Christ came into this world as King. It is not the kingdom of this world but it is the kingdom of God within us—within our hearts. It is the kingdom of truth—the kingdom of grace.
In John 18:37, Jesus answered to Pilate, saying, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me" (NIV).
Jesus entered Jerusalem, indeed, as a king. He entered the beloved city on a donkey as was the Jewish custom for a royal entry (Zech. 9:9). As read in Matthew 21:8, 9 (NIV), the great multitude spread their clothes to form a royal carpet, cutting down palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"
The establishment of Christ’s kingdom was a excruciating experience, affirming that there is no crown without a cross.
Let’s us explore into his journey to the cross. Let us travel around into His famous seven phrases as He is heading to the cross to save you and me.
THE FIRST PHRASE
Luke 23:33-34
Jesus said "Forgive them, Father! They do not know what they are doing."
• His prayer refers to both the Romans and the Jews who had been the instrumental in condemning and crucifying Jesus.
• This prayer would not remove their guilt.
• In the broader sense, it includes to all sinners to the present time who have been guilty for the blood of Jesus.
• Are we like Jesus? Do we submit all our injustices to the God who will someday judge the living and the dead?
• If they sinned against you, why not submit to the Father and said, “Forgive them, Father! They do not know what they are doing?
• Heb 8:12—“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (NIV).
THE SECOND PHRASE
Luke 23:39-43
And he said to Jesus, "Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!" Jesus said to him, "I tell you this: Today you will be in Paradise with me."
• Jesus promised assurance of eternal life to those who recognized him as thier Savior and Lord..
• Jesus promised eternal life to those who recognize themselve as helpless and in need of a Savior.
• Jesus is the only one who can assure of eternal life—because He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (NKJV).
• Do we recognized ourselves that we all need of Jesus?
• Do we believe on His words that He will come back and will bring us to His home? (Jn. 14:1-3).
• Do we believe that He alone can give us eternal life—life full of happiness eternally? (Rev. 21:4).
• “Lord, remember us when you come as King!—remember us to be with you in your paradise.”
• “Lord, let you be our King in our lives, now and forevermore.”
THE THIRD PHRASE
John 19:25-27
Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that time the disciple took her to live in his home.
• Jesus did not forget His mother. He knows her distress, and suffering as he is there on the cross. He commanded her to the care of John.
• He was so concerned with His mother.
• He understood that His mother could not just ignore her son dying to the death we deserve.
• He understood her feelings that is why He charged John, the disciple he loved, to take care of her.
• His mother took care of Jesus for nine months in her wombs. She knows more the humanity of Jesus than any other woman in her time.
• That is why, Mary should be very sad of the fate of her precious son, God’s Son Jesus Christ.
• John was to comfort her and encourage her that His death is not the end of the world. He was so encourage her that His death will definitely destroy Satan and his works.
• "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8, KJV).
• " 1 John 3:8
• Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb 2:14, KJV).
THE FOURTH PHRASE
Mark 15:33-34
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Elo-i, elo-i, lamasabach-thani?" which means, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
• At this time, Satan overweighted Jesus the sins of the world. He put it all on Jesus.
• Don’t you know that Satan was not interested of his death.
• He don’t want Jesus to die because His death would destroy Him.
• His death would unmasked his true face—his demonic nature.
• Jesus felt rejected by His Father.
• But God never rejected His son—He just viewing His Son from afar off, from the throne, with His heart aching.
• His heart was scratch in painfulness upon seeing His soon burdened with sin—sin which separated Him and His Son Jesus.
• Sin that caused the death of most beloved and only Son Jesus Christ.
• What painful scenario! I can’t imagine the feeling of the Father. He must be very sad!
• He was sad about th fate of His Son, as well as the fate of those who will not accept the sacrifice of His own Son.
THE FIFTH PHRASE
John 19:28
After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), "I thirst."
• John 4:14—“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (KJV).
• We shall never be thirst again if we have Jesus. We will be satisfied.
• But Jesus is thirst of us. Jesus waited for us. He longs to be with us.
• Jesus is thirst of our faithfulness, obedience and faith.
• Are willing to satisty Him—to quench His thirst because we believe Him and make Him as our Lord and Saviour in our lives?
THE SIXTH PHRASE
John 19:29-30
When Jesus had received the wine, he said,"It is finished."
• “Jesus had completed the work His Father had given Him to do (ch. 4:34). Every step in the plan of redemption, laid before the foundation of the world, had been completed according to schedule (see on Luke 2:49). Satan had been unsuccessful in his attempts to overthrow the plan. Christ’s victory assured the salvation of man. See DA 758–764.— Nichol, Francis D., The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 1978.
• It is finished! Satan is now a defeated foe!
THE SEVENTH PHRASE
Luke 23:46
Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.
• “Jesus died with the words of Ps. 31:5 upon His lips. The attitude thus expressed brings to a sublime climax the spirit of humble submission to the will of the Father exemplified throughout Jesus’ life on earth. In the Garden of Gethsemane it was the same selfless spirit that had prompted Jesus’ words, “not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matt. 26:39). For comment on Christ’s perfect submissiveness to the Father see on Luke 2:49. Happy the man or woman who lives and dies in the “hands” of God! Our all is safe—in His hands.”— Nichol, Francis D., The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 1978.
• Are we doing the same? Are we like Jesus? Do we submit everything to God?
• If we have no food, do we submit ourselves to God?
• If we have no money, do we pray Lord I commit my needs to you?
• If we are persecuted, do we commit ourselves into God’s hands?
• “A dedication made despite the pain,
despite the mocking,
despite the agony,
despite the sense of horrible aloneness he felt.
A dedication made to God
before the resurrection,
before the victory of the kingdom,
before any assurance other than that
which faith could bring.
Jesus entrusts his spirit -- his life --
and all that has given it meaning --
to God in faith,
even at the point of his own abandonment
when the good seems so very far away
he proclaims his faith in God,
the darkness cannot overcome it.
"Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit"—
http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/a-gdfr-sn.php
Conclusion:
How did God redeem man? It is through Jesus Christ. “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (NIV). The church is purchased by His own blood (Acts 20:28). His death was to redeem us (Tit. 2:14). Satan has no more power in us! We are His!
