THE REVEALING OF JESUS’ KINGSHIP
ACTS 19:28-44
I WANT YOU TO PICTURE FOR A MOMENT, QUESN ELIZABETH AS SHE WAS PREPARING TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HER CORONATION. WE SEE THE PROCESSION COMING TO WESTMINISTER ABBY, AND THE COACH CARRYING THE QUEEN STOPS AT THE FRONT STEPS. THE ARCH-BISHOP OF CANTERBURY IS WAITING THERE TO GREET HER.
EVERYONE IS WAITING TO SEE THE QUEEN WHO HAS REPRESENTED THEM SO GRACEFULLY DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS. THE COACH DOORS ARE OPENED ANAD THERE IS A STUNNED QUIETNESS IN THE CROWD.
AS THE QUEEN APPEARS SHE IS WEARING AN OLD PAIR OF UGLY GRAY SWEAT PANTS. THE KNEES ARE OUT OF THEM AND THE ELASTIC IS SHOT MAKING HER CONSTANTLY HAVE TO PULL THEM UP. SHE HAS MISMATCHED HITOP SNEAKERS ON HER FEET, ONE YELLOW AND ONE FLOURESCENT GREEN. THEY ARE OLD AND DIRTY, WITH HOLES IN THEM WHERE HER TOES ARE BREAKING THROUGH.
SHE HAS A DARK BLUE SWEATSHIRT WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF STAINS ON IT. ON HER HEAD SHE HAS A HORRIFIC OLD DIRTY CAP THAT SHE WEARS WITH THE BRIM POINTING SIDEWAYS. SHE LOOKS IN FACT LIKE A MODERN DAY WRAPPER.
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO PICTURE THE QUEEN DRESSED LIKE THAT, FOR WE KNOW THAT THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN. WE HAVE AN IMAGE DEVELOPED OF HER OVER THE YEARS, AND WE KNOW THIS JUST WOULDN’T HAPPEN.
JESUS BATTLED WITH THIS SAME TYPE OF SITUATION FOR MOST OF HIS MINISTRY. PEOPLE HAD AN IMAGE OF THE TYPE OF KING HE WAS TO BE. HIS KINGSHIP IN REALITY WOULD HAVE A MUCH DIFFERENT IMAGE THAN WHAT THEY THOUGHT.
IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US TO FALL INTO THIS SAME TRAP. WE HAVE IN OUR MINDS AN IMAGE OF WHO JESUS IS SUPPOSED TO BE, WHAT KIND OF A KING WE THINK HE IS. WE CAN GET ANGRY WHEN SOMEONE DARES TO TELL US THAT OUR PRECEPTION OF KING JESUS IS CONTRARY TO SCRIPTURE, EVEN IF THAT SOMEONE IS JESUS HIMSELF.
AS WE STUDY THIS PASSAGE TODAY, LET US OPEN OUR MINDS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND ASK HIM TO REVEAL TO US WHO OUR GREAT KING REALLY IS.
GEOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND:
THE “TRIUMPHAL ENTRY” MARKS THE END OF THE LAST TRAVEL NARRATIVE FOR JESUS TO JERUSALEM (LUKE 9:51- 19:27). THIS WAS HIS CITY OF DESTINY, WHERE HE WOULD CELEBRATE PASSOVER ONE NIGHT, AND BE THE PASSOVER LAMB FOR THE WORLD THE NEXT DAY.
THE ENTIRE SPECTACLE BEGINS WITH THE GRAND IMPRESSION OF THE KING SURVEYING HIS KINGDOM. WHEN THE PROCESSION STARTS, JESUS IS LESS THAN TWO MILES AWAY FROM JERUSALEM, APPROACHING BETHANY AND BETHPHAGE, ALONG THE MOUNT OF OLIVES.
THE MOUNT OF OLIVES LIES DIRECTLY EAST OF JERUSALEM 2,660 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL. THE KIDRON VALLEY SEPARATED THE MOUNT OF OLIVES FROM JERUSALEM. ONE COULD TAKE A LONG ROUTE TO AVOID THE STEEP DESCENT AND ASCENT TO JERUSALEM, OR TAKE A SHORTER MORE TREACHEROUS FOOTPATH LEADING DIRECTLY ACROSS THE VALLEY.
IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT WHILE JESUS AND THE PROCESSION TOOK THE LONGER ROUTE AROUND THE VALLEY, THAT THE TWO DISCIPLES WERE SENT ALONG THE SHORTER STEEPER ROUTE TO GET THE COLT.
THE DESCENT DOWN THE MOUNT OF OLIVES WOULD PUT MUCH OF THE CITY OF JERUSALEM INTO VIEW. CLARK’S COMMENTARY PICTURES THE SCENE FOR US.
“TWO VAST STREAMS OF PEOPLE MET ON THAT DAY. THE ONE POURED OUT FROM THE CITY, AND AS THEY CAME THROUGH THE GARDENS WHOSE CLUSTERS OF PALM ROSE ON THE SOUTH-EASTERN CORNET OF OLIVET, THEY CUT DOWN LONG BRANCHES, AS WAS THEIR WANT AT THE FEASST OF TABERNACLES, AND MOVED TOWARD BETHANY WITH LOUD SHOUTS OF WELCOME. FROM BETHANY STREAMED FORTH CROWDS WHO HAD ASSEMBLED THERE ON THE PREVIOUS NIGHT, AND WHO CAME TESTIFYING TO THE GREAT EVENT AT THE SEPULCHRE OF LAZARUS….THE TWO STREAMS MET MIDWAY….GRADUALLY THE LONG PROCESSION SWEPT UP AND OVER THE THE RIDGE WHERE FIRST BEGINS “THE DESCENT OF THE MOUNT OF OLIVES” TOWARDS JERUSALEM.”
THIS SETS THE BACKGROUND FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK. JESUS AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, CAN SEE JERUSALEM, BUT NOT JUST THE BUILDINGS, HE SEES WITH SPIRITUAL EYES THE PEOPLE. HE KNOWS THAT THEY ARE EVENTUALLY GOING TO REJECT HIS KINGSHIP. HE SEES THEM IN THEIR LOSTNESS AND THE ACHE IN HIS HEART MAKES JESUS WAIL.
NO DOUBT SOME OF YOU HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF HIKING TO THE TOP OF SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN. AT THE LOOKOUT ON THE TOP, YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE CITY OF CAMPBELLTON. DEPENDING ON YOUR AGE YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE YEARS. THIS IS A REFLECTIVE VIEW MUCH LIKE THE ONE JESUS HAD FROM THE TOP OF THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. HE WAILED NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT HE WAS, BUT BECAUSE HE ALSO KNEW WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN.
IT IS HERE BEFORE THE PROCESSION INTO JERUSALEM THAT WE ARE FACED WITH THREE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF JESUS’ KINGSHIP.
1. THE JEWS BELIEVE THAT HE WOULD BE THE KING TO LEAD THEM IN OVERTHROWING THE ROMANS AND RE-ESTABLISHING THEIR NATION. THEY SAW A POWERFUL KING.
2. THE ROMANS IGNORED THE KINGSHIP OF JESUS. THEY TOOK NOTICE OF JESUS FOR SECURITY REASONS, BUT TOOK NO IMMEDIATE ACTION AGAINST HIM. THEY WOULD HAVE VIEWED ANY “REAL” KING TO BE A LEGITIMATE THREAT AND IMMEDIATELY EXECUTE HIM.
3. THE KINGSHIP THAT JESUS INTRODUCED WAS A KINGDOM OF PEACE. IT WOULD BE A SPIRITUAL KINGDOM, NOT NECESSARILY A PHYSICAL ONE LIKE THE PEOPLE EXPECTED.
THE JEWS THOUGHT HIM ADVANCING TO HIS CORONATION AND TRIUMPH, BUT HE KNEW THAT IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS FATHER’S WILL HE WAS HASTENING TO A CRUEL AND VIOLENT DEATH.
