The King Worthy to be Praised

Psalm 118:22-29 “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. O Lord, do save, we beseech You; O Lord, we beseech You, do send prosperity! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord; We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, and He has given us light; Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, I extol You. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

Pastoral Prayer

God’s Presence

God’s blessing

God’s glory

INTRODUCTION

Today is Palm Sunday

This is a very special day because a very important Scripture from the OT was fulfilled on this day 2000 years ago.

Look at this verse that was written by Zechariah about 500 BC

Zechariah 9:9–10 NASB95

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; And the bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations; And His dominion will be from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.

The significance of this passage is the claim that it makes of a King that is coming to Jerusalem on a donkey bringing salvation and peace.

This so not just any King, but a promise of a Messiah, a deliverer, the anointed One who is sent by God!

This King will not reign over Israel alone, but from “sea to sea” and “to the ends of the earth”.

This King is a global king with a global Kingdom! And this promise was held close by God’s people for hundreds of years.

And what we are going to read in the NT is the fulfillment of this OT Scripture in the person of Jesus Christ.

John 12:12-19 “On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.””

Do you see any parallels between these passages?

“Endowed with salvation” - “Hosanna” (save now!)

“Behold your King is coming to you” - word for word

“mounted on a donkey” - “seated on a donkey”

“to the ends of the earth” - “the world has gone after Him”

Jesus Christ completely and perfectly fulfills the OT prophecies of the Messiah King

This is God in the flesh who is accepting the divine right to be King of the world

John 12:12–13 (NASB95)

On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”

Explanation:

Here we have a great celebration taking place because the crowd hears that Jesus is coming to Jerusalem. The Passover is only five days away and there is great excitement in the air. Josephus tells us that as many as 2.7 million people came to the Passover celebration about 30 years after this event which gives us an idea of the magnitude of the Passover.

If you read the gospel of John, you will read in chapter 11 that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead which is why these people were so excited about Him coming to Jerusalem!

It was obvious that someone who had the power to raise the dead could certainly overthrow the Romans and bring freedom to the Jewish people.

Palm branches: The crowds went and cut palm branches to wave them as Jesus approached Jerusalem.

The palm branches were a symbol of the Jewish state. There have been Jewish coins found with Palm Branches struck on them. As we have the American Flag as a symbol of our country, the Jewish people had Palm branches as a symbol of their country.

“Hosanna”: The people shout Hosanna! This is a Hebrew word that means literally to: “save now!”

Their hopes for Jesus was to bring salvation to them. Rule over them and free them from their oppressors. They even claim openly now that Jesus is “King of Israel”.

Bridge:

These were praises from people who did not fully understand who Jesus was and what he had come to do. They expected a worldly ruler and worldly power, but He was something much different. They wanted worldly freedom, but the freedom Jesus offered was spiritual freedom.

Yet, they praised Him with such a celebration that all four gospels record this event and nearly everyone who has ever been to church has heard of Palm Sunday.

They praised Him, they went out to greet Him, they waved Palm branches, laid their coats down, and treated Him like a King on this glorious day.

Application

If this superficial crowd felt necessary to come and praise Jesus like this, how much more should we? If those who did not understand the nature of Jesus praised Him, how much more should those who have been saved by Him?

The thought of Jesus who came to die as our Savior and rule as our King should cause us to fall down over and over and shout praises to God!

If we will just stop and think of the great salvation that Jesus has brought to us, it should trump every other complaint about our lives! If we stop this morning and think what we were saved from and the wonderful life He has given us it should fill our mouths with praise to Him.

Revelation 7:9 NASB95

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

There is coming a day friends when we will get to experience this day ourselves! When we will get to sit before the throne of God and hold Palm Branches and praise Him for His faithfulness, and His love, and His mercy, and His sacrifice that allowed us to become children of God!

But this King is not like other kings!

Jesus is NOT a king who makes war, but who brings peace

John 12:14–15 NASB95

Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

Explanation:

Had this been King David, he would have rode in on a horse with a sword. Had this been King Solomon he would have rode in on a horse symbolizing his great military strength. But Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey.

Why did He choose to ride in on a donkey?

The prophecy from Zechariah said that this King “endowed with salvation” would come on the back of a donkey. But that is not the only reason why!

The donkey is a symbol of peace and humility. So what Jesus is saying with his actions is He did not come to make war with the world, but to bring peace to It.

How is Jesus going to bring peace with no weapons? The kind of peace Jesus is referring to is not peace between men, but peace between man and God.

It is a peace that comes through the cross. It is a peace that only can come through a perfect sacrifice for our sins!

The peace that was so desperately needed in Jerusalem was not peace between them and the Romans. It was not some kind of political peace but spiritual peace. A peace between them and God! A peace that had been broken because of their sin.

And only a spiritual King who was both God and man could bring this peace. He had to be human, yet He had to live a sinless life. And only Jesus could accomplish both of these things.

