Sermon: Palm Sunday - How Jesus (God) became King!
Thesis: Jesus proved He was the King of Kings through His birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection. Many just refused to see it!
Scripture Texts:
John 12: 1-19
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you but you will not always have me.”
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”
16 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. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
Matthew 21:1-11: 21
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Introduction:
Queen Elizabeth II died “peacefully” at her home in Balmoral, Scotland, on September 8, 2022, Buckingham Palace. She was 96. “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” the official statement read. The statement continued, “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.” The news came hours after Buckingham Palace announced the Queen was put “under medical supervision” due to “concern” from her doctors. “Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” the statement read at the time. “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
The news also came less than a year after rumors of Queen Elizabeth’s death sparked in February 2022 when gossip website, Hollywood Unlocked, claimed that the monarch passed away at the age of 95. The publication’s claim came just days after reports confirmed that the Queen had tested positive for COVID-19 after coming in close contact with her eldest son, Prince Charles, who also contracted the virus earlier in the month. According to Hollywood Unlocked, the Queen was “found dead” after she was set to attend a wedding.
“It is with our deepest regret to inform you that Britain’s Queen Elizabeth has died,” their report read at the time.
One of the major events in any monarchy is the crowning of the new king of England which we get to witness since Queen Elizabeths death. Prince Charles III (King Consort) will be declared officially King of England at Westminster Abbey on May 6th with 2,000 of the world’s leaders and religious leaders in attendance. Millions will watch this event as it is streamed worldwide. Princess Camilla (Queen Consort) will also be pronounced to the world as Queen of England too. All the media will be there from around the world, the Church of England clergy will be there dressed to the hilt in their flashy robes, elaborate crowns, and I hear they are already rehearsing their parts for the Coronation. The Palace Guard will be displayed in their exquisite uniforms and be moving in perfect form and sequence. Security will be super tight, and snipers and agents will be located throughout the region to protect the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. When we get to May 6th it will be a worldwide event marked with a lot of hoop la. What is a coronation? A coronation is both the symbolic religious ceremony during which a sovereign is crowned and the physical act of placing a crown on a monarch's head.
Remember the last time this happened was in1953 with Queen Elizabeth and 8,000 were in attendance.
Americans will be treated to days of Anglophile hype. "The queen is dead," will be the words of the crowd and then you will here. "Long live the king!" Many will be shouting this in the streets, during parades, at the banquet, in the crowd of West minister Abbey as King Charles III is coronated. It will be all done on a grand scale and the UK will flip the bill for the 120 million dollars for this over-the-top celebration and coronation.
How many will be watching the proceedings of the passing of the crown from Queen Elizabeth and now to King Charles III and queen Camilla?
But here today on Palm Sunday and Easter week the most significant event of all history was the coronation of King Jesus.
“For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.” Psalm 8:5.
God planned for Christ to be born a King of the world. He knew only His Son could overcome the present king of this world, Satan the devil. “And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:31-33). Jesus Christ was born to reign over the nations of the Earth.
Jesus Christ understood His office. Just before His crucifixion, He was brought before Pontius Pilate, who asked Him, “Art thou a king then?” (John 18:37). Christ’s reply: “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
However, though Christ was born to be king overall, He was not officially crowned King of the Earth (He was King Consort) but His time was and is coming!
“Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence” (John 18:36).
I. Jesus enters Jerusalem celebrated as the King of Israel.
a. He was anointed prior to his entrance to Jerusalem by Mary
i. Kings of the OT were always anointed for their position.
ii. 29 verses speak of Kings being anointed by prophets of God.
1. 1 Samuel 15:1: Then Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel; now therefore, listen to the words of the Lord.
2. 2 Samuel 5:3: So, all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before the Lord at Hebron; then they anointed David king over Israel.
a. Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Anointing-Kings
b. We have Jesus’ riding in on a donkey into Jerusalem.
i. Fulfills of the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9: Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
1. Spoken 500 years earlier!
ii. If Jesus had come riding on a horse in would have signified war but he chose a donkey which would signify peace.
iii. Also coming in on a donkey spoke to the common people of the day and helped Jesus communicate how as their king he cared about their everyday struggles.
c. We have people shouting “Hosana” the term is used to express adoration, praise, or joy:
i. Those arriving with and greeting Jesus were large in number as explained by John’s Gospel: “When the great crowd … heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him and cried out: ‘Hosanna! / Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, [even] the king of Israel’” (12:12-13).
ii. This adulation was not lost on the Pharisees who were present. They said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He said in reply, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out” (see Lk 19:39-40). The Pharisees reported the events back to the Jewish high council, the Sanhedrin, which regarded Jesus’ ever-growing popularity as a threat to their cozy relationship with the Romans. They were, in fact, planning to murder Him.
iii. Previously, Our Lord had deliberately avoided popular acclaim, even fled, but this, upon entering Jerusalem, He accepts.
