Jesus, the True King (Luke 19:28-40)
This sermon delves into the profound significance of Palm Sunday, inviting us to understand Jesus not just as a historical figure, but as a king. It explores the universal human longing for a sovereign and how Jesus uniquely fulfills this need.
This sermon unpacks the meaning of Palm Sunday, revealing Jesus as the true, weak, and ultimately personal king. It calls listeners to recognize Jesus as their sovereign, replacing other 'kings' that oppress them.
Overview
The sermon begins by recounting the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, observed on Palm Sunday. It highlights that the crowd's acclamation of Jesus as "king" and the waving of branches were traditional greetings for a victorious monarch, signifying Jesus' claim to kingship.
The preacher then elaborates on three aspects of Jesus' kingship. First, he is the *true king*, fulfilling Messianic prophecies and addressing a universal human hope for a hero to set things right. This inherent human need to crown a king, if not met by God, leads to serving other things like careers, relationships, or independence, which ultimately become oppressive tyrants. This deep-seated need to crown a king stems from humanity's original design to serve a glorious, just, and compassionate ruler, a memory lost but longed for.
Second, Jesus is the *weak king*. He chose to ride into Jerusalem not on a warhorse, but on a young donkey, fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy. This deliberate weakness signifies that his power is not worldly might but a redemptive power expressed through the cross, where he bore judgment to forgive sins and ultimately conquer evil and death. This unique approach allows him to control us without destroying us.
Finally, Jesus *can be your king*. To make him king means to worship him by allowing him to capture one's imagination and thoughts, to obey him unconditionally even without full understanding, and to expect great things from him in faith. Submitting to his royal rule, like a fish returning to water, brings healing and allows individuals to become who they were truly meant to be.
Key points
- Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where he was proclaimed king.
- Jesus is presented as the true king, fulfilling ancient prophecies and the universal human longing for a hero.
- The sermon argues that humans are inherently designed to serve a king; if not God, we crown other things (career, independence) which become oppressive.
- Jesus is also the weak king, riding on a young donkey to fulfill prophecy and demonstrate his unique, redemptive power through self-sacrifice on the cross.
- This 'weakness' allows Jesus to control us without destroying us, offering forgiveness and true freedom.
- To make Jesus your king involves three things: worshiping him, obeying him unconditionally, and expecting great things from him.
- Submitting to Jesus' royal rule brings healing and allows individuals to become their true selves, as they were created to be.
In Tim Keller's words
“Jesus is the only one in the universe who can control us without destroying us.”
“If you say, 'I'll obey you as long as I understand why you're asking me to do this,' that's not obedience. That's called agreement.”
“You are dying for a lack of a true king.”
Outline
- I. The Meaning of Palm Sunday: Jesus is King
- A. A traditional greeting for a triumphant king
- B. Luke's chapters: mind (1-8), will (9-17), heart (18-24)
- II. What Jesus' Kingship Means: He is the True King, Weak King, and Your King
- A. He is the True King
- 1. Fulfills Messianic prophecy (Psalm 118:25-26)
- 2. Addresses a human hope for a hero to put everything right (Sir Thomas Malory, C.S. Lewis)
- 3. Our spiritual nature needs to crown kings; we serve something
- a. Whatever we live for, we serve (career, children, independence)
- b. We are controlled by the lord of our lives
- c. We remember a glorious king we were designed to serve (Genesis 1-3 prophecy)
- B. He is the Weak King
- 1. Rides on a young donkey, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9
- 2. Not the power the world expects from a messianic king
- 3. Came to bear judgment, go to the cross, die for sin, to truly break evil and restore the world
- 4. The only king who will not oppress us; he redeems us
- 5. He is our creator; we are meant to be under his authority (fish out of water analogy)
- 6. The unbroken colt's calmness points to his true mastership (Isaiah 11)
- C. He can be Your King
- 1. All problems stem from serving things that are not the true king
- 2. You must change what you serve to change your life
- III. How to Make Him Your King
- A. Worship Him
- 1. To serve something is to have your imagination captured by it
- 2. Your religion is what you do with your solitude (William Temple)
- 3. Cultivate a heart of worship (corporate worship, prayer, reading)
- B. Obey Him
- 1. The disciples untied the colt simply because "The Lord needs it" (Luke 19:31)
- 2. Obedience is unconditional, not agreement
- C. Expect Great Things From Him
- 1. "Thou art coming to a King. Large petitions with thee bring."
- 2. Expect terrific blessings from the Lord of your life, who loves you and died for you
- IV. Conclusion: Crown Me or Kill Me
- A. Jesus forced the authorities' hand by entering as king
- B. He cannot help you unless you treat him as the king; bring all of him in
Scripture references
28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
25 Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
Insights
Our spiritual nature compels us to crown something king.
Everything we crown besides Jesus becomes a tyrant over us.
The true king comes not with force, but in humble weakness.
Questions & answers
What is the significance of Palm Sunday, according to this sermon?
Palm Sunday recounts Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where he was publicly acclaimed as king. This event, where people shouted 'Hosanna' and waved branches, signified his rightful claim to a royal title, just days before his crucifixion.
Why does the preacher say Jesus is the 'weak king'?
Jesus is called the 'weak king' because he chose to ride on a young donkey rather than a warhorse, fulfilling prophecy and demonstrating a different kind of power. His weakness is his willingness to go to the cross, bear judgment for sin, and conquer evil through self-sacrifice, rather than worldly force.
What does C.S. Lewis's quote 'spiritual nature will be served' mean in the sermon?
This quote means that humans are intrinsically designed to worship and serve something. If we deny our spiritual nature true 'food' by not serving God, we will inevitably 'gobble poison' by serving lesser things like careers, relationships, or independence, which ultimately become oppressive.
How does the sermon define true obedience to Jesus?
True obedience to Jesus, as exemplified by the disciples untying the colt because 'The Lord needs it,' is unconditional. It is not an agreement based on understanding or personal approval, but a submission to his authority as King, even when the reasons are not fully known.
What are the three ways the sermon suggests we make Jesus our king?
To make Jesus your king, you must worship him by letting him capture your imagination, obey him unconditionally, and expect great things from him. These actions demonstrate genuine submission to his authority.
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