Christ the King

How many of you have seen a U.S. president in person? I was able to see Ronald Reagan in October 1984 candidating for his second term. Our senior history class walked downtown for this historic occasion. I was also able to see George H and George W Bush when they were running for president.

President Reagan didn’t just show up in Hackensack that day. There was a lot of preparation ahead of time. John Hinckley Jr, who was just released last month after 41 years, attempted to kill the president a few years earlier in 1981. So any possible threats were considered and steps were taken.

Besides the usual sun-glasses wearing secret service around the president, I noticed snipers in all black positioned on roof tops around the city center. The mayor and governor and other important people were there. A podium was set up with a sound system, and chairs and red, white, and blue banners were hanging all around. Our country was fighting back from an economic recession with high inflation, middle east terrorists, and a very aggressive Russia. Nothing is new under the sun.

Some of our younger people here today, may be shocked to see that there were actually color photos back in my day. This came from a video of the speech I found on YouTube, so there were even moving pictures too. When the Bushes spoke in later years, they were flown in by helicopter, and my friend Brian was a mounted county police officer working with security and crowd control. I don’t recall, but I may have had to walk through a metal detector to get into the outdoor rally. A president doesn’t just simply show up.

In today’s message from Mark 11, Jesus will enter Jerusalem, the capitol of Israel and the center of worship, for the first time. And he also, doesn’t simply show up. There are preparation and pageantry befitting a king.

Series

As we continue our series: The Crown & The Cross sermon, Mark’s Gospel shows Jesus as a man with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message. Jesus’ responses always helped his listeners better understand God’s heart and his statements are typically clear commands for us to follow.

In the first half of Mark the emphasis was on seeing Jesus revealed as Messiah - the King who deserved the crown. Now in the second half the focus is on Jesus going to Jerusalem to fulfill His life’s mission to suffer and die on the cross - and to rise from the dead.

Last week Jesus told his disciples he came to serve not to be served and a blind beggar proclaimed Jesus Son of David - a name for the Messiah.

Today, Jesus is publicly recognized as Messiah as he rides into Jerusalem on a donkey.

Our parallel passages are in Matthew 21 and Luke 19 and John 12. You can turn to Mark 11.

PRAY

Watch VIDEO Mark 11:1-11

Deliberate Preparation (vv. 1-6)

As they got closer the Jerusalem, they are among thousands of pilgrims returning to Jerusalem for the annual Passover. Historian Josephus estimates that the population of Jerusalem may have tripled or quadrupled during the week of passover to 2.5-3 million people.

Jesus sent two of his disciples with a special mission. And we will see Jesus later send two disciples ahead to prepare the upper room for the Passover meal. Notice how Jesus always seems to send his disciples out in fellowship with others and not alone, just as He sent them ‘two by two’ to minister in (6:7). In the book of Acts we see that Paul went on his first missionary journey with Barnabas, and later Barnabas partnered with Mark and Paul went with Silas - and then Timothy joins them.

MINISTRY NOTE: The lone Christian is never a biblical ideal. Get a ministry buddy to work alongside you whatever you are doing. That is how discipleship and iron sharpening iron happens. There is also a strong biblical case for more than one pastor or elder at each church. Something for us to consider.

Jesus, with divine vision, know exactly what will await them. this is like a mini-prophecy just for their encouragement. Upon entering the city, you will immediately find a colt tied up. It will be a new colt never ridden by anyone else.

This is significant in light of the ancient rule that only animals that had not been used for ordinary purposes were appropriate for sacred purposes. That makes this donkey holy - set apart for the Lord.

Jesus also tells them that if anyone asks what they are doing, tell them “The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.”

The two disciples went into the city and found everything exactly as Jesus described. So they go to the colt and start untying it and some says “What are you doing?” They told them The Lord has need of it” and the owners said go ahead.

MINISTRY NOTE: If the Lord asks you for something, for anything, are you ready to say “Yes?”

He wants you for himself. To be His son or daughter for eternity.

He wants you for his church. You are a missing piece of a puzzle, or a part of a building. Where does he want you to serve?

He wants you for his glory. We are created to bring God glory. Will you choose to honor and glorify him in everything you do?

Are there parts of your life that you are holding back? Your time, your money, your family, your entertainment? All we have are gifts from God and we have the privilege of giving them back to him in love and service. Trust God that he will do something great with whatever you give him.