HEBREWS 10:7-9:
“THEN I SAID, ‘HERE I AM. IT IS WRITTEN ABOUT ME IN THE SCROLL. GOD, I HAVE COME TO DO WHAT YOU WANT.’ ” 8FIRST CHRIST SAID, “YOU DIDN’T WANT SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS. YOU DIDN’T WANT BURNT OFFERINGS AND SIN OFFERINGS. YOU WEREN’T PLEASED WITH THEM.” HE SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH THE LAW REQUIRED PEOPLE TO BRING THEM. 9THEN HE SAID, “HERE I AM. I HAVE COME TO DO WHAT YOU WANT.” HE DID AWAY WITH THE FIRST. HE DID IT TO PUT THE SECOND IN PLACE.
SECTION ONE: LUKE 19:30-34:
29HE APPROACHED BETHPHAGE AND BETHANY. THE HILL THERE WAS CALLED THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. JESUS SENT OUT TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES. HE SAID TO THEM, 30“GO TO THE VILLAGE AHEAD OF YOU. AS SOON AS YOU GET THERE, YOU WILL FIND A DONKEY’S COLT TIED UP. NO ONE HAS EVER RIDDEN IT. UNTIE IT AND BRING IT HERE. 31SOMEONE MAY ASK YOU, ‘WHY ARE YOU UNTYING IT?’ IF SO, SAY, ‘THE LORD NEEDS IT.’ ” 32THOSE WHO WERE SENT AHEAD WENT AND FOUND THE YOUNG DONKEY. IT WAS THERE JUST AS JESUS HAD TOLD THEM. 33THEY WERE UNTYING THE COLT WHEN ITS OWNERS CAME. THE OWNERS ASKED THEM, “WHY ARE YOU UNTYING THE COLT?” 34THEY REPLIED, “THE LORD NEEDS IT.”
LUKE SPENDS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME DEALING WITH THE FACT THAT JESUS SENT FOR THE COLT. A COLT COULD BE EITHER A YOUNG DONKEY OR HORSE, BUT MATTHEW 21 WOULD SUPPORT IT BEING A DONKEY.
MATTHEW 21:2: 2HE SAID TO THEM, “GO TO THE VILLAGE AHEAD OF YOU. AS SOON AS YOU GET THERE, YOU WILL FIND A DONKEY TIED UP. HER COLT WILL BE WITH HER. UNTIE THEM AND BRING THEM TO ME.
THE PRACTICE WAS CALLED “ANGARIA” AND IT SAID THAT IT WAS ACCEPTABLE FOR A MAJOR RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL FIGURE TO REQUEST THE USE OF LIVESTOCK. THE FACT THAT THE COLT HAD NEVER BEEN RIDDEN WAS A SIGN OF PURITY AND HONOR. THE KING WOULD BE THE FIRST TO RIDE IT.
JESUS WAS USING ZECHARIAH 9:9 TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.
ZECHARIAH 9:9: “CITY OF ZION, BE FULL OF JOY! PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM, SHOUT! SEE, YOUR KING COMES TO YOU. HE ALWAYS DOES WHAT IS RIGHT. HE HAS THE POWER TO SAVE. HE IS GENTLE AND RIDING ON A DONKEY. HE IS SITTING ON A DONKEY’S COLT.
THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THAT JESUS PERMITTED A PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION ON HIS BEHALF, AND HE DID SO FOR TWO REASONS:
1. HE WAS FULFILLING PROPHECY AND PRESENTING HIMSELF AS ISRAEL’S KING.
2. HE WAS FORCING THE JEWISH RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO ACT. THEY WANTED TO ARREST JESUS AFTER THE PASSOVER, BUT GOD HAD ORDAINED HIS SON TO BE SLAIN ON PASSOVER AS THE PASCHAL LAMB.
JOHN 1:29: 29THE NEXT DAY JOHN SAW JESUS COMING TOWARD HIM. JOHN SAID, “LOOK! THE LAMB OF GOD! HE TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD!
TWO QUESTIONS ARISE FROM THIS PORTION OF THE PASSAGE. HOW DID JESUS KNOW THERE WAS A COLT NEARBY, THAT HAD NOT BEEN RIDDEN, AND, WHY DID THE OWNER GIVE THE COLT UP SO READILY?
THERE ARE TWO POSSIBILITIES TO ANSWER THE FIRST QUESTION:
1. THE FIRST ANSWER IS SIMPLE. JESUS’ KNOWLEDGE WAS SUPERNATURAL IN ORIGIN.
2. THE SECOND POSSIBILITY, AND THE ONE WITH THE STRONGEST ARGUMENT IN SUPPORT OF, IS THAT THERE WAS A PRE-ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN JESUS AND THE OWNER.
