Every Knee Shall Bow

“Every Knee Shall Bow”

Philippians 2:1-11

A day is coming that will be unlike any other day in world history. Philippians 2:10-11, “At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of god the Father.”

In Biblical History today is the beginning of Holy Week. Today we celebrate the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Monday Jesus cleansed the temple. Tuesday Jesus gave teachings and parables on God’s Kingdom. Wednesday Jesus spent a quiet day in Bethany. Thursday was given to preparation for the Passover and the Lord’s Supper in the upper room. At the end of the day Jesus was betrayed and arrested. Friday Jesus stood trail first before the Sanhedrin and then before Pilate in a Roman trail. Jesus was then hung on a cross between two thieves and was crucified. Saturday his body was put in a carved out cave tomb and Sunday Jesus rose from the Dead.

I. Jesus Is More Than a Super Star.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Phil. 2:5-7

On that first Palm Sunday Jesus was looked upon by many as a superstar, one that would come and set up an earthly reign and bring peace. All four Gospels record the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem Matthew 21:8-9, “A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”

Today many people view Jesus like a Super Star. They see Jesus facing the “devil” and saying like Arnold Swartzenager – “I’ll Be Back!” ( I had a telephone call from Arnold Swartzenager asking me to vote for his candidate.) Or like Clint Eastwood with a face of steel saying, “Make My Day!” Then like Superman Jesus takes the devil and flings him out into space in an orbit around the Sun.

There are those that view Palm Sunday and see Jesus coming into Jerusalem riding on a blazing white stallion and kicking up a cloud of dust as Jesus rode along. He was looking for trouble. The people that he passed on his way were in awe of such a beautiful animal but they were even more awestruck by the man who was riding it. As Jesus passed by, you could hear the people say, "Who was that masked man?"

There were bad guys on the loose and Jesus had a job to do. As he rode into Jerusalem he quickly sized up the situation and formed a plan to capture the ring-leader of the trouble makers. His name was Diablo or Satan. There was a short scuffle and Jesus won handily over Diablo. He hog-tied the devil and threw him in jail.

As a large crowd of people gathered to see what the commotion was all about, Jesus mounted his horse and pulled on the reigns. The stallion stood on its hind legs, neighed loudly, and pawed the air with its front legs. When it stood as tall as it could stand, Jesus leaned forward in the saddle. Holding the reigns with one hand while lifting his white hat in the air with the other, He shouted with a loud voice, As Jesus road off into the sunset, you could hear the William Tell Overture in the background. “Du du du, du du dun dun dunt. Du, du, du, du, du dun dun dun.”

Matthew 4 the Devil tried to make Jesus into a super star. Jesus has fasted and prayed for 40 days and nights in the wilderness. The devil tempted him to turn stones into bread. Jesus said, “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from God.” Satan then tempted Jesus jump from a high mountain and float down on angel wings or just jump like a six-million dollar man. If you can do that you will become famous.” Jesus refused and said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Then Satan showed Jesus his vast territory of the kingdoms of this world and all its beauty and splendor. “Fall down and worship me and all these will be yours.” Jesus said, “Away from me, Satan, for it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”

Jesus did not come as a superstar. Phil. 2:6-7, “Jesus, being in the very nature of God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant.”