Jesus is King

amen, and amen Well, good morning church. We're continuing our Easter series on the kingdom and I want us to think this morning together about Jesus as the king as they mentioned. This is Palm Sunday the Sunday where Jesus entered into the city of Jerusalem and was greeted as a king. We find this in the gospel. I want us to look at John chapter 12 this morning. It starts this way. It says the next day a large crowd that it come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was packed full as people had come from all over. The celebrates the great feast of the Passover they were there in Jerusalem and Jesus was entering in in verse 13. It says they took branches from palm tree and went out to meet him crying out Jose Jose. Anna blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord even the king of Israel? Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it just as it was written fear not Daughter of Zion behold. Your king is coming sitting on a donkey's Colt his disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified then they remembered that these things have been written about him and had been done. The him what at what is seen what a moment's in Holy Week in in the life and Ministry of Jesus as he enters into the city of Jerusalem the city of Kingsville city of God's promise. The city that had been prophetically linked to the Messiah and that great unfolding of God's deliverance and Redemption the end of Exile Here Comes Jesus and she is received at the promised anointed one the promised Messiah the long-awaited king this text Elvis two times. Jesus is King. Jesus is King. But what king king of what king of who saying Jesus is King is a true statement, but what does actually mean?

I'm afraid that in our world in our Western especially Protestant Evangelical understanding of Jesus. We say the words Jesus is King, but we don't really have a clue what that mean.

King of what king of coup who and what is Jesus?

Do you know our culture we've adopted so many caricatures and misconceptions of who Jesus Is We Shrunk and personalize and privatized in spiritualised the gospel the good news about Jesus the king that quite frankly. We don't need him to be king. Because all we're looking for Jesus to be is Savior and by that we mean for Giver the one who forgives us of our sins so that after we die, we don't have to go to hell we get to go to some place called Heaven God comes to get us out of this world. It's a week. We we don't need Jesus to be king weekly actually strip Jesus of his contact. We script the suite we strip the gospel out of its context to fit our little narrative that we're really terrible Spinners that we need to be forgiven. If we pray a prayer believe in Jesus, we will be forgiven and we get the float out of this bad place to someplace good called Heaven. This is the gospel we've embraced. It's not the gospel of the Scriptures. It is not the total and full and holistic good news of Jesus the King Jesus comes in contacts. Jesus comes in ssb4 filler of what has been begun. Let me say it this way this morning. Jesus didn't come to start something new. At least not in the sense of get rid of the old but didn't work and and bring something new that Jesus came to renew and relaunch the people of God. We need to really understand this if we're going to take Jesus seriously if we're going to take what he said and what he did seriously not just on the cross and in the resurrection, but in the totality of his life and Ministry. Jesus didn't come to start something new in a sense of get rid of the old. But you renew and relaunch the fresh work of the people of God. When we think about the story of Israel the story of Israel's God, it's it's it's been so long on Fulton drama. Inform many people I think of the Evangelical world.

We we look at the history of the Hebrew scriptures what we call the Old Testament of interpret it this way God created the world sin entered into the world God trying something with Abraham and his descendants and Israel. It didn't work out. And so God move the plan B, which was Jesus Jesus comes and he starts this new thing called Christianity, which was God's plan B plan a Israel didn't work. So now I've got moves on to Jesus Plan B, and nothing could be further from the truth if we take the scriptures seriously. Jesus comes to fulfill the long-awaited promise given to Abraham Jesus comes of Israel's promised and Jesus performs. Israel's calling perfectly and Faithfully. This is not a new movement as if the first thing didn't work. It's the Fulfillment and Israel matter. The reason Israel story matters is that the creator of the world has chosen and called Israel to the beat to be the people through whom he will redeem the world. Israel is God's answer to the fall in Genesis chapter 3 Israel is God's answer to the Brokenness and to the death. That is the natural out working and fruit of sin and Rebellion against God. Yes is real struggle is real failed over and over and over again, but in Jesus. Israel's call and commission Israel's vocation to be the light of the world is fulfill. Israel's promised his experience Jesus comes and does what have been promised to Abraham. He brings a blessing to all the peoples of the world. When will when we read the Old Testament if you if you just sit down and read the story we've been in Genesis and we're coming back to Genesis after Easter church, and I'm I'm excited we've been in that for reason we've got to get the story right? We got to know our place in the store if you want to sit down and just read through the Old Testament what you're going to see is this this sense of An Unfinished pale. A journey that lost its way we have this beautiful wise creative God who makes all that is and creates it and establish his kingdom ski sets it up to be to Temple God would dwell in Creation with his creation. But we see that because of rebellion and rejection of God's wise and Sovereign rule because Adam and Eve rejected God as king because God is rejected is King time and time again the world revolves. instead of order we get chaos instead of life we get And yet God does not give up on his creation to God calls Abraham God forms a people that will be his people that he will use instruments and his vessel of Grace his tool of reject Redemption to renew and redeem all of creation. And there's moments of beauty and Glory as God's people are faithful and trust him and God uses them and yet when we read the story when we read the full story as we see the rise and fall of Israel's faithfulness, we get this sense at the end of the Hebrew scriptures of a story that is not yet finished. We see in this story fundamental truth that God has designed creation. God has designed this world to be a place where he dwells with his people at the end of the day. That's what truly set is real apart. The law in the Torah. They had the Commandments they had the worship that was prescribed in the Mosaic coach these things made them unique, but what made them ultimately unique What made them distinct from all the other peoples and places of the world is that with Israel God chose to 12? 12 with that when we get to Exodus and the people are delivered by God out of Egypt through the prophet Moses. It's not just Moses that leads the people presents comes and dies. He leave them at the end of the book beautiful picture of what God is doing through Israel. They build the Tabernacle the very glory and presence of God comes and dwells in the tent in the Tabernacle with the people God is with them. This is what makes them the people of God. It's through their highs and lows God is with them often. He has to rebuke them off and he has to judge them. But God's grace is always there to bring them back not just to himself but to their vocation to their mission to be the people of God through whom God will redeem all people. It's it's it's it's it's a long and drawn-out story.

