Understand the Times

Understanding the Times Isaiah 40:9-10, Isaiah 62:11 Zechariah 9:9, Isaiah 40:11 Introduction Last week, we talked about the ancient practice of sending advance parties to prepare the way for official visits. They smooth out the rough places in the road, sometimes making the road, passable for the large contingent that will accompany the royal traveler. These stratores, pioneers, performed an important function. They were not necessarily in charge of preparing the destination, but were more specifically concerned with the Way. Today, we look at the Triumphal Entry, what we call Palm Sunday, the arrival of the King, the Promised Messiah, from a new perspective, from the fulfillment of prophesy in all its ramifications, and from the stand point of an all-knowing God, having the foresight to understand all that was written and fulfilling it completely. Two Versions of Messiah The book of Isaiah gives us two distinct looks at the expectation that the Jewish people had about Messiah. Powerful King It is certainly understandable that the people were looking for a warrior king. We read passages like Isaiah 40:9-10: You, who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You, who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice and shout. Lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God." See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. This sounds like Palm Sunday, doesn't it? It causes me to recall Jesus telling the religious leaders, "If they don't praise me the rocks would cry out," (Luke 19:40). If you were looking for a powerful King of the Jews, this passage would most certainly be quoted. The Jews were looking, and are still looking, for a man of action, a man of power, a man to bring freedom and defeat the physical enemies of the nation. The Messiah would come and bring reward to the faithful, but he would also bring recompense to the unfaithful, and to the enemies of the realm. This refrain is repeated, almost word for word in Isaiah 62:11: reward and recompense. This is the view that nearly everyone had concerning Messiah. Even the disciples wondered aloud about this after his resurrection. They expected a king. And it is true of Jesus that he came in power, just not in the way that they expected. His power was not military force, or political in nature. Jesus came with spiritual power. He commanded demons and they obeyed him. He spoke to disease and it was immediately reversed. He prayed to the Father in heaven and the dead rose from the grave. There is power in the Name of Jesus. Humble Sacrifice The second idea that the prophets conveyed was a different kind of Messiah. And if you are looking for a political solution, you will miss the real Jesus, Isaiah 62:11: He (the Lord) tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. It was the humble shepherd that the people missed. It was the dutiful, caring shepherd that they failed to recognize. It was, as Zechariah had prophesied: See your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. A political ruler would have come with trumpet blasts. A military ruler would have come on chariot. A political ruler would have an armed escort to protect their leader from harm and dispense with anyone who stood in their way. That was not Jesus. Jesus was ignored, largely because they failed to recognize him. He was executed because his mild nature challenged their idea of Messiah. But what really happened was that God was working behind the scenes to fulfill all of the righteous requirements of the law so that his wrath might be turned away and his grace be extended to all the world. Salvation had come through Israel, but it had come to everyone who would simply believe. Jesus, the King Now, having said that, while Jesus came the first time as Savior, as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, when he returns, he will come as judge, jury and executioner, for all those who have rejected his offer of salvation. Jesus, Omniscient One Have you ever thought about Jesus as one who knows some stuff that others didn't know. Look at all of the things he knew before it was so. * He told Peter to go fishing and look in the mouth of the first fish - enough for the Temple Tax would be there. * He told the disciples before he went to Bethany, "Lazarus is dead. But it is for your benefit, so that you may believe." * He told the disciples, "Go into the city and find a certain donkey, tell the man that 'the Master needs this' and he will just let you come to get me." * He told the disciples, "Go and speak to the man about the room where we can prepare for Passover." * He told the disciples, "I am going away, but I will send the comforter." Jesus could see around corners. Jesus could see across the wilderness. Jesus can see into your heart. Listen, Jesus is the gentle one. He is searching for his sheep. He was willing to put his life on the line, in fact, to lay it down, just so that you and I could be with him. He is the humble king, riding on the donkey. Soon, however, he will be the mighty ruler of creation, coming with his reward and his recompense in his hands. Which will he have for you? Will it be the reward of eternal life or will it be the recompense of eternal judgment? The good news is: You get to choose. The bad news is: Not choosing is still a choice, just the wrong choice. 3