THE PRE-ARRANGEMENT EXPLAINS A NUMBER OF THINGS:
A) HOW JESUS KNEW EXACTLY WHERE TO SEND THE DISCIPLES.
B) WHY THE OWNER WAS SO WILLING TO ALLOW THEIR ANIMAL TO BE USED.
C) TO PRE-ARRANGE THIS ACTION HEIGHTENS THE MESSIANIC CHARACTER OF THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY. IT MEANS JESUS INTENTIONALLY SOUGHT TO FULFILL ZECH. 9:9 BY RIDING INTO JERUSALEM ON A COLT THAT HAD NOT BEEN RIDDEN, SYMBOLIC OF A KING’S ENTRANCE.
THERE IS NO LESS SIGNIFICANCE TO THE EVENTS OF THE DAY IF WE CLAIM THIS WAS PRE-ARRANGED.
HERE JESUS IS BEING RECOGNIZED AS KING, BUT THE CROWDS HONORING HIM BY LAYING PALM BRANCHES AT HIS FEET IN A FORM OF RED CARPET, ARE EXPECTING A DIFFERENT TYPE OF KING THAN THE ONE JESUS IS COMING TO BE.
LUKE 19:37-38:
37JESUS CAME NEAR THE PLACE WHERE THE ROAD GOES DOWN THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. THERE THE WHOLE CROWD OF DISCIPLES BEGAN TO PRAISE GOD WITH JOY. IN LOUD VOICES THEY PRAISED HIM FOR ALL THE MIRACLES THEY HAD SEEN. THEY SHOUTED, 38“BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!” (PSALM 118:26) MAY THERE BE PEACE AND GLORY IN THE HIGHEST HEAVEN!”
THESE VERSES SPEAK DEFINITIVELY OF THE KING THEY WERE EXPECTING JESUS TO BE. A YEAR EARLIER THEY TRIED BY FORCE TO MAKE HIM KING.
JOHN 6:15: BUT JESUS KNEW THAT THEY PLANNED TO COME AND FORCE HIM TO BE THEIR KING. SO HE WENT AWAY AGAIN TO A MOUNTAIN BY HIMSELF.
THEY ARE SINGING THE “HALLEL” IN THEIR JOY THAT JESUS AT LAST IS MAKING PUBLIC PROCLAMATION OF HIS MESSIAHSHIP. THE CRY “HOSANNAH IN THE HIGHEST” SHOULD DRAW US BACK TO THAT NIGHT OF HOPE SOME 30 YEARS BEFORE THIS TO SHEPHERDS ON HILLS NEAR BETHLEHEM AT THE TIME OF JESUS’ BIRTH.
NOTE THOUGH THAT THE RESPONSE CAME FROM JESUS’ FOLLOWERS, NOT FROM JERUSALEM. THEIR RESPONSE IS FOUND IN VV. 39-40. THIS RESONSE IS PRAISE THAT COMES FROM PSALM 118:26.
PSALM 118:26: BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. FROM THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD WE BLESS YOU.
IT WAS A PSALM USED TO GREET TRAVELLERS AS THEY ENTERED JERUSALEM.
THE USE OF “THE KING” IS A CLEAR LUKAN ADDITION TO THE TRADITION. IN THE PARABLE IN LUKE 18 HIS KINGSHIP IS BESTOWED AT HIS RESURRECTION\ASCENSION AND EXERCISED AT HIS SECOND ADVENT. IT IS NOT TO COME IMMEDIATELY AS THE CROWDS EXPECT.
LUKE REALIZES THE PEACE JESUS SOUGHT TO BRING WOULD NOT FIND FULFILLMENT IN JERUSALEM. PEACE WOULD REIGN THERE FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT WITHIN THE WEEK GIVE WAY TO MOB RAGE AS JESUS IS CRUCIFIED.
PEACE CAN REIGN IS HEAVEN THOUGH, FOR GOD’S DIVINE PLAN IS BEING FULFILLED. ONLY WHEN THE SON OF MAN RETURNS WILL PEACE FINALLY COME TO JERUSALEM.
