Jesus Hailed as King
Luke 19:28-44
28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “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. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 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:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 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. 43 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. 44 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.”
Over 40% of all of the information in the gospels is about the last week of Jesus’ life. It is obviously the focus of His life’s work that He is coming to Jerusalem, and as He told His Disciples, He will be arrested, suffer, be killed and rise from the dead. That is His purpose.
Palm Sunday, Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, is a parade for a king. And this kingly action acts as a bracket for the charges made at Jesus’ trial. “He claimed to be a king.” And I can see the Jewish leaders thinking specifically at this event when they make the claim, because they understand the action.
Just because Jesus claims to be a king does not mean that He is. And this is the real issue. It is the issue for them, and it is the issue for us! He is rejected by the Jewish leaders because of the nature of His Kingship and Kingdom.
- Proofs that Jesus is King
- He does many miracles
- Miracles of healing
- Miracles over nature
- Miracles of spiritual deliverance
Many miracles are signs and are meant to signal that God is at work. They are meant to produce faith in those who witness them.
Miracles are by definition rare. If they were not rare, they would be called natural laws, or elements of the Goldilocks zone.
- Old Testament prophecy fulfilled
Psalms 118:
22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.
25 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.[b]
27 The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
Peter quotes this again in Acts 4: 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’[a]
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Zechariah 9: 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.
- Testimonies of those who believe
The people cry out for him to save as they walk in procession to the temple. They are acting out Psalms 118. They are parading with Jesus and confessing that He is the king of Israel. They expect for Him to usher in the kingdom of God.
We should not think that this is all that strange for them. There is a considerable cultural expectation that God will arise and send a Messiah like David who will deliver them from their enemies. Zealots are devoted to this and they rise up from time to time in opposition to the Romans. And it is this cultural desire and expectation that rises up in 70AD and brings down the might of Rome on their rebellion. They are surrounded, starved and destroyed. The walls of Jerusalem are torn down. The temple is destroyed and the sacrificial system has been shut down ever since.
Other testimony is coming about Jesus as king. Liars will accuse Him of being an opponent of Caesar!
- What Kind of King is Jesus?
- A king making peace
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Luke 2:
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Ephesians 2: 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.
17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
This is the reason a king rides in on a donkey.
Perhaps a contrast can be helpful: Revelation 19: 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.
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.”
- A king calling for voluntary submission
Matthew 28: 18 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, Go and make Disciples of all nations baptize them, teach them to obey all that I have commanded you.
Again, the Revelation 19 picture. On Jesus’ thigh and robe: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That is what all authority in heaven and on earth means! But Jesus has not come to force submission. He calls for our voluntary submission.
But there is a time coming when every knee will bow in heaven, on earth and under the earth. This bowing of the knee is submission.
- A king for all people
Again, Ephesians 2: 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
And the consistent demonstration in the gospels: Shepherds, Magi, the Samaritan woman at the well rejected by all but Jesus and whatever man she is currently with. The centurion at the Cross etc.
Romans 10: 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
- Responses to Jesus as King
- Rejected by the Jewish leaders
Those people should not be referring to Jesus in this Messianic way! Why? Because they do not believe that He is Messiah. And what is Jesus’ response? All of creation knows and will proclaim that I am Messiah! It is the will of God that today I am hailed as the deliverer of Israel.
John 18
30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”
“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
John 19: 15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
- Some are curious and undecided
This is true when people hear about Jesus. Jesus is unique among men. He attracts people’s attention. Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. Instead realize that salvation is very near to you.
Romans 10 again:
“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
- He is my king
Matthew 28: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Imagine making this claim!!
Does Jesus’ authority extend to our lives? What does this mean? What does it look like? Do we believe that Jesus is our Creator? Do we believe that Jesus is our standard for what a human being is to be? Do we believe then that Jesus will be our judge? Do we understand that Jesus died for our sins, paying the penalty for our sin and providing to us the credit for His perfect life? That is what He has done.
But, Who He is, is Lord of all that is. And we are called to voluntarily submit to Him.
Acts 2: 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
I Corinthians 15: 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.”
Confess Jesus is my Lord, believe that God has raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. Jesus will be your king voluntarily before you will be forced to submit.
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