King Of Kings Series

King Of kings

I Am Jesus – part 5

I want to start off this morning with a few snapshots from Scripture (in your mind try to see the people, the places, the sights, the sounds…)

1Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2"Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star as it arose, and we have come to worship him." - Matthew 2:1,2 (NLT)

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. – John 6:12-15 (NLT)

1As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2"Go into the village over there," he said, "and you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them here. 3If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, `The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately send them." 4This was done to fulfill the prophecy, 5 "Tell the people of Israel, `Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey--even on a donkey’s colt.’ " – Mt 21:1-5 (NLT)

"35After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. A signboard was fastened to the cross above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." Two criminals were crucified with him, their crosses on either side of his. And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. "So! You can destroy the Temple and build it again in three days, can you? Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!" The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders also mocked Jesus. "He saved others," they scoffed, "but he can’t save himself! So he is the king of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross, and we will believe in him!

- Matthew 27:35-42 (NLT)

Prayer…

Today is week 5 in our message series I Am Jesus… A year long message series where we are trying to see, know and understand Jesus better. A message series where we are taking Jesus out the little box that we have for Him in our own minds… (YOU KNOW – that little box where Jesus never asks us to do anything uncomfortable and where He always agrees with us)… A message series where we are taking Jesus off the flannel board of our current understanding… AND – are looking at Him WITH fresh eyes, open hearts and eager minds.

LISTEN - 2005 is going to be an amazing year for some of you. I MEAN – when the ball drops in Time Square in 06’ some of us… will not believe who we have become… I for one plan on being one of those people

QUESTION – who here wants to know Christ? WHO – here really wants to know Him better? OKAY – good answer… ONE MORE – question… AND – you really need to be honest with yourself on this one…(R U ready?) WHY – do you want to know Christ?

UNDERSTAND – for God to really move us forward in our spiritual journey He first has to get us to see where we really are… (HEY – have you ever gone to the mall and tried to find a store and you couldn’t… SO – you go to the big map. You find the store you want to go to…and then you look for the little red dot that says, ‘You are here.’) WELL – in like manner, before God can get us to where we need to go (knowing Christ) He has to first show us the red dot on the map of our spiritual life – that says, “you are here” AND FRANKLY – where a lot of us are is at a place where we (enjoy, desire & pursue) God’s blessings more than we pursue God.

YOU SEE - in many ways we are like the prodigal in Luke 15. YOU - remember the story Jesus told of a rich man whose son came up to him one day and told him – that he didn’t want to wait for his inheritance – that he wanted it now… (YOU SEE – this son didn’t want his father presence, he just want his father’s presents/ blessings)