Jesus very deliberately prepared for his entry into Jerusalem, because this was right time in his ministry. Not like earlier when the crowds were ready to crown him king. This was the beginning of the end - the place where he would complete his mission to become the sacrificial lamb and Savior of the world.

Triumphal Entry (vv. 7-8)

The Lord Jesus was about to do something totally new. If you recall, almost every time he healed someone he said “Don’t tell anyone. When Peter boldly declared “you are the Christ - the Messiah,” Jesus strictly charged them to tell no one.

He was finally going to allow His followers to give a public demonstration in His honor. He was ready to be revealed to Jerusalem and all of Israel as the Messiah.

Look at these contrasts. A conquering king would enter a defeated city after the battle. But Jesus entered Jerusalem before the battle. A warrior king would ride upon a prancing white war horse, with the bound prisoners following him. Jesus came on a small humble donkey, symbolic of peace, not to imprison but to liberate and free the world captive to sin. This also indicated that he was a serving and suffering Messiah rather than a conquering one.

READ Zechariah 9:9

1 Kings 1:38-40 The prophet Nathan had Solomon ride into Jerusalem on his Father’s mule to anoint him as the new King of Israel. the people followed rejoicing and shouting long live King Solomon.

2 Kings 9:13 says the people spread their clothes out in front of King Jehu so that he and his colt would not have to walk on the bare ground.

In following these OT examples of kings and fulfilling the Zechariah prophecy, Jesus accomplished two purposes: (1) He declared Himself to be Israel’s King and Messiah; and (2) He deliberately challenged the religious leaders. We will see that challenge as he enters the temple and in Luke 19 where the Pharisees say to Jesus “Tell your followers to be silent.” And in John 12 they said, Look, the world has gone after him.

Messianic Proclamation (vv. 9-11)

Mark 11:8 says the people spread their cloaks on the road and others spread out branches making the way for Jesus.

V. 9 tells us there were people in front of him and behind him shouting and announcing Jesus. It’s very likely that they were calling back and forth to each other.

Front Group: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Back Group: Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the Highest!

Let’s try it. Left side is the front group and Right side is the back group.

Matthew 21:9 tells us they also shouted Hosanna to the Son of David!

Luke 19:38 ads Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!

John 12:13 says Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.

Hosanna means “Save us or Save us now!”

Clearly the crowd were calling Jesus the Messiah. But instead of marching into the Palace, Jesus quietly goes into the Temple in verse 11 and after looking around at everything, he left for Bethany with the twelve disciples because it was already late. Jesus was not there to sit on a throne as an earthly king; to over through Rome. He was declared Messiah, but instead would show that it was a spiritual kingdom he came to establish.

You may have heard people say the same people who cried “Hosanna!” on Palm Sunday less than a week later cried “Crucify Him!” on Good Friday, but this is probably not true. The crowd that followed Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday were likely northern Galilean Jews who knew Jesus and His ministry first hand and believed he was the Messiah. The crowd that wanted Him crucified came predominantly from Judea and Jerusalem.

Mark’s gospel account of the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem is understated and helps us see that Jesus was more concerned with the Temple and how the religious leaders were treating it. We will see that in the upcoming weeks.

Take Aways

As he road into Jerusalem on the day we celebrate as Palm Sunday, Jesus was clearly revealed as Messiah and King, but he came as a peaceful servant, not a powerful conqueror.

The Jews were looking for a King to save them now from Rome and provide temporary peace, but Jesus came to save us from sin and offer everlasting peace with God.

Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Have you repented of your sin and chosen him as king of your life?

My personal Bible reading and devotions this week were in 1 Corinthians chapter 4 where Paul said “It is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” A steward is one who manages and uses an owners property and possessions in their absence. Like the steward of Gondor in Lord of the Rings. James 1:17 says every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father. When we recognize that all we have is from God, we see ourselves as stewards who want to use these assets for his good and his glory.

When God asks you to give Him something, do you say yes? Are you regularly giving back to him through your time, talents, spiritual gifts, and financial gifts?

Soli Deo gloria Latin for Glory to God alone.

In Luke 19 40 When the Pharisees told Jesus to silence his followers as they shouted praise to Jesus and Glory to God, Jesus said, if they were silent the very stones would cry out!

To reflect more on your place in bringing glory to God, you can explore verses like Psalm 86:9, 1 Corinthians 10:31, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Romans 11:33-36, Romans 14:8, Galatians 5:24, 1 Peter 1:8

Soli Deo gloria

Benediction

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! In the glorious name of Jesus the King of Kings I pray. Amen.

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