Jesus - The King of kings

Clark Kent was a mild mannered journalist for the Daily Planet who was largely passive with an introverted personality.  He appeared gullible and often stumbled clumsily around the office.  Clark Kent’s low-profile extended to his wardrobe typically consisting of a bland-colored business suit, a red necktie, and black-rimmed “nerd” style glasses he was constantly pushing up on his nose.  Clark Kent used these inconspicuous characteristics to blend in with “ordinary” humans and deflect his true nature as SUPERMAN!  Jesus Christ’s 33 years on earth as a man were no less inconspicuous.  During Jesus’ first appearing He disguised Himself as humble and gentle God-man, but when He returns He will reveal his true identity as the God-King!

READ:  Revelation 19:11-16

Jesus Christ is going to return as the KING of kings and LORD of lords!  When Jesus returns, it will not be as a helpless baby in a manger.  He will not return with a gentle and mild temperament.  He will not return as a humble servant.  He will not return and endure shame and suffering.  He will definitely not return to die.  When Jesus returns, his identity will not be mistaken.  When He returns, it will be with an awesome display of justice, judgment, wrath, punishment, and power.  When He returns, He will rule and reign over all creation forever and ever!  What will the return of the King of kings and the Lord of lords be like?

1.   The King of kings will return sitting on a white HORSE leading an ARMY into WAR (vss 11, 14-15) – No more humble donkey (Mt. 21:7), but a war horse symbolizing a military general leading his army against one final enemy!  Jesus fury, wrath, and anger against evil, wickedness, and sin will be unrestrained.  When Jesus returns He will be leading an innumerable heavenly army into a war to end all wars against the rebellious kings and evil spiritual forces of the whole world . . . Armageddon (Rev. 16:14-16).

2.   The King of kings will return wearing CROWNS on His head (vs 12) – No more twisted crown of thorns (Mt. 27:29), but rather a stack of crowns symbolizing His royal honor, power, and authority!  Phil. 2:10-11 says 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!”  All the inhabitants of the earth will bow down, face to the ground, and submit to Jesus’ position as King.  When Jesus returns He will be given all the glory and honor due Him. 

3.  The King of kings will return wearing a bloody WHITE ROBE (vs 13) – No more scarlet robe (Mt. 27:28), but rather a white robe dyed red symbolizing the forgiveness of sin and victory Jesus earned on the cross.  By shedding His blood on the cross, Jesus Christ made a new covenant by paying the penalty for the sin of the whole world.  When Jesus returns He will eat the bread and drink the cup once again with all those who have been purchased by His blood and been forgiven of their sins.

4.  The King of kings will return holding an iron SCEPTER in his hand (vs 15) – No more flimsy reed (Mt. 27:29), but rather an iron rod symbolizing the righteous judgment He will execute on His enemies!  All those who have not obeyed the gospel will be repaid with the punishment of eternal destruction for all the evil and sin they have committed (2 Thess. 1:6-10).  When Jesus returns He will justly strike down and destroy all His enemies who have rejected and opposed Him.

CONCLUSION

So what are we supposed to do as we wait for the King of kings and the Lord of lords to return?  1 Timothy 6:11-16 tells us, “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.”  Jesus Christ’s heart as the King of kings is to sovereignly rule and reign over all creation for all eternity.  Is He reigning in your heart and life today?

Jesus - The King of the Jews

Wrong expectations can cause us to miss some of the most obvious and meaningful things in life.  If we expect to make a lot of money, we may miss the occupation that will bring us fulfillment and satisfaction.  If we expect  to get all A’s in school, we may miss the wonder and adventure of learning something new.  If we expect to get every note right in a song, we may miss the joy of making music.  If we expect to win every game, we may miss the exhilaration of competition and playing the game.  Wrong expectations can cause us to overlook some of the things that God wants to reveal to us!

Wrong expectations caused the Jews to miss their Messiah King! At the time of Jesus arrival, the Jews were wrongly expecting a king who would overthrow the Roman government and restore Israel’s (John 6:15).  God had declared through Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3, 35:11), David (2 Sam. 7:12-13) and the prophets (Is. 9:6-7) that a He was going to send a Messiah King who would deliver the people of Israel from their oppressors and establish an everlasting era of peace, justice, and mercy.   From Zedekiah (597-586bc), Israel’s last king, until Jesus Christ, the Jewish people of Israel had been without a king ruling over them for over 550 years.  Anticipation of God re-establishing an earthly king was at the center of Jewish expectations.   

Jesus was not who the Jews were EXPECTING, but He was their KING!  The Jewish King would arrive under the radar of Jewish expectations.  Although the Jewish expectations of the Messiah King were wrong, it is obvious from Scripture that God intended for Jesus Christ to be more than just an earthly king, but a different kind of King who would rule and reign for eternity!  How did the Jews miss their King?

1.  Jesus the Jewish King was born in BETHLEHEM (Matthew 2:1-6) – Jesus’ entrance into the world was not a kingly event.  Jesus was born in a small village 5 miles south of Jerusalem.  Because there was no room at the inn for Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem, Jesus was born in barn or cave where animals were kept overnight.  His bed was a trough that animals were fed from.  Jesus’ birth was on not one of nobility, but instead one of humility.  The King of the Jews did not ascend mightily to a throne, but rather descended in a lowly manner to the earth.

2.  Jesus the Jewish King conducted His triumphal procession riding on a DONKEY (John 12:12-15) – During this time period, Roman leaders would publically celebrate a military victory by proudly ride a chariot through the city with a procession of soldiers.  The prophet Zechariah had predicted Jesus’ pre-victory triumphal procession, but instead of riding on a chariot He was riding on a donkey.  The King of the Jews’ humble victory parade showed that He had an even greater conquest in mind.   

3.  Jesus the Jewish King was coronated by being MOCKED (Mt. 27:27-30) – Jesus being crowned as King was a mockery.  Soldiers of Pilate sarcastically hailed Jesus as the King.  They belittled Him, embarrassed Him, made fun of Him, and physically abused Him.  Treatment worthy of a criminal, not a King.  Treatment that the sinless Christ had neither earned or deserved, and yet He endured such ridicule and shame in order to wear the crown of a true King.

3.  Jesus the Jewish King assumed the throne by His SUFFERING and DEATH (John 19:1-3, 14-22) – Earthly kings rule and reign with power and strength.  Jesus’ power and strength were displayed in His weakest, most vulnerable moment.  Through death, Jesus displayed His power over death.  Jesus gained the ultimate victory over death by raising from the dead 3 days after He was buried in a grave.  Jesus’ victory over sin and death makes Him not just the King of the Jews, but all who would believe in Him!

CONCLUSION

Jesus Christ is the King of the Jews and most all of them missed and overlooked Him for the King that He was and still is.  Do we have the wrong expectations of Jesus?  Is it possible for us to miss or overlook who Jesus Christ is in our lives?  Be careful not to make the same mistake as the Jews.  Jesus Christ is God-Himself, born as a man, who humbly endured the shame and punishment of the cross in order to save us from our sins and resurrect us back to life in order to rule and reign with Him in heaven for eternity.  Is Jesus your King!?!