The old sacrificial system was not sufficient to wash away their sins. It was only shadow of the great sacrificial Lamb that was to come. The Jewish purification system was not sufficient to cleans them of their impurities. They need the the blood 🩸 to cleanse them from their impurities.

Jesus is God in the flesh who was coming into Jerusalem to die in OUR place for OUR sins.

Paul sums it like this:

2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB95

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Application

What does this world need most? It is not political freedom, or world peace. It is peace between man and God. This is really all that is going to matter.

This is why Paul says the church has been given a ministry of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18 NASB95

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,

This is the mission of the church. It is to lead people into a real living relationship with God.

It is to minister in such a way to welcome people under the Lordship of Christ so that they can have peace with God!

And Paul says this ministry has been given to us!

The true nature of this King can only be understood where He is enthroned

John 12:16 NASB95

These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.

Explanation

The disciples watched this entire thing unfold yet did not understand the deeper meaning of it all. They, like the crowds, had their own expectations of who Jesus should have been. All that they could see is the physical things in front of them and were not able to see the deeper spiritual significance of what had unfolded.

This verse says it was only after Jesus was “glorified” that they truly understood what they had seen with their eyes. The waving of the palm branches, the fulfilment of Zechariah’s prophecy, the royal entrance of the King riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. And then on the third day the resurrection and triumph over sin and death.

Jesus was glorified when He was raised from the dead. Why did the resurrection make a difference in the understanding of the disciples?

Because when Jesus ascended into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit down to earth. And inside all those who believe in Him.

It was the Spirit of God that removed the natural vision from them and gave them spiritual vision. It was only after they truly believed in Jesus and confessed Him as King of their lives that they received what was needed to give them understanding. The Holy Spirit opened their eyes that they could see past the human kingship and understood the spiritual kingship of Jesus.

Bridge

There are two sets of eyes that read this story today.

Those who see this as the disciples seen it. They see Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. Palm branches being waved and shouts of praise from the crowds. Cool but a superficial understanding.

Then there are those who have had their eyes opened by God through the Holy Spirit. These see this story as their King who is riding into Jerusalem to die for their sins. They call Him King not only because He claims to be King, but because their lives demonstrate that He is King over them.

It is Jesus who opened the eyes of the blind man in John 9. It was Jesus who said to the crowds that to know Him is to be able SEE Him.

And Jesus told the disciples in John 15 that He would not leave them orphans, but would send another Helper in John 14 who would be with them forever! Who is this Helper? The Holy Spirit. If if the Holy Spirit was another Helper who was the first Helper? JESUS!

Application

When Jesus is enthroned as King of our lives, He sends us the Holy Spirit of God and our superficial vision becomes spiritual understanding. When we read the Bible it is no longer a dull book in black and white, but a book of spiritual truths that has transformed our lives.

No one can come to truly understand the things of God without first offering themselves to God as a servant, a slave, a son, ready to obey and carry out His will. To those who received Him, He gave the right to become children of God.

Have you received Jesus as your King? Is He on the throne of your life that rightly belongs to Him?

The lordship of this King is offered to the entire world

John 12:17–19 (NASB95)

So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”

Explanation

Notice what the Pharisees say here, “the world has gone after Him”. They are not happy at all about this royal celebration happening before them. They have plans to kill this King before things really get out of hand. But they say something so significant, “the world has gone after Him”. And if you study the gospel of John, you will see this kind of ignorance used to have great meaning. And here is also has great meaning.

We knows from the letters of Paul, that Jesus is not just the King of Israel, but King of the entire world. He is the reigning King of the world today and will never leave the throne!

We know from the prophecy spoken in this passage that this king’s reign will go to the “ends of the earth”. In other words Jesus Christ offers Himself King not just to Israel but to the entire world.

Application

“Look, the world has gone after him”. That is what it looks like to have Jesus as King. It Is to go after Jesus with everything that we have. It is to let Jesus rule over your life, every area of your life, and be the King of your life. That means what He says we do. And to know what He says is simply to open up the Word of God and begin to obey it.

Question:

If you were to take a real honest look into your life, could you without a doubt say this morning that Jesus is King over your life? Could you say that you obey Him in every area, not perfectly, but it is evident that you are going after Him?

If Jesus does not rule your life, then Jesus is not your King. If he is not the center of your life then He is not the King of your life.

And if Jesus is not your King, then your are not at peace with God. And when you die, you will have to stand trial before God without a lawyer, without a plea deal, without a scape goat, and the judge will not let you slide. He cannot!

INVITATION

How can Jesus be King Over your life today? You must be willing to step off the throne of your life, let the King have control. There is no other way. It is to let go and trust HIM and who He says He is.

Mark 8:35–37 NASB95

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

If we only knew how serious this was. How grand this offer of salvation is! How true these words of Jesus‘ are.

What will a man give in exchange for His soul?

Oh if your sins are not covered will you please come and make Jesus your King today?

I am telling you, it is all that is going to matter when we see Him face to face.