Jesus is King

Matthew 21:1-17

I.   Jesus Declares He is King (Matthew 21:1-11) Jesus reverses the exit of the Spirit of God shared in Ezekiel here in Bethpage, over the hill 2 miles from Jerusalem. Where the Holy Spirit leaves, the presence of God through Christ is revealed! His Kingship is being shown here!

     a. He declares His kingship through prophecy. (Zech. 9:9) The donkey is symbolic of peace.

     b. He declares His kingship through peace. (Zech. 9:10) Jesus came to be the King of not just the Jews, but the global King! The donkey is symbolic of peace. That’s different than the white war horse we see in Revelation 19. Even Isaiah prophesied concerning the coming King to the Israelite captives in exile. (Isaiah 52:7) “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Paul quotes this in Romans 10:15.

     c. He declares His kingship through others’ praise. (Matthew 21:8-11; 15-16) Before this time, Jesus would heal people and tell them not to say anything. He knew that the hour had not come yet, until this moment that He should let the world know that He is the Messiah, the King of Kings! The palm branches and cloaks were a symbol of victory, triumph, and peace. He brings to all believers, His followers, victory and triumph over death, and peace with a just and Holy God!

II.  Jesus Demonstrates that He is King (Matthew 21:12-14) The manner of what they were doing wasn’t to benefit the Kingdom, but to make selfish prophet! Jesus wanted everyone to know that the temple was to benefit a global people of prayer, of faith in Him, not to make individuals rich. He is King of all!

Listen to Isaiah 56:7 “these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

     a. He demonstrates His kingship through authority. (Matthew 21:12-13) The first part of the Great Commission states in Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

     b. He demonstrates His kingship through absolute power. (Matthew 21:14) He healed, raised people from death, cast out demons, and rose himself from death (a little preview into next week).

III. We Must Decide Jesus is King (Matthew 21:15-17) The day is coming soon when what Paul describes in Philippians will happen. “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) There is a clear difference between the way the Pharisees reacted to Jesus and the way the children reacted. The children rejoiced in King Jesus, the Pharisees rejected! When Jesus returns wither that is today or tomorrow through either death or His return, will you have rejoiced in surrendering to King Jesus, or will you have rejected him? Today is the day of salvation! Make Him King today! Rejoice that He removes your sin through faith in Him. Romans 10:9 states: “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

How do you know if you’ve made Jesus your King? If you’ve placed Him over your faith, finances, family, and your future for your good and His glory!

Listen to the difference in how Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey of peace and how Jesus will enter the earth the second time as the conquering King on a white horse of war. (Revelation 19:11-16)

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Don’t risk meeting Jesus on the white war horse when you’ve rejected Jesus on the donkey! Today is the day of salvation! According to His Word He is King! When He returns there will be no doubt that He is King!

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