Jesus - King of Kings
Introduction
John the apostle wrote John 12:12-19 telling how Jesus is the King of kings. We Christians today must understand as well that Jesus is the King of kings.
Why and how is Jesus proven to be the King of kings? John the apostle, in John 12:12-19, gives us 4 reasons Jesus is proven to be the King of kings.
Jesus is proven to be the King of kings because…
Verses 12 – 13 – 1. His miracles and life declare Him to be the King of kings.
Verses.14 – 16 – 2. He is the fulfillment of all Old Testament Messianic Prophecy.
Verses 17 – 18 – 3. The eyewitnesses couldn’t be quiet.
Verses 19 – 4. Satan’s Kingdom is threatened by Him.
Today in the church, there are many views concerning exactly who Jesus was and is. Even in ultra-conservative churches, based on the songs we sing, and how we describe our relationships with Christ, it often seems like Jesus is more like our girlfriend or boyfriend instead of our Lord. Think about how many songs churches sing that could easily be sung to our spouses. If we removed Jesus’ name, and placed our spouse’s name in there, the lyrics often wouldn’t have to change. With this view of worship has also come the feminization of Jesus Christ. When we think about Jesus, do we think about a rough and tough Jew who loves His people, but loves His Father even more? A carpenter who freely went to the cross? A King who died for His people, for His Father’s glory? Or, do we think about an effeminate man with a high-pitched voice, who got scourged, beat up, a “weenie” who was murdered on a cross? Is our view of Christ shaped by the truth of Scripture, or has it been shaped by our own biased of who we want Jesus to be; or how we like to think of Christ? Do we view Jesus as our boyfriend or girlfriend, or do we view Him as the King of kings, and Lord of lords?
I came here today not to worship my girlfriend, and especially not my boyfriend, not some effeminate, sissy man, but the Lord of glory, the victorious and merciful King of kings, Jesus Christ! This is who I proclaim to you today.
I. King of Kings Because of his Miracles and Life
Look at verses 12 – 13. Verse 12 reads, “On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,…”
On the next day after Christ had been anointed for burial by Mary, and had rebuked Judas; and had eaten at Simon the leper’s house; many had come to the feast, and they were hearing the reports of Jesus’ miracles, and this demanded a response from them.
Jesus was viewed as a celebrity by all who heard of Him. He was famous.
These people believed eyewitness accounts. There were so many throughout the years of Jesus’ ministry that saw Him perform impossible miracles.
During this time, just how important were the testimonies of eyewitnesses? What other testimonies did they have besides this? The answer is none. So, eyewitness accounts were taken seriously from trustworthy eyewitnesses; especially, whenever there were hundreds or possibly thousands of total witnesses.
Then consider verse 13, “Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
Palm branches during this time represented triumph and victory.
They believed Christ to be their victorious King; though they wanted Him to create an earthly kingdom; He still is the King of kings, even though they were incorrect in their view of how He would rule.
-NOTE: Though they were incorrect about how He would rule, this didn’t change the fact that they believed Him to be the King of kings and Lord of lords.
“and went forth to meet Him,”
So, in response to the coming of their Christ, they carried these symbols declaring His coming as victorious and triumphant!
They came to worship a victorious King, not an effeminate man, a sissy or a weenie, but a triumphant, victorious King of kings.
“and cried, “Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
The word “Hosanna” is a transliteration of a Hebrew phrase meaning “give salvation now”.
“Blessed is the King of Israel” isn’t found in Psalms 118:26. It was added in their proclamation pointing to the fact that these Jews believed Jesus to be the Messiah, the Christ, the One the entire Old Testament pointed to as Redeemer.
“that cometh in the name of the Lord”. – this is a partial quotation of Psalm 118:26, which reads, “Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD:”
Whenever we think of Jesus, do we think of a victorious Redeemer? Do we even view Him as a king?
II. King of Kings Through Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy
Note verses 14 – 16. “And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,..”
The other Gospel writers explained this in more detail. Just know that He rode in on a donkey.
Look at verse 15, “Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.”