1. https://www.simplycatholic.com/hosanna-what-is-the-meaning-of-palm-sunday/#SnippetTab
d. We have Palm branches and cloaks laid before him the people are looking at Jesus as their King.
i. The Bible tells us that people cut branches from palm trees, laid them across Jesus' path and waved them in the air as he entered Jerusalem the week before his death. They greeted Jesus not as the spiritual Messiah who would take away the sins of the world, but as a potential political leader who would overthrow the Romans. They shouted "Hosanna [meaning "save now"], blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"
1. %20branches,potential%20political%20leader%20who%20would%20overthrow%20the%20Romans.
ii. The beginning of Holy Week starts with shouts of praise and adoration but by Friday they will cry crucify Him.
II. Jesus the king of kings!
a. Our mind cannot grasp the scope of who Jesus was, is and or will be.
i. Revelation 1: 1-5: The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
ii. Revelation reminds us who the the king of kings and the lord of the lords is – Its Jesus.
1. Although Jesus came to Earth as a humble servant, he is the King of kings. Jesus is The King: Revelation 19:11-16 states:
a. 11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His 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. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
b. Revelation 19:17-21:
i. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.” 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
ii. The phrase king of kings is used in Scripture six times. Once, the title is applied to God the Father (1 Timothy 6:15), and twice to the Lord Jesus (Revelation 17:14; 19:16). In Revelation 19:16 Jesus is given the full title “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 17:14 switches it: “Lord of lords and King of kings”). The title indicates someone who has the power to exercise absolute dominion over all His realm. In the case of the Lord Jesus, the realm is all of creation. In John’s vision, Jesus is returning to judge the world and establish His earthly kingdom, as He predicted in Mark 13:26.
iii. When Jesus is called “King of kings and Lord of lords,” it means that, in the end, all other rulers will be conquered or abolished, and He alone will reign supreme as King and Lord of all the earth. There is no power, no king, and no lord who can oppose Him and win. There are myriad references to this absolute rule of Jesus and His preeminence over other rulers throughout Scripture. To mention just a few, Isaiah 40:23–24 says that the Lord brings “princes to nothing” and makes earth’s rulers “emptiness.” The mere breath of the Lord will “carry them off like stubble.” Daniel’s vision of the son of man in Daniel 7:13–14 is of one whom he calls “the Ancient of Days” whose everlasting dominion is over all people, nations and languages. In the New Testament, we get a better view of the One these passages refer to. The writer of Hebrews speaks of the Lord Jesus: “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). The next verse speaks of Jesus being “much superior” to the angels. Clearly, His rule over creation is absolute.
b. But most did in Jesus’ life and ministry did not recognize Jesus for who He really was and many today still do not acknowledge His Royalty or divine mission from God.
i. Scripture says - The word was made flesh and lived among us – The Word (Jesus) God’s living Word was here for all to see- hear- touch – taste and smell.
ii. But they did not really see “The King”: But interestingly others did see who he was:
1. The storms knew Him.
2. The water knew Him.
3. The wind and waves knew Him.
4. The demons knew Him.
a. On the boat, after Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples asked: “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:25) The demons answer that question, “Jesus, Son of the Most High God” (verse 28).
b. Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!" — Mark 1:23-24 NLT
5. The rocks knew Him.
a. Palm Sunday quote from Jesus that if the people don’t praise me then the rocks will cry out!
6. The donkey knew Him – Jesus’ rode in on donkey that has never been known before and it was as in full submission to the King on its back.
a. The donkey voice:
7. The atmosphere knew Him.
8. The earth knew Him.
9. The fig trees knew Him.
iii. But the religious and most of Israel did not – most of mankind did not and still many today in Israel do not recognize Jesus as “The King.”