The time and time again, we see the presence of God there with his people.

You look at 1st Samuel chapter 8 we get to the time of the Kings now. God has been moved from the Tabernacle to the temple. An antonym for Samuel chapter 8 when Samuel Decay moldy made his son's judges over Israel the name of his firstborn son was Joel the name of the second at Abbott and they were judges in there Sheba get his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after game. They took bribes and perverted Justice.

Then all the Elders of Israel called together and came to Samuel at Ramada. They said to him you are all three love to hear that and your son's do not walk in your way. Now a point for us a king to judge us like all the other nations. Listen to what the nation of Israel is requesting listen carefully and let it sink in what has made is real absolutely unique amongst all the people is that the very presence of God himself 12 with them as their King as their leader other nations human think they had God himself. But now in this time of transition as Samuel is aging out in his sons are clearly not up to the task. The Elders of the people come to Samuel a safe. It's time. Give us a king a human King just like all the other people.

Sing displeased Samuel when they said it'd give us a king to judge us. Samuel prayed unto the Lord and the Lord said to Samuel

Don't rush over that. How did the Lord speak to Samuel cuz he was with them in the Tabernacle Samuel dog and praise the god ski speaks the guy that God speaks to him because God is there with them. He sent them obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you for they have not rejected you.

But they have rejected me from being King. over them

they rejected me from being King over there according to all the Deeds that they have done from the day that I brought them out of Egypt even to this day forsaking me and serving other gods. So they're also doing to you now then obey their voice only usual solemnly warned them and show them that the ways of the king who shall reign over them.

They want a king and so God says give them what they're asking for. They don't want me as king fine give them something out. So they choose Saul because he was tall and good-looking. He looked like like the king of the other nations. Certainly this will give us what we want saw does not turn out so well. Believe in the one who follow Saul David the man after God's Own Heart David a great warrior a great poet.

the great sinner and a great disappointment. He's not the king that is absolutely needed. But it is to David the God made some incredible promise. David realizes at a certain point in his Reign. He's dwelling in this beautiful palace and realize was that still dwelling in this tent you wants to make a temple a permanent home. For the presence of God in the city of Jerusalem. So he goes to Samuel and says I'm going to do this Samuel talks to God and God says no, I don't want David to build this house for me. But then God said something amazing to David in 2nd Samuel chapter 7 the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make for you house. David wants to make a house for the Lord. God comes back and says, you know what? Thanks, but no, thanks. I'm actually not let your son Solomon do that. I don't want you to build for me a house, but I'm going to build for you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your father's which is a beautifully kind way of saying when you die David when you taste death when you breathe your last when your time on this Earth is done. I will raise up your Offspring after you you should come from your body and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name and I will establish the Throne of his kingdom.

forever forever I'm sure when this was first spoken to Samuel when David first heard this promise from the Lord he figured that that was a promise that was for his son Solomon his son Solomon did indeed build a temple a magnificent beautiful. One of the wonders of the ancient world Temple a temple fit kings and queens from Nations around the world came to Jerusalem to visit and to hear to worship The God Who dwell with his people.

