DIVINE SUMMARY OF TRIP
It would be a traumatic trip for Jesus, but one that he knew would mean your salvation. It would be his last walk in the precious Promised Land, but it would mean that you could walk with him every day.
PHYSICAL SUMMARY OF TRIP
Samaria to Galilee – Capernaum = 10 Lepers
Towards Jericho – Rich man – Money = no eternity
Into Jericho – Zacheus – Give up everythig
To Bethany – Colt headed south to Jerusalem
Palm Sunday
EMOTIONAL SUMMARY OF TRIP
No one other than Jesus carried the weight of that journey.
The disciples were aware of possible Roman danger to Jesus returning to Jerusalem, but never in their minds could they have grasped what lay ahead for the Christ, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
This would have been a tough time for Christ. Each person he greeted would have quite possibly been for the last time.
He knew that the 17 prophecies pertaining to his death alone would now soon have fulfillment.
MET SO MANY
Along the way Jesus had met so many different people.
So many different viewpoints and understandings, situations and lifestyles.
But Jesus, in 3 short years, had impacted on every one of them.
I sometimes think that I would have loved to have been in that area at that time just to see Him. Just to hear Him.
LINK INTO LAST WEEKS MESSAGE
Hordes gathered, and as Jesus journeyed towards Jerusalem, the knowledge of who he was gave him the courage to face what had to happen next.
No more little foxes would stop the divine plan.
No more doubt – it was time and he journeyed towards the end with confidence.
DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE HE HAD MET – MEMORIES OF THE PEOLPLE - REMMBERING
Samaritans, to the Pharisees,
Rich to the poor,
Wealthy to the healthy to the ill, to the dead, to the nearly dead.
From the believers, to the doubters from the doubters, to the haters.
From the unimpressed to the couldn’t care to the cared too much, to the friends, to the betrayer.
Jesus must have walked remembering. Oh for a glimpse at the thoughts of the Christ as he walked that week through all the places and all the people that he had impacted.
As he walked, he must been remembering.
THINGS HE WOULD HAVE RECALLED AND KNOWN
With a smile, he would have remembered Peters face as he saw Jesus walking on water.
As he passed by closer to Jerusalem, maybe a young soldiers daughter would have come out to remind him of her resurrection.
A widows smile in the crowd as he walked would have caused him joy knowing her son was alive again.
A man running alongside the procession would have cried out about the day he walked again because of Jesus.
Maybe it was seeing his old friend Nicodemus, who hid his Christian identity, that would have reminded Jesus of his teachings and quite talks that he had had with so many.
Perhaps it was the young boy who ran up to him to give a drink that would have reminded Jesus of the day he took that same young boys lunch and fed thousands.
As he looked at his disciples, he would perhaps felt the loss already of losing a friend. Of loosing someone who would betray him.
He mused as he passed some of the scribes and Pharisees. Oh how lost they were. Oh how mighty they thought they were.
HIGH EMOTION
That journey was one of reflection and high emotion.
It tells us in Luke 19:41 – that as he neared Jerusalem, so high was the emotion that Jesus was overcome and he broke down and wept.
LINK QUESTION
If you were in amongst the throngs of people that Jesus had touched and if you were now in amongst the crowds that accompanied him down towards the city, what thought, memory or emotion do you think would have stirred in Jesus when he saw your face?
MEMORY OR THOUGHT BASED ON YOUR REACTION TO HIM
His memory would probably have been of your reaction to Him and to the word of God. Joy if you truly received Him, sorrow if you were like the masses that just did not realize.
What would his reaction to seeing you have been?
As he walks the road today from Gogotha to Armageddon, his destiny now one of victory, he sees your face and the emotion stirred in him is based solely on your reaction, your realization of who he is!
It all hinges on how we understand him to be as our King!
ILLUSTRATION AS TO KINGS VS THE KING
There is the man who thought he was the king.
- There is the man they called “the king.”
- There is the man who wears the name “King.”
Who is the man who thought he was the king? That’s the ex-heavyweight boxing champ of the world, Muhammad Ali.