1. Even some of the disciples did not know Him.
2. Satan did not even really know who Jesus was in the beginning – he tried to get Jesus to reveal himself in the temptation in the wilderness.
a. But Satan is always lying about God and Jesus and seeks to malign him daily.
i. The most common phrase in profanity is God damning certain people or things. They listen to Satan’s deception that God desires to damn everyone – smote them – this is a huge lie – the truth is God and Jesus want no one to perish.
ii. People see God as fury and wrath, filled with judgement and revenge but reality is He has a heart that yearns after your heart and fellowship.
iii. How people misread the bible and portray God as someone He is not.
1. But this comes from the lies and deception of the enemy.
c. Fundamentally, the idea of Jesus being King of kings and Lord of lords means that there is no higher authority. His reign over all things is absolute and inviolable. God raised Him from the dead and placed Him over all things, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:21–23).
i. Psalm 2:4-12: "He who sits in the heavens laughs; the lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 'as for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.' I’ll tell of the decree: the lord said to me, “you are my son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” Now, therefore, o kings, be wise; be warned, o rulers of the earth. Serve the lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
ii. ISAIAH 9:6 "For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon[a] his shoulder,
and his name shall be called[b]
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
iii. MICAH 5:2-5 "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
And he shall be their peace."
iv. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:22-26"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death."
CONCLUSION:
Finally, in the book of Revelation we see the Kingship of Jesus made manifest. In chapter 5, the Lamb (Jesus) is the only one in all creation found worthy to open the scroll containing the judgments of God (vv. 2–5). In chapter 11, we hear voices in heaven proclaiming that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of Christ and that He will reign forever and ever (v. 15). In chapter 12, we read that the authority of Christ is what causes Satan to be thrown down to earth (vv. 9–10). In Revelation 17:12–14, the Lamb conquers all those arrayed against Him, and John stresses that He conquers because He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Finally, in chapter 19, we read of Jesus’ triumphant coming to strike the nations and tread the winepress of the wrath of God, having the authority to do so because He is King of kings and Lord of lords (vv. 11–16).
Summary
• The coronation of a new king is a major event in any kingdom = you will observe this on May 6 if you watch the coronation of King Charles the III.
• Jesus is the most famous by the way!
• Old Testament kings were publicly anointed with oil in the solemn moment when they acceded to the throne.
• Jesus’ anointing set the stage for the eventual coming of the Messiah, "the Anointed One." The King of Kings!
• David was promised that his house and his throne would endure forever. But the earthly kings of Israel ceased with the Babylonian captivity of 586 BC, so it was clear that the writings of the prophets pointed to a future heavenly King.
• Jesus is this King!
• In connection with the birth of Jesus, several events in Judea testified that He was Christ the Lord, the King of the Jews.
• His fulfillment of numerous prophecies proved this!
• Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit at His immersion in the Jordan and was thus manifested to Israel as the Messiah. He was also anointed by Mary prior to His entrance to Jerusalem.
• Jesus entered Jerusalem as the fulfillment of the promised Coming King of Kings!
• Appearing before Pontius Pilate, Jesus made it clear that His kingdom was not to be of this world.
• Jesus’s Kingdom will be established here on the earth at His Second Coming!
• When Jesus ascended to heaven from earth following His resurrection from the dead, a cloud received Him out of the sight of the apostles. But on the heavenly side, in accordance with Old Testament prophecies, He came into the court of the Ancient of Days and received His kingdom.
• But Jesus is the ruler and King of all things!
• The preaching of the gospel message on Pentecost as recorded in Acts chapter 2 centers about Jesus’ resurrection to His heavenly throne.
• Jesus will be seen in the future with His divine power and glory – he will come riding on a White horse a King coming for war against the forces of evil in this world and He will defeat them and take complete control.
• Jesus was anointed King in heaven, having been exalted to the right hand of God and having received the promise of the Spirit.
• Jesus is the real rightful king of this world.
• At the apex of history, at the same times as Jesus was declared High Priest of the order of Melchizedek by the power of an indestructible life, He was also announced as the Messiah and took His seat on the heavenly throne.
• Jesus is seated on His throne right now!
• All New Testament preaching carried the hearers beyond the cross of Christ and His bodily resurrection to the very throne of God.
• Revelation reveals what this day will look like!
• The maximum power of God is defined in the exaltation of Christ to His right hand, and from that position the King continues to exhort His disciples to make more disciples, promising that He would be with them to the end of the age.
• Jesus wants all of us to see the truth and follow His leadership as the King of Kings and we will reign with Him forever.
This week we must focus our attention on this great King and His glory. The Coronation of King Jesus has happened in Heaven and will be established on this earth at the appointed time. (The above was gleamed and quoted from newcreationstudies.org)