But Solomon like his father David tasted death Solomon like his father David new not only faithfulness, but face is the kingdom of Solomon along with the Temple of Solomon did not last.

This promise that was given to David was partially fulfilled in his son Solomon. But in order for True fulfillment to the word of God that there will be a king whose kingdom will last forever.

Well that that doesn't come in the Hebrew scriptures that isn't known or experienced in the Old Testament and the time comes when the faithlessness. rebellion in the Sin Israel becomes so Gray. The God's judgment comes upon them in the form of Exile. God allows a foreign power to come in and destroy the nation. The city of Jerusalem is invaded the people are taken off into captivity. The walls are torn down so that not a single Stone lays on top of another and the temple is defiled and desecrate desecrated foreigners come into the temple remove the sacred things and take them into a foreign lands.

the end of the Old Testament story The people are taken out into Exile Exile. They lose not only their lands. They lose the temple they lose their tang and their kingdoms and they lose God's presence. The Glory by Shekinah of God is removed from the temple. And yes at the end of the story God is faithful to his word and some of the people of Remnant returned to the land. And yes, they begin to rebuild Jerusalem Penn Station rebuild another Temple.

Put on like Solomon's Temple. The glory the presence of God does not enter the new Temple. It's not there. It's up when we get to the end of the Old Testament when we get to the time of Jesus there is this deep and abiding sense of Exile is not done. Did something still has to happen? Yeah, they're back in the land. Yes. They kind of have a king. Yes. They have this Temple, but they don't have that which makes them unique among the people. They don't have the presence of God in our mess. In fact for 400 years God stops speaking. Not a single Prophet not a single word. They're waiting. an expectation in anticipation the God will fulfill his Covenant promise to Israel. We see this expressed through the profits over and over again, Isaiah and chapter 9. This is one of the texts that we tend to read only at Christmas but has such profound meaning and significance. I think a rights for to us a child is born to us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name Shall be Called wonderful counselor, Mighty God Everlasting father Prince of Peace of the increase of his government and a piece. There will be no end on the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it into opponent with Justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore the Zeal. Of the Lord of hosts will do this. This Prophecy from Isaiah. It's so profound and so perplexing. And so many levels Isaiah says one day God is going to raise up a son who will be a change in the line of David Steele sit on David's throne in his kingdom will last forever but in this prophetic utterance, there's so much mystery and so much Majesty because not only will he be a king in a line of David's but he will be known as wonderful counselor, Mighty God.

God himself will come God's Tim self will re-engage with his people Israel and it'll be the Zeal and the power and the wisdom in the might of God himself that will make this happen. similarly Daniel writing of this coming of one who will rule this coming King and Daniel chapter 7 Daniel's given a vision from the Lord about what is going to happen to the people in Exile and after work and Daniel season the Night Visions in the hole with the Clouds Of Heaven there was one like a son of man. And he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him and to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all people and all nations in all languages should serve. Kim his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away and his kingdom is one that she'll not be. destroy what Isaiah what Daniel would so many of the other prophets are saying in the Hebrew scriptures is that Israel was awaiting the end of Exile. Which means Israel was awaiting the return of God himself.

dogs to self would be the ones to raise up a king whose kingdom would last forever

in the gospel

Matthew Mark Luke and John the gospel. The good news announcement of who Jesus was and is what Jesus did and is doing in the gospels. Jesus is the ends of Exile the Fulfillment of Israel's promised and Covenants and the ends of Israel's

Jesus is presented over and over again in the gospels as the one who does what is real failed to do and the one who he is. God in their Nets

Look at Matthew chapter 2. The birth Narrative of Jesus according to Matthew's gospel. It says this now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king hold wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, where is he who has been born King of the Jews for we saw his star when it Rose and I've come to worship Him. These wise men from the East had studied the scriptures in the Prophecies of the prophets of old and they knew that there was a king coming and when they saw the sign about King, they made a long and treacherous inexpensive journey to come and witness the Fulfillment of God's promise. They came the Herod who is ruling as the king at the time and said, where's the king who was just born when Herod the king heard this was troubled. And all Jerusalem with him and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people he inquired of them where the price.

The word that means anointed one where the Messiah where the King was to be born. They told him in Bethlehem of Judea for so it is written by the prophet and then massive quotes from Micah chapter 5 and you oh Bethlehem in the land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah for from you. Shall come a ruler who will Shepherd My People Israel. Jesus is presented in all of the Gospel accounts as the long-awaited Fulfillment of Israel's Covenant and of God's promise of a king who is unlike any other king who has ever been before.