Who is the man they called the “the king”? That’s Elvis Presley, the king of Rock and Roll music.
Who is the man who wears the name “King”? It could be several Kings but the one I was thinking of is Don King, who is a boxing promoter. In fact, at one time I believe that he was Muhammad Ali’s promoter. He always said, God didn’t give me my surname for nothing.
Obviously, from a spiritual standpoint, none of these men are the King.
I thought Muhammad Ali was a great boxer. No doubt, he was, but he was certainly not the King. Elvis Presley was super singer. Millions upon millions loved him and his music, but he was not the King. And boxing promoter, Don King, was far from the King.
SCRIPTURAL DESCRIPTION OF THE KING
Rev. 19:11-16 “11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Wow!
Actually, there is more in these verses than we can begin to comprehend or even explain. He is, however, King of kings and Lord of lords!
ILL.- The song says it so well.
All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all!
QUESTIONS AS TO HOW WE SEE OUR KING
Do we truly grasp who this King is?
Are we reacting to him as he passes and looks at us in a way that shows that we get it?
Have we correctly understood our King, or are we like the Roman soldiers Jesus passed in his journey that are thinking he will be a political activist.
Maybe we can only see the king as a candy king. He gives out candy coated solutions if we pray hard enough.
Maybe our king is a disciplinarian that dishes out a swift judgment if we do wrong.
Maybe our king is an accountant who keeps exact record of our wrongs and rights and at the end of the day if we are in positive balance, we will be good enough for a nice sweet reward.
What is your picture of your king? What is written on your face as Jesus walks alongside us?
Do you know the king walking towards you with the hand of salvation extended?
THREE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE KING
In our text, Jesus is described in various ways, which enforce the fact that He is the King and needs to be crowned Lord of all.
1- He is the Savior
2- He is the Creator
3- He is the Authority
I. HE IS THE SAVIOR
SCRIPTURE – ILLUSTRATION SCRIPTURE
Col. 1:13-14 “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
ILL.- One time the famous evangelist, Billy Sunday, wrote to the mayor of the city asking for names of people he knew who had spiritual problems and needed help and prayer. How surprised he was when he received from the Mayor, A CITY TELEPHONE DIRECTORY.
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
SIN IS THE ISSUE
I know as I look out amongst you today, that yes you may have some pretty big issues and problems in your life, but I know as you can know about me, that the biggest issue in your life is YOUR sin. YOUR weaknesses YOUR failings, YOUR sin.
Our biggest problem is dealing with sin. And our biggest need is having it taken away.
QUESTIONS AS TO CURRENT SITUATION AND ATTITUDE
As Jesus looks at you this morning, are you reminding him of someone who heard but just could not grasp him as the one who conquered sin for you?
Does he look at you this morning and wonder why you could not grasp leaving your sin at the foot of the cross?
Does he see someone who still tries to fix their own sin?
Do good things to cover over their sin?
Beat themselves up, entertain self doubt, became depressed about a habit or an addiction.
Or does he see someone who gives sin over to the King. The King who conquered sin.
ILLUSTRATION – SCRIPTURE – SCRIPTURE
ILL.- The German scholar, Goethe, said, “If I were God, this world of sin and suffering would break my heart.”
And it did.
II Cor. 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Col. 1:13-14 “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
SAVIOR SUMMARY
Jesus is the answer. Always has been. Always will be. He’s the only answer to man’s sin. Jesus’ death on the cross is the cure.
From a purely human perspective it makes no sense to believe that one man’s death on a cross could cure our sins, but from God’s perspective it is possible.
And people must believe in Christ and in what He did on the cross and surrender to Him in order to be forgiven and overcome their sin.
As he looks at you, may he see you saying, knowing, accepting that Christ is your savior from Sin. Crown Him Lord of all.
II. HE IS THE CREATOR
SCRIPTURE
Col. 1:15-17 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
He is the image of the invisible God. Like father, like son. Can you name some famous sons who looked like their fathers? When I look at Kyle, I know that fathers and sons can and do look very alike sometimes.
