Pomp And Circumstance

Background to passage: Sometimes called the Christ Hymn, it’s Paul’s passage about the person of Jesus, his incarnation/humiliation, death, and exaltation. Since today is Palm Sunday, I want to look at one aspect of the entrance of Jesus into the city - his kingship. At least some of the Jews understood him to be the long-awaited Messiah, the King of the Jews. They may not have understood what the Kingship of Jesus meant, but they welcomed him nevertheless.

Philippians 2:5–11 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should 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.

Opening illustration: In Gladiator, the return of Commodus after the death of Marcus Aurelius, or the coronation of King Charles III, the number of countries with coronations in the last 50 years: Britain, Netherlands, Belgium, Thailand, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia

Main thought: This morning, looking through the events of Palm Sunday, let’s look at who King Jesus truly was.

1) He Was a Humble King (v. 6-8)

Philippians 2:6–8 ESV

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

1) He Was a Humble King (v. 6-8)

Explanation: It was an odd entrance for a king on that Palm Sunday. The people had long awaited a king, a King of the Jews, the Messiah or Christ, the chosen One. This is demonstrated by the clothing on the ground and the palm branches. But what do we make of a king who arrives in style on a donkey? He is a king who is willing to condescend and be among his people. He is a king that has not elevated himself, or arrived as a conquering victor, but as a God who became man, who became a servant, who became a sacrifice for the sin of humanity. He was the King of peace after Melchizedek,

Zechariah 9:9 ESV

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Mark 10:45 ESV

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Illustration: I had a conversation with one of our members the other day who comes in contact with people every week, every day, who are convinced that God is angry with them because they failures. “Messiah is king of Zion. Happy the subjects who dwell under his shadow. He rules them not with the rod of iron by which He bruises and breaks the power of his enemies, but with his golden sceptre of love. He reigns by his own right, and by their full and free consent, in their hearts. He reigns upon a throne of grace to which they at all times have access, and from whence they receive the pardon of all their sins, grace to help in time of need, and a renewed supply answerable to all their wants, cares, services, and conflicts”

Application: What you need to know from this is God became man so that he could die for you. He could take that which you earned on the cross. He is a king who loves you more than you know. His death is the testimony of his love for you. You can approach this King because he has lived among us, experienced pain, suffering, temptation, heartbreak, and know that he identifies with you. He wants you to come to him. He desires a relationship with you that is personal and intimate, not as a distant potentate and ruler who is aloof from his followers. He wants you to come boldly to the “throne” of this humble king and bring your requests and yourself to find rest for your souls, because this king came and conquered sin so he could conquer hearts