Everyone wants to back a winner.
Take our allegiance and enthusiasm for sports teams, for example.
Year after year may pass, and the local team may have a nucleus of loyal fans, but when they start winning, when they enter the playoffs, when they are vying for the championship, suddenly everyone’s a fan!
The same thing happens in politics, entertainment, publishing, and business.
You may smile, or scoff, but there is a reason so many of us behave that way.
I think it has to do with the universal human need … to worship.
We all long to worship someone or something bigger than ourselves. It is why we make heroes and celebrities out of ordinary people. We are wired for worship.
It is so strong in us, that if we do not find a worthy object of worship,we will settle for all sorts of things, even unworthy things.
That is why what we do here each weekend is so important. Because there is inexpressible delight and wholenessand fulfillment to be found in worshiping the one who revealed Himself as the Son of Man, the Sinner’s Friend, the Anointed One, the Coming King.
Some of you recognize in those titles the themes of our worship these past few weeks, as we have shared a series of messages and worship experiences
called “Who Do You Say I Am?”
They are based on a movie called Son of God, a dramatic portrayal of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christas well as His message and mission.
We have been watching the depiction of various Bible passages as the creators of the Son of God movie rendered them; and then we’ve been going to our Bibles to study and apply that part of Jesus’ story to our lives.
So today we will look at the portrayal of Jesus as the Coming King, the one who was promised by the prophet Zechariah when he wrote,
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious,lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” —Zechariah 9:9, NIV
It is a prophecy that was fulfilled by Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem, a reference to the Coming King, the promised Messiah, that virtually everyone in the crowd that day would have recognized, a very public and pointed claim to be the one they had all awaited.
PLAY video clip from The Son of God, “The Triumphal Entry.”
That incident, which has come to be called the Triumphal Entry, is celebrated in churches around the world every Palm Sunday—the week before Easter.
It depicts another answer to the question Jesus once asked His closest friends and followers, “Who do you say I am?”
It reveals Jesus as the Coming King, the one spoken of by the prophet Jeremiah, who wrote:
“‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior’” —Jeremiah 23:5–6, NIV
The people of Jesus’ day, of course, did not fully understand the nature of Jesus’ kingdom and the scope of His salvation,but they clearly welcomed the rabbi from Nazareth as a king that day, and He accepted their worship, though He knew how quickly it would evaporate.
And in that fact is a great truth:
Jesus will rule as king where He is received as king.
That day, many who had known Him a long time and others who had to ask who He was received Him as king, though they had much to learn about Him and His kingdom.
And so it is today.
Whether you have known Him a long time or are still asking who this Jesus is, He will rule as king where He is received as king.
Of course, you may not fully understand what that means, or what it looks like for you. So let’s turn to the Bible for a little clarification.
If you want to recognize Jesus as the king who was promised, receive Him as king and serve Him as king, then first let me suggest you …
1. Do what Jesus says.
Let’s look together at Luke, chapter 19. We will begin reading in verse 29:
“As he [Jesus] approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” say, “The Lord needs it.”’
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’
They replied, ‘The Lord needs it.’
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.” —Luke 19:29–35, NIV
Jesus sent two of His disciples on a strange little mission.He said, “Go to this little village up the roaduntie the colt you’ll find, and bring it to me.”
Now, the Bible doesn’t tell us which two went. Think it was Peter and Andrew? James and John? We don’t know.
The Bible also doesn’t tell us what they talked about on the way. But if it had been me, I would probably have said, “You really think we should just untie the colt and take it?” “You think the Master knows the owner?” “You think this is a test of some kind?”“You really think they’ll just let us walk off with their colt?”“What if somebody takes a swing at us? Jesus didn’t say what we should do if somebody takes a swing at us!”
You see, we tend to read the Bible, God’s Word,like a play, as if all the characters knew the script.
But they didn’t. No more than you or I do.But those disciples, whoever they were, did what Jesus said.
John’s account of this event says:
“At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.” —John 12:16, NIV
They didn’t know how it was going to turn out,but they simply did what Jesus said to do.And their simple obedience brought glory to God.
Let’s pick up the account again in verse 36:
“As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’
‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’” —Luke 19:36–38, NIV
The streets erupted with the sounds of singing and shouting until—look at verse 39:
“Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’
‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’ —Luke 19:39–40, NIV
If Jesus is king, and He is,then you could do no better than to follow the example of those two disciples who—though they had no way to know what the future would hold and what their actions would bring about— simply obeyed.
Of course,I’m pretty sure your obedience won’t involve a donkey . . .
But only you and God know what it will involve.Only you and God know what obedience He requires of you today, this week, or this year.
Maybe you know right now, even as I say to “Do what Jesus says.”
Is He calling you to repentance and faith in Him? To make that decision to follow Jesus?
Is He telling you to forgive someone? To help someone? To give something up? To take something on? To say yes to something? To say no to something?