T.C.BUTLER IN HIS COMMENTARY ON LUKE WRITES:
“THE PEOPLE PRAISED JESUS AS KING, CITING PSALM 118. FINALLY, JESUS’ GLORY WAS OPENLY RECOGNIZED. HE WAS MORE THAN THE BABE OF NAZARETH OR THE GALILEAN RABBI. HE WAS MORE THAN A MIRACLE WORKER. HE WAS A ROYAL FIGURE ENTERING THE ROYAL CITY DOWN THE ROYAL ROAD. HE CAME AS GOD’S REPRESENTATIVE, GOD’S CHOSEN KING. HE SHOWED THAT THE HOPES OF ISRAEL ARE BEING FULFILLED, GOD HAS SENT THE MESSIANIC KING TO BRING PEACE, A PEACE THAT ONLY HEAVEN CAN ESTABLISH, AND A PEACE THAT ESTABLISHED IN HEAVEN THAT CANNOT BE NEGATED ON EARTH. THIS MEANS THAT THE ANGELS WHO REJOICE OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS NOW SEE ALL THE HEAVENLY GLORY OF GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION BROUGHT TO FRUITION. AS EARTHLINGS PRAISE THE KING ON A DONKEY, SO HEAVEN GLORIES IN GOD’S GREAT WORK OF SALVATION.”
LUKE 19:39-40:
SOME OF THE PHARISEES IN THE CROWD SPOKE TO JESUS. “TEACHER,” THEY SAID, “TELL YOUR DISCIPLES TO STOP!” 40“I TELL YOU,” HE REPLIED, “IF THEY KEEP QUIET, THE STONES WILL CRY OUT.”
LUKE SEEMS TO IMPLY THERE WERE PHARISEES IN THE PROCESSION AS WELL. THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WOULD NO DOUBT SEND MEN TO WATCH JESUS’ EVERY MOVE, LOOKING FOR SOME REASON TO ARREST HIM.
THE PHARISEES ASK JESUS TO QUIET THE CROWD, BUT ON THIS DAY SUCH A REQUEST WAS AN IMPOSSIBILITY. THE PRAISE JESUS WAS RECEIVING FROM THE CROWD WAS FOR HIS CLAIMING MESSIAHSHIP, WHEN IN REALITY JESUS WAS BEING PRAISED FOR SUBMITTING TO THE WILL OF HIS FATHER.
HABAKKUK 2:11: THE STONES IN THE WALLS OF THEIR HOMES WILL CRY OUT. AND THE WOODEN BEAMS WILL ECHO THAT CRY.
NOTHING CAN DETRACT FROM THE PRAISE THAT DAY. IT WAS JESUS’ DAY, AND THERE WOULD BE NO SILENCING THE WELCOME OF THE SON OF DAVID OR RECOGNIZING HIM AS ISRAEL’S KING. JUST A FEW DAYS LATER THOUGH, THERE WOULD BE NO SILENCING THE CROWD IN THEIR CONDEMNATION OF HIM AND DETERMINATION TO HAVE JESUS CRUCIFIED.
THE PHARISESS ONLY SAW A FALSE TEACHER ON A DONKEY. THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THE GOD THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT.
HOW OFTEN DO WE WALK IN THE SANDALS OF THE PHARISEES AND MISS THE BLESSINGS GOD HAS IN STORE FOR US, BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING FOR A KING OF OUR OWN MAKING.
THIS WAS THE CROWNING MOMENT OF JESUS MINISTRY. ALL HIS TEACHING, HIS MANY MIRACLES, RAISING THE DEAD, AND THE FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY, ALL POINTED TO HIM AS MESSIAH, BUT STILL THE PHARISEES, AND THE PEOPLE IN GENERAL SAID NO. JESUS DIDN’T FIT THEIR CONCEPTION OF A KING.
