Background to passage: Sometimes called the Christ Hymn, it’s Paul’s passage about the person of Jesus, his incarnation/humiliation, death, and exaltation. Since today is Palm Sunday, I want to look at one aspect of the entrance of Jesus into the city - his kingship. At least some of the Jews understood him to be the long-awaited Messiah, the King of the Jews. They may not have understood what the Kingship of Jesus meant, but they welcomed him nevertheless.
Philippians 2:5–11 ESV
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Opening illustration: In Gladiator, the return of Commodus after the death of Marcus Aurelius, or the coronation of King Charles III, the number of countries with coronations in the last 50 years: Britain, Netherlands, Belgium, Thailand, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia
Main thought: This morning, looking through the events of Palm Sunday, let’s look at who King Jesus truly was.
1) He Was a Humble King (v. 6-8)
Philippians 2:6–8 ESV
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
1) He Was a Humble King (v. 6-8)
Explanation: It was an odd entrance for a king on that Palm Sunday. The people had long awaited a king, a King of the Jews, the Messiah or Christ, the chosen One. This is demonstrated by the clothing on the ground and the palm branches. But what do we make of a king who arrives in style on a donkey? He is a king who is willing to condescend and be among his people. He is a king that has not elevated himself, or arrived as a conquering victor, but as a God who became man, who became a servant, who became a sacrifice for the sin of humanity. He was the King of peace after Melchizedek,
Zechariah 9:9 ESV
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Mark 10:45 ESV
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Illustration: I had a conversation with one of our members the other day who comes in contact with people every week, every day, who are convinced that God is angry with them because they failures. “Messiah is king of Zion. Happy the subjects who dwell under his shadow. He rules them not with the rod of iron by which He bruises and breaks the power of his enemies, but with his golden sceptre of love. He reigns by his own right, and by their full and free consent, in their hearts. He reigns upon a throne of grace to which they at all times have access, and from whence they receive the pardon of all their sins, grace to help in time of need, and a renewed supply answerable to all their wants, cares, services, and conflicts”
Application: What you need to know from this is God became man so that he could die for you. He could take that which you earned on the cross. He is a king who loves you more than you know. His death is the testimony of his love for you. You can approach this King because he has lived among us, experienced pain, suffering, temptation, heartbreak, and know that he identifies with you. He wants you to come to him. He desires a relationship with you that is personal and intimate, not as a distant potentate and ruler who is aloof from his followers. He wants you to come boldly to the “throne” of this humble king and bring your requests and yourself to find rest for your souls, because this king came and conquered sin so he could conquer hearts
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2) He is Now the King of Kings (v. 9-11)
Philippians 2:9–11 ESV
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
2) He is Now the King of Kings (v. 9-11)
Explanation: Here we see the exaltation of King Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. He has been given the name that every knee with bow to, every tongue confess that He is Lord to the Glory of God the Father. “highly exalted” means to “super-elevate.” He is both a humble king and an exalted king. He is intimate and transcendent. He is near to you and far above you. He rules everything we know. He commands absolute authority. He requires absolute allegiance.
Revelation 1:12–16 ESV
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Revelation 19:11–16 ESV
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Illustration: Piper quote, Sex and The Supremacy of God, pp. 38-41
Application: His royal majesty commands worship, respect, awe, humility, maybe even fear. Every earthly king does not compare. His reign is for our benefit as he is wise and good. We treat him as though he our BFF. He is not your bud, the big guy, the man upstairs, he is the King! And he is King to the glory of God the Father. God will not share his glory with idols, with men, with creation, with any other power or authority. Therefore we must stop bowing down to them.
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Closing illustration:
S. M. Lockridge’s “That’s My King!”
He’s the King of the Jews
He’s the King of Israel
He’s the King of Righteousness
He’s the King of the Ages
He’s the King of Heaven
He’s the King of Glory
He’s the King of Kings
and He is the Lord of Lords
Now that’s my King!
David says
The Heavens declare the glory of God
And the firmament shows His handiwork
No means of measure can define His limitless love
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply
No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing
He’s enduringly strong
He’s entirely sincere
He’s eternally steadfast
He’s immortally graceful
He’s imperially powerful
He’s impartially merciful
That’s my King!
He’s God’s Son
He’s the sinners’ Savior
He’s the centerpiece of civilization
He stands alone in Himself
He’s unique
He’s unparalleled
He’s unprecedented
He’s supreme
He’s pre-eminent
He’s the loftiest idea in literature
He’s the highest personality in philosophy
He’s the supreme problem in higher criticism
He’s the fundamental doctrine in true theology
He’s the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion
That’s my King!
He’s the miracle of the age
He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him
He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously
He supplies strength for the weak
He’s available for the tempted and the tried
He sympathizes and He saves
He guards and He guides
He heals the sick
He cleansed the lepers
He forgives sinners
He discharges debtors
He delivers the captives
He defends the feeble
He blesses the young
He serves the unfortunate
He regards the aged
He rewards the diligent
And He beautifies the meek
Do you know Him?
My King is the key of knowledge
He’s the wellspring of wisdom
He’s the doorway of deliverance
He’s the pathway of peace
He’s the roadway of righteousness
He’s the highway of holiness
He’s the gateway of glory
He’s the master of the mighty
He’s the captain of the conquerors
He’s the head of the heroes
He’s the leader of the legislators
He’s the overseer of the overcomers
He’s the governor of governors
He’s the prince of princes
He’s the King of Kings
And He’s the Lord of Lords
That’s my King
His office is manifold
His promise is sure
His life is matchless
His goodness is limitless
His mercy is everlasting
His love never changes
His word is enough
His grace is sufficient
His reign is righteous
His yoke is easy
and His burden is light
I wish I could describe Him to you
He’s indescribable
He’s incomprehensible
He’s invincible
He’s irresistible
I’m trying to tell you
The heaven of heavens cannot contain Him
Let alone a man explain Him
You can’t get Him out of your mind
You can’t get Him off of your hands
You can’t outlive Him
And you can’t live without Him
The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him
but they found out they couldn’t stop Him
Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him
The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree
And Herod couldn’t kill Him
Death couldn’t handle Him
And the grave couldn’t hold Him
That’s my King!
He always has been
And He always will be
I’m talking about
He had no predecessor
and He’ll have no successor
There was nobody before Him
and there’ll be nobody after Him
You can’t impeach Him
and He’s not going to resign
That’s my King!
Praise the Lord
That’s my King
Thine is the Kingdom
And the power
And the glory
The glory is all His
For ever And ever And ever
And when you get through with all of the forevers
Then Amen
John 12:19 ESV
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