Whatever it is,you’ll probably be amazed how your simple act of obedience will bring glory to God,just as it did on that day in Jerusalem two thousand years ago.
So, do what Jesus says. But also:
2. Feel what Jesus feels.
Look at the next part of the story, beginning at Luke 19:41:
“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.’” —Luke 19:41–44, NIV
Something happened on that ride that we don’t talk about too often ... In fact many people never even notice this part of the story ... We get so caught up in the crowd, the shouts,the emotion,that we let this detail slip right by, unnoticed.
From all indications, the crowds didn’t notice it, either.In fact, Luke is the only writer who recorded it.
But don’t let it pass you by today.
“As [Jesus] approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.” —Luke 19:41, NIV
If you’ve been there, you know that it is possible from the Mount of Olives, even halfway up the slope, to look over the Old City of Jerusalem,the city of our God,the mountain of His holiness,stretched out in all its splendor before you …
It is a moving sight.
And on that hillside today is a tiny chapel with a tear-shaped dome that commemorates this moment—when Jesus wept for Jerusalem.
And the Greek word that is translated wept in our Bibles signifies more than tears; it suggests the kind of soul-wracking,gut-wrenching,sobbing a person does at the tomb of a friend.In fact, it is the word used of Mary’s sobs at the tomb of her brother Lazarus,and of Mary Magdalene’s sobs at Jesus’ tomb.
In other words, Jesus sobbed for the people of Jerusalem.
Not for Himself,nor for the cross that awaited Him, but for the fate that would come upon that city.
Rather than the joyful shouts and praises that resounded all around, Jesus heard the shrieks and groans of the men, women, and children who would die in that city when, as He had prophesied, the Roman general Titus would invade in 70 AD and raze the city,destroy its glorious temple,and brutalize its rebellious people.
Everyone else was having a party,and Jesus was filled with compassion for the lost sheep of Israel who didn’t even know their own sad condition.
That is a scene to remember if you bow before Jesus as king. The king’s subjects should be quick to feel what He feels.We should let our hearts be broken for those who are hurting, wandering, searching(those who don’t even know they’re searching:your neighbor,your colleague, maybe a brother or sister,a mother or father,a close friend, or maybe a casual acquaintance) who hasn’t yet experienced the forgiveness, the deliverance, the peace, and freedom that comes when you experience new life through faith in Jesus Christ.
But I can tell you what will happen if you let yourself feel what Jesus feels:It will bring a flood of compassion into your heart for the people around you.
So, if Jesus is king, and He is, do what He says …feel what He feels …and then, finally …
3. Tell who Jesus is.
Let’s look at the conclusion of the Palm Sunday story,as it appears in Matthew’s account, in the twenty-first chapter, verses 10 through 11. After receiving the cheers and shouts of the crowds, after crying over the lost sheep of Israel, He rode that donkey through the city gates, with the crowds still thronging Him.
“When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’
The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee,’” —Matthew 21:10–11, NIV
When Matthew reports that the city was “stirred,” he uses the word, seio, from which we get our word seismic.
It’s the same word Matthew used later in his Gospel,where he said that at the moment Jesus died on the cross:
“The earth shook [eseisthē] and the rocks split.” —Matthew 27:51, NIV
The city was stirred as it would later be shaken by an earthquake.
That’s what should happen if you and I—if this church—begin doing what Jesus says and feeling what Jesus feels:The whole city will be stirred!
That’s what they’re waiting for. They’re waiting to see if there really is a God.They’re waiting to see if He really does care.They’re waiting to see if the people who fill the churches, and sing His praises,and who claim to know Him,are any different.They’re waiting to see if their God can really be trusted, if their faith can really do anything.
They’re watching you and me,and if they see us doing what Jesus says,and feeling what Jesus feels—for them—they may ask “What’s going on?”“What’s this about?”“Who is this?”
And then, of course, we can explain who Jesus is,and introduce our friends,neighbors,family members,classmates,coworkers,to the prophet from Nazareth,the Messiah of God, the Risen Christ, the King who came, the King who will come again …and who is always coming to any who will receive Him.
If you haven’t taken that step before today, let me urge you to do so now. Bow your head and bow your knee before the King, and by means of a simple prayer, which I invite you to pray silently in your heart as I speak the words aloud, say:
“Lord Jesus, my King, I thank you for all that you suffered and endured for my sake. I need you. I worship you. I surrender to you. I ask you to forgive my sin, and I accept your death on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for all the wrong things I’ve done.I ask you to come into my heart, and take your place on the throne of my life,and rule over me as my Sovereign and Lord from this moment on, amen.”
And for everyone in this room, I invite you to pray:
“Lord Jesus, our King, help us to follow you not only in word but also in deed.Help us to do all that you say, to feel what you feel for everyone around us, and to tell all who will listen who you are and all you have done for us, amen.”
