Today we look at the glorious and unexpected revelation of King Jesus in the triumphal entry at Jerusalem.
This sermon is an adaptation of a message given by pastor Tim Keller.
We see that Jesus is a confrontational king. He is extremely humble, but not at all modest. He confronts our hearts and our intellects with his authority – thrusting this demand at each of us: “crown me or kill me”.
We see that Jesus is a paradoxical king. Why would a ruler enter his city on a donkey? What does Jesus want us to see in his choice of a servant’s steed? It’s a picture of the gospel! Sin is servants putting themselves in the place of a king. Salvation is the king putting himself in the place of the servants. We are saved by grace – in our weakness, not our strength.
And we see that Jesus is a personal and present king. “Behold your king comes to you.” He comes to be present with his people. He rode a donkey into the city. He carried a cross out of the city. The king died in the place of the servants. And he rose to pour out his Spirit to be with his people forever.
We have to know Jesus in all of these aspects of his kingship in order to receive the fullness of his salvation.
As we do, he remakes himself in each one of us. Boldness and humility, royalty and servanthood mingled together in glorious paradox.
Tom Brown is the planting pastor of Vintage Faith Church in Wichita. Tom and his wife, Mandy, have worked together in ministry for 18 years and have four children. More about Pastor Tom Brown