If there ever was a son who imitated his father in every way, it was Jesus.
SCRIPTURES
John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God, the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made Him known.”
John 14:9 Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
Heb. 1:3 “The Son (Jesus) is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being.”
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth.
THE WISDOM OF CREATION
ILL.- Did you know that when a beaver builds the entrance to his home, he always takes into account how thick the ice will be the next winter. And even though ice thickness may vary from winter to winter, THE BEAVER NEVER MISSES. How is it possible that he never misses the mark?
ILL.- Did you know that butterflies never try to fly until their bodies reach exactly 27.2 degrees C. If they did, the material on their wings would come off. How do they know when it is exactly 27.2 degrees?
CREATOR SUMMARY
As our king walks past us today, does he see in our eyes an awe of what he is?
Does he see that you realize that Jesus was not only some story about a carpenter that came to die for us, but that He is God.
He is all wisdom, all powerful.
He is the very creator.
Does he see us shouting out that we have an all-wise creator in Jesus. Crown Him Lord of all.
III. HE IS THE AUTHORITY
SCRIPTURE
Col. 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
QUESTIONS
Do we give our lives over to Christ?
Do we sign over all our decision making rights to the one who quite frankly has earned the right to make the decisions?
WE CAN NOT DO IT WITHOUT HIM
Scripture tells us in Jerimiah 10:23 That we don’t have the right to be the decision maker. It does not belong to us even to direct our own step.
Jesus Christ has earned the right to lead your life, to take decisions over your life.
SMALL TESTIMONY
You know quite frankly, my decision making process in my life scares the baheebyjeebies out of me.
I have lived through life where I have oriented the authority in my life around the person whose photo appears in my ID book.
And I HAVE PAID THE PRICE.
I have seen cold face what kind of results come from being in charge and wanting to be the man.
LINK TO CONG – CAN DO IT – REAPING FROM CAN DO IT
CAN DO IT
I know some of you are sitting in that place this morning. I know some of you are either sitting there saying I can make it, I can get it done. I just have to study harder, or work smarter or budget more sensibly.
Those things are all admirable, but they may not be eternal.
REAPING FROM CAN DO IT
I know some more of you are sitting there this morning in the midst of absolute sorrow because you have been reaping lately the results of sowing on your own strength.
Of taking your own decisions.
Of leaning upon your own understanding.
Of doing it your way?
AUTHORITY SUMMARY
This church is a living breathing example of where if Jesus is in charge, nothing can sink the ship! Is your life a similar testimony? As Jesus walks his way and looks at you, is his memory of you a memory of someone who gave up every desire of trying to do it on your own., there is only one Head, there is only one authority. And we must crown him Lord of all.
CONCLUSION
ILL.- It was said that Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity.
Jesus painted no pictures; yet, some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him.
Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by Him.
Jesus composed no music; still Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratories they composed in His praise.
Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth.
DO YOU REALISE IT?
All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all!
INTRO INTO MINISTRY
As Jesus walks passed, he looks upon you and wants nothing more than to see you know Him as your savior, your creator and your authority.
Many, as he journeyed that week towards Jerusalem, did not have those things in their eyes.
He wants to see Joy, Resolve, Determination, and Submission. He weeps at those you just don’t get it. He needs you to have a history with him, he wants to reminisce with you and about you.
RESOLVE
He wants to look at you and know that your heart is crying out that you are part of the fellowship of the unashamed and that you have the power of the Holy Spirit.
The dye has been cast. You have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. You are a disciple of Jesus. You will not look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
Your past is redeemed, your present makes sense, your future is secure. You are finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.
You no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, or popularity. You don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. You now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labour by power.
Your face is set, your gait is fast, your goal is heaven, your road is narrow, your way rough, your companions few, but your King reliable, your mission clear. You cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. You will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
You won’t give up, shut up, let up, until you have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. You have a great hope of His coming back. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing you; for your banner is clear !!!”
