Jesus the King

On this frigid Sunday morning, we remember it is Palm Sunday.

We remember that Jesus is the King.

Palm Sunday is the day we remember that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy written about Him hundreds of years before it took place.

It is the day that begins a week of remembrance of what Jesus did to purchase our salvation — that He died on the Cross in our place.

We deserved to die as punishment for our rebellion against God and His commands.

But Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, died in our place.

Palm Sunday begins a week that culminates next Sunday with a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.

What Jesus did on what we call Palm Sunday was prophesied in the Old Testament:

Zechariah 9:9 (NLT) Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.

Please understand that Jesus fulfilled more than just this one prophecy.

In fact, there are over 300 prophecies in the OT about the first coming of Messiah.

Every one of the prophecies are fulfilled to the letter by Jesus Christ.

The odds that just 60 of those more than 300 prophecies being fulfilled by the only person who claimed to be the Son of God, and who died on a “tree” on Calvary, and who rose the third day were calculated by Dr. Peter S. Ruckman, to be 1 in 10 to the 895th power. That is a 1 over a 1 followed by 895 zeros — as close to impossible as you or I could imagine — and yet, Jesus fulfilled not just 60 but over 300 OT prophecies — including the prophecy that we remember being fulfilled on this Palm Sunday.

We see its fulfillment in ALL 4 of the Gospel accounts, but let me read the account written in:

Matthew 21:1–11 (NLT) As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” 4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, 5 “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.’ ” 6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. 8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Praise God in highest heaven!” 10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked. 11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

As we think about this event that occurred 2000 years ago, let us consider 3 things that this event declares:

Christ Comes in Peace

First, Palm Sunday declares the peaceful coming of Messiah.

The donkey symbolized His peaceful coming;

He came to seek and to save the lost.

He came as the sacrificial lamb, to atone for our sins.

In Luke’s account, we see Him weeping over Jerusalem,

demonstrating His sorrow for its coming destruction, as well as for those who reject Him and the salvation that He brings.

But, Jesus’ peaceful coming on a donkey stands in tremendous contrast to His second coming,

Described in:

Revelation 19:11–13 (NASB95) And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

Then we are told of a very different reason for coming:

Not to usher in peace, but judgment.

Not to die for the sins of the world but to rule the nations with a rod of iron.

Revelation 19:15–16 (NASB95) From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Palm Sunday declares the peaceful coming of Messiah that we NEED to receive by faith.

By faith we need to believe and receive that we can have peace with God through Jesus.

Christ Is Honored

Secondly, we need to see the fickleness of humanity.

Of us.

WE can be fickle creatures.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem 2000 years ago he was shown great honor.

The onlookers lay their garments down in front of Him, and wave palm branches – a demonstration of victory, usually reserved for royalty.

The onlookers shouted “Hosanna,” an expression of praise and adoration, which is also related to the Aramaic word for “Savior.”

Words that echo Psalm 118, which was part of the Hallel, a song traditionally sung at the temple during Jewish festivals.

Even though He was honored at this appearance, just a few days later He stood humiliated:

First at the house of the high priest and later in Pilate’s court .

Where the same fickle people who had praised and adored Jesus, shouted “Crucify Him!”

Then He was further humiliated by

being forced to carry His cross down what we now call the Via de la rosa.

being led to the place of the skull where He was crucified on a Cross.

Yes, Jesus was praised as a King, but then He was humiliated by that same crowd.

Jesus is THE King

Let us NOT make the same mistake as that crowd 2000 years ago.

Let us declare Jesus to be THE King.

Not A King. Merely one among many.

No!

That He is THE King.

This morning, let US not be fickle.

Let us be steadfast in acknowledging Jesus as King.

As Rev. S.M. Lockridge, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, San Diego said about Jesus:

"The Bible says my King is a seven-way king..

He's the King of the Jews; that's a racial king..

He's the King of Israel; that's a national King..

He's the King of Righteousness.

He's the King of the Ages..

He's the King of Heaven.

He's the King of Glory.

He's the King of Kings, and He's the Lord of Lords.

That's my King. Well. I wonder, do you know Him?.

David said in Psalm 19:1: "The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork.

My King is a sovereign King.

No means of measure can define His limitless love.

No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply.

No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings.

He's enduringly strong.

He's entirely sincere.

He's eternally steadfast.

He's immortally graceful.

He's imperially powerful.

He's impartially merciful.

Do you know Him?

Do You Know Him

That question stands as the crux of any other decision you could make — any other question you could answer:

Do you know Jesus?

Not do you know about Him.

Have you heard of Him?

But do you know Him?

Is He more than a King riding into Jerusalem 2000 years ago.

Have you repented of your sins?

Is Jesus the King of your life?

If not, turn to Him today.

Ask Him to forgive your sins and help you walk in a different path.

Ask Him to take control of your life — willingly surrender to Him.

Prayer