John's introduction to Jesus It's so profoundly the illogical and deeply rooted in the Hebrew scriptures and narrative. Look at John 1:1 to 18 with me. In the beginning was the word John is intentionally taking us back to Genesis in the beginning in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God all things were made through him. And without him was not any thing made that was made in him was life and the life was the light of men the light shines in the darkness and the Darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to Bear witness about the light that all might believe through him. He was not the light that came to bear witness about the lights True Light which gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world and the world was made through him yet. The world did not know him. He came to his own and his own people did not receive him. but to all who received him who believe in his name he gave the right to become children of God who were born not of blood nor the will of Flesh nor of the will of man but of God Jesus didn't start just in time to start something completely new something completely separated from the path Jesus came in fulfillment he came people rejected him but to all those who didn't reject him

the people of God continue

The word that's the same word that spoke creation into existence the word the word that is the light of man in the light of the world and the Darkness cannot overcome it the word became flesh. dwell Among Us I'm sure this before but the word that John uses there in the Greek is a word that literally means Dwelling Place Tabernacle tent. If we wanted to translator transliterate it just as opposed to it. We could say and the word became flesh and Tabernacle in armet. Jesus comes as the very presence of God the presents the glory. The glory of God has returned to a new Temple not a temple Made of Stone by human hands, but it's Temple nonetheless. The word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen his glory glory as of the only son from the father full of grace and truth John bore witness about him and cried out this was he of whom I said he who comes after me ranks before me because he was before me. For from his fullness. We have all received Grace upon Grace for the law was given through Moses Grace and Truth came through Jesus the Christ. No one has ever seen God the only God who is at the father's side, but he has made Kim. No.

See when Jesus comes it's the end of Exile because when Jesus comes he's not only a king like David in the davidic line. He is that he is also the exact representation of God. Ski is God made flesh. He has the power and presence of God's back in the midst of creation. God is not going to stand back and let sin and death have the victory Dodge centers in.

God comes himself. at King just like just like the people in Samuel's Bay rejected. God as king. Jesus who was welcomed on Palm Sunday with Christ whose daniff Hosanna blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord even the king of Israel at first? At first he is welcomed by the people as thing but by the end of the week. They're crying out with bloodthirsty voices crucify him crucify him. Once again, the king is rejected, but in this instance that rejection. Which appears to be his defeat? Becomes his greatest Victory result the climax of The Gospel and really the climax of Israel's entire story is the paradoxical enthronement of Jesus on the cross. the final moments and fulfillment of the great scriptural story Jesus's final word on the cross teletext and I finish it's all done says it clearly the story of Israel has been completed the story of creation. The story of God's covenant now New Creation can begin and it does immediately afterwards with the resurrection of King Jesus built upon of the Covenant as the disciples are sent out into the world equipped with the spirit and gospel good news of Jesus the King. This is how Israel has reached its goal and can now bear fruit in the world because Jesus is ping Not just of Israel. But through Israel to the entire world. Jesus is the king and his kingdom has been inaugurated. It has been established and he proved it and validated it in his resurrection. That's what we celebrate at Easter. If he didn't there would be nothing to celebrate. Jesus's death on Friday is meaningless if there's not a Resurrection on Sunday. on Sunday the king Returns on Sunday the king demonstrates the reality of the New Kingdom in our

Jesus is King now. And will be king forever the good new of Easter. Is the news of a king with come to establish his kingdom on the Earth forever and ever and ever and yes in that unfolding of this promised there will come a great day of the Lord a great day of judgement a great day of restoration. And renewal there will come a day where the king will sit on his throne and look out over all of creation and he will say behold. I have made all things new. We're not there yet. We're in the midst of it and still awaiting it. Jesus has begun to make all things new teeth is the first fruit of the New Kingdom pee came up out of the grape. We are now the first fruits of the Kingdom if we are in King Jesus,

one day every knee will bow. One day every tongue will confess that Jesus is the king to the glory of God the Father. until that day comes until that day comes we live with the reality that Jesus is our King here. And now that he has been raised and seated above every throne and every Power and every Dominion all authority in the heavens and on the Earth has been given to him and because of that reality he spends us out as his ambassadors of reconciliation as his Ministers of Grace at those who get to announce the good news that Jesus.

Has fulfilled the promise of Israel has come and has defeated death sin and the grave in him. Is now a new way of life a new kingdom. That we can be made new. in King Jesus

Jesus is a king. The king of what? And the king of who is really the only question. Do you look to Jesus will you turn? the Jesus as your

We put your faith. Will you put your hope? Church, will you give Your Allegiance? the King Jesus Above All Else