Sermon # 31- Who Is On The Throne? Series

We read in Jonah 3:6, “When the king of Nineveh heard about it, he got up from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth, and sat down in ashes.” (GNB)

When the King of Nineveh heard about the impending judgement as preached by the prophet Jonah, he immediately got up from his throne, took off his royal robes, and put on sackcloth as a sign of humility and grief, and sat down in the ashes.

What was the message that the king heard that prompted him to respond with such penitence?

In Jonah 3:4, we read, “Jonah started through the city, and after walking a whole day, he proclaimed, "In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed!"” (GNB)

God had sent Jonah to the city of Nineveh to preach against it. As Jonah preached there was a sense of remorse that filled the hearts of the people as they heard the word of God, and they decided to seek after God. When the news of this message reached the king about the warning of destruction for Nineveh, as was preached by the prophet Jonah, he realized that his throne too was in jeopardy of being toppled over. The king therefore decided that it was appropriate that he sought after God, before such a catastrophe took place.

As I thought about this incident, a picture came to my mind. When a person in authority comes to visit someone who is of a lower rank, the person who is under him will at once stand up to acknowledge the position of the person, who is standing before him. Similarly, the king of Nineveh got up from his throne to recognize the authority of God over him. While the throne and the robe represented the authority that was bestowed on the king to do as he pleased, by his setting them aside, he acknowledged that God’s authority and throne were higher than his. The king therefore accepted that he had to accept the Lordship of God over his life and kingdom, and decided to change what had to be changed, failing which he knew that his kingdom would certainly be destroyed.

1. The life of Judas Iscariot

• Satan entered Judas Iscariot

In the heart of every human being is a throne, and the one who is seated on it will rule over their lives. Let me give you an example from Luke 22:3, “Then Satan entered the heart of Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve apostles.” (CEV)

We read in the above mentioned verse that Satan entered the heart of Judas Iscariot who was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.

• Judas Iscariot was in wrong company

This is what happened soon after as we read in Luke 22:4, “And he went away, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might deliver him unto them.” (ASV)

Judas Iscariot who was with Jesus and his disciples, was now in the company of the chief priests and captains, plotting along with them as to how he could betray Jesus to them. These chief priests were those who were following Jesus, just to find fault with Him, but were unable to do so, as Jesus was completely blameless. However, when Judas left Jesus, he found himself in the wrong company of these wicked men whose counsel he sought after.

• The privileges Judas Iscariot had

Remember that Jesus prayed and chose His twelve disciples of whom Judas Iscariot was also one. Jesus loved Judas just as he loved all the other disciples, and trained him like everyone else. Moreover, the Lord also entrusted him with the higher responsibility to be in charge of the money bag. Judas must have been elated that he had been endowed with this responsibility to be the treasurer for the group. Jesus must have conversed with Judas a lot, as he charged him with various duties as one who held the money bag. At the commencement of His ministry, when the Lord called Judas, he would have had Jesus on the throne of his heart. However, sadly with time, Judas replaced Jesus with his own ‘self’ which he enthroned on his heart.

As children of God we should be cautious about our friendships, and also about the associations we make. Just as Jesus loved and chose Judas, so also God loves each one of us, but it solely up to us to accept this love or to spurn it.

• The choice that Judas Iscariot made

We read in Matthew 26:21-22, “During the meal Jesus said, "I tell you, one of you will betray me." The disciples were very upset and began to ask him, one after the other, "Surely, Lord, you don't mean me?"” (GNB)

The disciples of Jesus were so perplexed with this announcement by Jesus that they each began to question Him to find out if they were the one whom He spoke about.