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A Different Kind of King, A Different Kind of Kingdom
A Different Kind of King, A Different Kind of Kingdom
John 12:
12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”
14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.
17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness.
18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.
21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
John 12:
12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”
14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.
17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness.
18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.
21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.
28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”
30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.
31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”
35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.
A Different Kind of King - The King who must die
This King wasnt pompous, aloof, or untouchable. He was lowly, gentle and humble. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Understanding the history of Jewish kings, Saul, David and Solomon would have each trumpeted their accomplishments. Whether in war, wealth or wisdom, each had life moments recorded and lauded. Jesus was more about the accomplishment His death would bring about.
A HUMBLE KING? All these actions were unexpected. Anyone watching, on the outside looking in, would’ve wondered: Why a donkey?(chariots or camels) Why the branches?(feast of tabernacles) Why the davidic psalm (usually sung in homes during passover)
And for all those waving and witnessing, they would have to decide one issue: was this the King of Israel? The question for us, like it was in kid-chat, is “who is the man on the donkey?”.
There was a fervor building. A crescendo coming. Whereas Jesus’ hour or time was ‘not yet’ up til now, v.23 states that His hour had now come. This was in response to Andrew bringing the Greek’s request. It seems to be a ‘yes’...
But even in this pronouncement, Jesus is not elevating Himself. He is pointing to the coming sacrifice. He would be the Passover Lamb at this Passover. He would be righteousness on the doorpost of not just Israel, but all those who would believe!
When the call goes out to ‘live as Jesus lived’, we must understand how selfless He was. That call is to ruthlessly abandon any self-centered existence, to leave it to die. This isnt a CALL to martyrdom, although some do give their lives for the sake of the Gospel. AAMOF, some of them are always in the presence of God crying out, “How long, O Lord, will you wait to avenge our blood?”.
We arent to seek to die like Jesus died, but live as Jesus lived: Having the mindset of Christ, who, although equal with God did not see that as something to be held on to, humbling Himself.
A Different Kind of Kingdom -
This Kingdom is like no other.
Like wheat among weeds. Like mustard seed. Like yeast mixed in flour. Like a treasure hidden in a field. Like a pearl of great price. Like a net full of fish.
Jesus addresses this crowd along the same lines: seed must fall to the ground to produce fruit. The servant will be honored. Losing life means gaining eternal life. What those present would have heard was Jesus using ‘life’ three times. Twice psyche - physical life, and once zoe - eternal life.
Symbolism is, again, important here: Remember that Jesus presented Himself publicly at the Feast of Tabernacles and Passover. The waving of the branches and the cry of Hosanna are from each of those celebrations. He is the culmination of them! He was the perfect that fulfilled the partial.
Kingdom where - not bound by geography, or even nationality. Andrew bringing the Greeks to Jesus
Kingdom when - now, and for eternity future. For those listening that day, it was not a kingdom for that day, yet it was! Just not the kind of kingdom many of them were looking for. Today, He’s not the kind of Jesus many of us are looking for. We seem to want a Jesus who will heal us when we have habitually abused ourselves, who will forgive us when we have hated our neighbor, who will fill our bank accounts when we have robbed His coffers.
The truth of the kingdom is that it is still coming! Once again, the perfect is coming and the partial will pass away! And that ‘different kind of King’ will come with the right to judge and He WILL judge.
Larry LaPrise held the Hokey Pokey copyright. He died in 1996
A Different Kind of Response -
Since evil has been judged (v.31), condemned, sentenced and Jesus has been lifted up, ‘what shall I say’?
The response of the Father was to affirm His own presence and approval in the Son.
The response of the Son was to accept ‘this hour’.
The response of all who follow is to believe. Once again, that word! Faithful obedience!