowledgeable about the laws

Laws are meant to keep order

Laws are meant so people can live in harmony

When king Josiah found the book of law hidden in the temple he tore his clothes and had it read in its entirety to the people

2 Kings 22.

It was his responsibility to teach the people about the law

Jesus came to teach us about God’s law.

This was not the expanded law of Moses

This was the true intent behind the law

Kings Defend the Faith

(Establisher and Defender of Religious Cultus)

It is the priests role to exercise the faith but the king to lead the faith

David and Solomon preparing and building the temple

Hezekiah, Josiah, Uzziah all tore down the invaders

Appointed the priests, temple guards, ect.

Jesus came to defend our faith

When the temple workers were mistreating the faith he turns the tables

He argues with Pharisees and Scribes about faith often

Calls them white washed tombs

Calls them brood of vipers

Calls them hypocrites

Kings Provide

(Conduit of Agricultural Fertility)

The king is the one who is responsible for the bounty of the crops and flocks

If crops failed, if there was a famine, a drought, infestation, or general lack of fruit it was blamed on the king

eg.

Israel’s drought in 1 Kings 17.

Jesus brought a perfect harvest

Jesus offers water that perfectly cures thirst.

John 4:14

Jesus offers food that will nourish us for eternity

In Jesus there will never be hunger or thirst again

Conclusion

When Jesus entered Jerusalem they were not cheering him because he was going to rule over him.

They were cheering him because they wanted a king who would protect them, who would teach them, who would strengthen their relationship with God, and who would care for them.

They were excited for the coming of the king.

When we make Jesus the Lord of our lives, we are not saying we want someone to rule over us with an iron fist.

We are saying that we are looking for a lord who will do these same things for us.

Jesus protects us from the forces of evil, he, through the holy spirit, teaches us to live as God’s chosen people, he strengthens our relationship with God in ways we could never imagine and never hope to do on our own, and he feeds us his eternal meal.

We will never hunger or thirst again when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, when we make Jesus the Lord of our Lives.

Let’s pray.