This is a partial quotation of Zechariah 9:9, which reads, “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.”
Their King would come riding on a donkey.
Christ is fulfilling this Old Testament Messianic Prophecy. He came riding in on a donkey.
Do we realize that the Old Testament was written over a period of about 1000 years discussing history from all the way back at the beginning of time. The Old Testament contains nearly three hundred prophecies about the coming Messiah, and all of these were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
The Bible is a book about Jesus… not a self-help book; not a book that was given so you could be healthy, wealthy, and worship yourself. It was given to exalt Christ, to send all who read it running to the person of the King of kings, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Luke wrote in 24:27, “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
It’s a sad day in the church indeed whenever preachers have to actually get up and say that the Bible is a book about Jesus, because there are other false preachers out there telling people it’s a book about them bettering themselves.
Verse 16, “These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.”
These things understood not His disciples at the first:
Jesus’ disciples didn’t understand why He was doing this.
Even though they didn’t understand, they were still obedient to Him.
When Christ told them to get a donkey, they listened and responded in obedience. Likewise, whenever Jesus commands us by His Word, we must respond in obedience.
Have we responded obediently to His Word today?
“but when Jesus was glorified,”
However, when Jesus died, resurrected, and ascended; when they saw Him glorified, they remembered.
“…then remembered they that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things unto Him…”
When they saw Jesus in all His glory, declared as the One they were waiting on through His conquering of the grave, they remembered His fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy.
III. King of Kings Through Eye Witnesses
Jesus is proven to be the King of kings because the eyewitnesses couldn’t be quiet. (Verse 17-18)
Verse 17 - The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, those people who witnessed Jesus’ resurrection of Lazarus, that had trusted in Him more after this miracle, they came proclaiming Christ.
The fact that they wouldn’t listen to the Pharisees, nor the Sanhedrin, even though they had the power to lock them up.
“bare record.”
The eyewitnesses couldn’t be quiet about Jesus. They simply testified of all that Jesus had done. These eyewitnesses wouldn’t have continued had this been a lie. They wouldn’t have run around proclaiming Christ as the Messiah, if they didn’t believe it was so. These people had seen Christ do miraculous, supernatural things, which only could be explained by admitting Jesus was the Christ.
Verse 18 - For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
“For this cause the people also met Him…”
Because Jesus’ identity, His miraculous identity was being spread throughout, these Jews, having heard from the eyewitnesses, came from Jerusalem to meet Christ, hailing Him as their undisputed King.
“…for that they heard that He had done this miracle.”
They believed the eyewitnesses. They trusted in the eyewitnesses so much that they identified Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, the One who the entire Old Testament spoke and prophesied of.
IV. King of Kings Threatening Satan’s Kingdom
Jesus is proven to be the King of kings because Satan’s Kingdom is threatened by Him. (Verse 19)
Verse 19 - The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
“The Pharisees therefore said among themselves because there was a large crowd from Bethany and Jerusalem, who was following Jesus, the Pharisees were perplexed.”
“They feared losing their power.”
“Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing?”
They were frantic. They believed their declarations concerning Jesus mentioned in John 11:53, 57, were of no avail.
Regardless what they did, they couldn’t compete with this perfect, living, King.
“…behold, the world is gone after Him.”
They feared Him, hated Him, and were planning to murder Him.
The fact that Satan’s kingdom was losing followers is also proof of the fact that Jesus is the Christ.
The false, self-proclaimed judicial leaders of the Sanhedrin, the so-called rulers of the Jews, these little “kings” were losing authority and power to the King of kings and Lord of lords.
The fact that Satan’s kingdom was threatened by Jesus Christ proved Him to be the King of kings.
Satan isn’t scared of those who belong to him. Luke, in Acts 19:13-17 writes, “Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.”
Conclusion
we must follow the evidence; and if we do, there’s no other answer then that Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
His miracles, His fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy, the Eye-witnesses, and the fact that Satan is threatened by Him has shown Christ as the King of kings. Have you trust in Him alone today for your salvation? Christians, is this how you describe the King you serve today?