LUKE 19:41-44:
41HE APPROACHED JERUSALEM. WHEN HE SAW THE CITY, HE BEGAN TO SOB. 42HE SAID, “I WISH YOU HAD KNOWN TODAY WHAT WOULD BRING YOU PEACE! BUT NOW IT IS HIDDEN FROM YOUR EYES. 43“THE DAYS WILL COME WHEN YOUR ENEMIES WILL ARRIVE. THEY WILL BUILD A WALL OF DIRT UP AGAINST YOUR CITY. THEY WILL SURROUND YOU AND CLOSE YOU IN ON EVERY SIDE. 44YOU DIDN’T RECOGNIZE THE TIME WHEN GOD CAME TO YOU. SO YOUR ENEMIES WILL SMASH YOU TO THE GROUND. THEY WILL DESTROY YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE INSIDE YOUR WALLS. THEY WILL NOT LEAVE ONE STONE ON TOP OF ANOTHER.”
AMID THE CELEBRATION OF PRAISE FOR THEIR KING, WITH A BROKEN HEART, JESUS PREPARES TO ENTER JERUSALEM. THE PLANS FOR CALVARY ARE NOW SET IN MOTION, FOR IT WAS ORDAINED BY GOD AND NOT MAN.
THE JEWS HAD CHOSEN TO FOLLOW THE KING OF THEIR OWN CREATION, AND NOT THE PRINCE OF PEACE. AS JESUS LOOKED OVER JERUSALEM, KNOWING HE WOULD BE REJECTED, HE WAILED, AND CRIED OUT WITH GREAT LAMENT.
THAT SORROW IS A SIGN OF HIS MANHOOD AND A PART OF HIS REVELATION OF THE VERY HEART OF GOD. THE FORM IS HUMAN BUT THE SUBSTANCE IS DIVINE. THE WORDS HE USED “IF YOU ONLY KNEW” REMIND US OF A FAMOUS SAYING BY JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER:
“OF ALL SAD WORDS OF MOUTH OR PEN, THE SADDEST ARE THESE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN.”
THESE VERSES PRESENT A DARK CLOUD OVER THE WHOLE CELEBRATION OF THAT DAY. THEIR REJECTION OF THE KINGDOM JESUS WILL ESTABLISH IS A REJECTION OF JESUS HIMSELF, AND MEANS THAT THERE WILL COME A TIME OF JUDGEMENT AS A RESULT. THE DEFEAT WILL BE TOTAL IN 70 A.D. WITH THE TEMPLE DESTROYED AND NOT ONE STONE LEFT ON TOP OF ANOTHER.
CONCLUSION:
JESUS ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM OCCURRED ON THE 10TH OF NISAN, THE DAY ORDAINED FOR THE SELECTION OF THE PASSOVER LAMB, AND JESUS CLEARING OF THE TEMPLE LATER THAT DAY MAY HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT AS HIS SELECTION OF THE LAMB OF GOD, THE TRUE PASCHAL SACRIFICE, OF WHICH THE SACRIFICES OF FORMER AGES WERE ONLY TYPES.
LET US JOIN THE CROWD AS THE GREAT KING ENTERS THE CITY, AND LET US SEARCH OUR HEARTS TO DETERMINE WHICH KING WE WOULD WELCOME.
1. DO WE SEEK A KING MADE IN OUR OWN IMAGE AS THE JEWS DID? DO WE WANT HIM ONLY TO GRANT OUR DESIRES AND BE AT OUR BECK AND CALL.
2. PERHAPS WE SEE KING JESUS AS THE ROMANS SEE HIM. HE IS NO THREAT AT ALL, UNTIL THE TIME COMES WHEN WE STAND BEFORE HIM IN JUDGEMENT. THEN IT WILL BE TOO LATE. THE TIME OF PROMISE IS OVER.
3. WOULD THAT WE COULD SEE HIM AS HE WANTS US TO SEE HIM, AS THE KING OF PEACE. THIS IS THE KINGDOM HE WILL ESTABLISH IN HEAVEN. THIS IS THE KINGDOM WHICH FOREVER WE AS CHRISTIANS WILL BE A PART OF.
LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT ONE DAY:
PHILIPPIANS 2:10-11:
WHEN THE NAME OF JESUS IS SPOKEN, EVERYONE’S KNEE WILL BOW TO WORSHIP HIM. EVERY KNEE IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH WILL BOW TO WORSHIP HIM. EVERYONE’S MOUTH WILL SAY THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. AND GOD THE FATHER WILL RECEIVE THE GLORY.
