The Return of the King / Palm Sunday 2022

Triumphal Entry (John 12:12-19; Matthew 21:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; Mark 11:1-10)

Introduction

Our world views Jesus almost entirely through a lens of mercy, kindness, and forbearance. It’s at least kind of understandable. The first time Jesus came, He healed people, lifted up the downtrodden, confronted hypocrites, and sacrificed himself, dying for the sins of the world. His ministry began with Him preaching, “Blessed are the meek,” and He typified that lifestyle. Jesus was homeless (by choice, it seems), penniless, and (seemingly) powerless.

But that is an incomplete picture of what Jesus is like. He’s coming again, and it will play out much differently.

I want to talk to you today about the differences between Jesus’ first advent and His second, and what it means for us now. To do this, we’ll examine His two arrivals through a contrast of His Triumphal Entry and His Second Coming.

Humbled -- Highest

Form of a Servant > Son; Philippians 2:5-8 “5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.”

Riding on a Donkey/Beast of Burden > War Horse; Revelation 19:11 “11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war.”

Wearing a Crown of Thorns - Wearing Many Diadems

Examples

Born in a Manger, Raised in a Backwater, Rode in on a Donkey

When Christ came, He was a humble servant; when He returns, He will be the Highest King of Kings.

When Christ came, He

Mercy -- Judgment

Mercy

Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus’ mission to serve others and sacrifice Himself.

Jesus exercised patience with disciples who misunderstood, commoners who misidentified, and rulers who misconstrued.

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17).

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Weeping over Jerusalem

Judgment

Jesus’ mission will no longer be service and sacrifice, but ruling and retribution.

Rod of Iron

Psalm 2:9, “You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” The words of God the Father to the Son.

Revelation 2:27, “he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.”

Revelation 19:15, “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.”

Instead of weeping (as over Jerusalem), warring

Weeping Luke 19:41-42 “41 As he approached and saw the city, he wept for it, 42 saying, “If you knew this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

Warring Revelation 19:12-15 “12 His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. 14 The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. 15 A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty.”

Conclusion: Take Refuge in Christ

Psalm 2:10, “Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with feat, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

When Christ returns, He is bringing with Him vengeance, punishment, and wrath. He will kill all those who oppose Him and fling them into hell.

When Christ returns there will be no more patience, no more time, no more mercy, no more grace, no more relief. He will dole out exactly what each person deserves.

Those who take refuge in him will be blessed. They will escape the fires of hell, and find grace and mercy in the eyes of the Father. They trusted Christ in this life, and they will have eternal life.

Those who rebelled against him will be cursed. They will find themselves in the line of His fire, experiencing judgment now and forever. They will never again feel the mercy and grace of the Father. They rejected Christ in this life, and they will have eternal death in the fires of hell.

“Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”

Philippians 2:9-11, “9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

“Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

You may be asking, “How do I take refuge in Christ? I don’t want to face the wrath of God! What must I do to be saved?”

You take refuge in Christ by submitting yourself to Him and believing the gospel. You recognize your sinfulness and open rebellion in the face of His goodness and mercy towards you. You take refuge in Christ by believing that He alone lived a life of sinless purity. He alone died the death ever sinner deserved. He alone rose from the dead through the power of an indestructible life (Heb 7:16). He alone ascended to Heaven and waits for the word from His Father to finally quell man’s rebellion.

You take refuge in Christ by dying to yourself and living for Him. You believe the gospel, and the Holy Spirit saves you and begins to clean you up.

If you do not take refuge in Christ now, you will face His wrath. My earnest appeal to you is to take refuge in Jesus today, before it’s too late.