The Wise Men: He Is the King

Matthew 2:1-10
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Pastor Colin highlights the wise men who bore witness to Jesus as the King.

Colin draws a parallel with the Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon, emphasising the grandeur and wisdom of Solomon’s kingdom, which took her breath away. Similarly, the wise men came from afar, bringing gifts for the newborn King Jesus, symbolising the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies.

The sermon then transitions to the intensity of opposition that Jesus, the King, faces from His enemies, starting with King Herod’s plot to kill Him. This antagonism is rooted in the fact that Jesus is the King, a reality that continues to provoke resistance and rejection throughout history.

Pastor Colin emphasises that the world’s evil and suffering are the results of rejecting the King. Despite this, Jesus offers forgiveness and reconciliation, transforming enemies into friends, as demonstrated by the thief on the cross who recognised Jesus as King.

The message concludes with the vision in Revelation where Jesus is crowned with many crowns, symbolising the glory and honour given to Him by all who have received crowns of righteousness, glory, and life. Believers are encouraged to submit to and worship Christ the King, anticipating the day when they will see His glory and their breath will be taken away.

1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:05,980 Well good morning everyone. We’re returning today to our series Bearing Witness to 2 00:00:05,980 –> 00:00:11,760 Jesus and I invite you to open your Bible at Matthew and Chapter two. We’ve seen 3 00:00:11,760 –> 00:00:17,000 that after the announcement of the birth of Jesus was made from heaven it was 4 00:00:17,000 –> 00:00:23,299 confirmed on earth by various people who spoke to Mary. Bears witness about the 5 00:00:23,299 –> 00:00:28,340 unique glory of the child that she bore and we’ve noted that each of these 6 00:00:28,440 –> 00:00:36,000 witnesses spoke off a particular aspect of the glory of Jesus. So, Elizabeth spoke 7 00:00:36,000 –> 00:00:41,919 of him as the Lord Why is it that the mother of my lord should come and visit 8 00:00:41,919 –> 00:00:47,200 me? The Shepherds report to Mary the words of the angel that are that a 9 00:00:47,200 –> 00:00:52,520 Savior has been born. Simeon bears witness to Jesus being the Christ the 10 00:00:52,520 –> 00:00:57,520 long-awaited Messiah that the people of God had been anticipating down through 11 00:00:57,520 –> 00:01:03,580 the centuries? And Anna the Prophetes spoke of him as we saw last time as the 12 00:01:03,580 –> 00:01:08,220 Redeemer. Now, today we come to perhaps the most obvious example of all, which is 13 00:01:08,220 –> 00:01:13,459 the Wise Men, who so clearly and wonderfully bare witness to Jesus the 14 00:01:13,459 –> 00:01:17,480 King. Matthew 2 in verse 2 Where is He who has 15 00:01:17,480 –> 00:01:23,440 been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and 16 00:01:23,699 –> 00:01:32,559 have come to worship Him. Now you all know that by tradition these wise men 17 00:01:32,559 –> 00:01:39,580 who worshipped Jesus were themselves kings and the Bible does not say 18 00:01:39,580 –> 00:01:45,139 specifically that they were kings but I believe that there is good biblical 19 00:01:45,139 –> 00:01:50,739 reason to think that they were and that reason comes from the book of Psalms 20 00:01:50,739 –> 00:01:56,440 because on two occasions in the book of Saums we read about kings bringing 21 00:01:56,440 –> 00:02:02,980 gifts to the Lord some 68 in verse 29 because of your temple at Jerusalem 22 00:02:02,980 –> 00:02:10,619 kings shall bear gifts to you it’s a specific prophecy and then in some 72 23 00:02:10,619 –> 00:02:16,240 in verse 10 a prayer may the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render 24 00:02:17,199 –> 00:02:24,440 may the kings of Sheba and Sieba bring their gifts now believing that we do 25 00:02:24,440 –> 00:02:29,119 that, the Bible is the Word of God it is natural for us to ask whenever we see 26 00:02:29,119 –> 00:02:33,539 something in scripture well when did this happen how did kings from the 27 00:02:33,539 –> 00:02:40,000 nations bring gifts to the Lord and I believe that it is very reasonable to 28 00:02:40,279 –> 00:02:47,360 the prophecy of some 68 fulfilled and the inspired spirit inspired prayer of 29 00:02:47,360 –> 00:02:54,360 some 72 answered in the story of the wise men kings who worshiped Jesus and 30 00:02:54,360 –> 00:03:02,020 opened their treasures to honor him with their gifts now the message today is not 31 00:03:02,020 –> 00:03:08,320 so much about the Kings as it is about the King the one who they came to 32 00:03:08,320 –> 00:03:14,279 worship the wise men the kings came on this journey in order to worship Jesus 33 00:03:14,279 –> 00:03:19,660 the King and that is why we are here today we have come to worship the King 34 00:03:19,660 –> 00:03:24,880 and my prayer as I have sought to prepare for today is that the Holy 35 00:03:24,880 –> 00:03:32,039 Spirit would awaken within all of our hearts a fresh love for King Jesus a 36 00:03:32,520 –> 00:03:39,320 joy in him and a fresh commitment to him as the king and as the sovereign Lord of 37 00:03:39,320 –> 00:03:44,619 our lives and so what I want to do today is to paint for you three scenes 38 00:03:44,619 –> 00:03:50,500 relating to the King. The first is the King’s glory, the second the King’s 39 00:03:50,500 –> 00:04:00,179 enemies, and the third the King’s people, scene one then the King’s glory. now 40 00:04:00,179 –> 00:04:04,520 everything that we find in the New Testament has something in the Old 41 00:04:04,520 –> 00:04:11,899 Testament that points forward to it and the story that most obviously foreshadows 42 00:04:11,899 –> 00:04:18,839 the worship of the Kings who come from Gentile nations to worship the newborn 43 00:04:18,839 –> 00:04:24,839 King Jesus. The story that foreshadows that is, of course, the story of the Queen 44 00:04:24,980 –> 00:04:32,260 of Sheba who comes to visit King Solomon. That story is told in the first book of 45 00:04:32,260 –> 00:04:36,359 kings in chapter 10, you can glance back to it if you wish or you might like to 46 00:04:36,359 –> 00:04:42,239 read it later, but in outline the story is this that Solomon the great king of 47 00:04:42,239 –> 00:04:48,160 Israel at that time in the ancient world was known widely for the glory of his 48 00:04:48,160 –> 00:04:52,260 kingdom. It seemed there had never been anything like it and having heard about 49 00:04:52,260 –> 00:04:58,940 it, having heard the rumors, this Gentile queen the queen of Sheba sometimes 50 00:04:58,940 –> 00:05:03,679 referred to by our Lord Jesus as the queen of the south she came to the king 51 00:05:03,679 –> 00:05:10,279 of Israel and when she came she presented him with gifts. One kings in 52 00:05:10,279 –> 00:05:16,100 chapter 10 and verse 1 when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon 53 00:05:16,140 –> 00:05:22,019 concerning the name of the Lord she came in other words rumor had got to her 54 00:05:22,019 –> 00:05:28,959 that the God of Israel had given remarkable wisdom to this king in Israel 55 00:05:28,959 –> 00:05:34,100 and she said well I’m a person who has many many questions. If there is a king 56 00:05:34,100 –> 00:05:38,839 who has the answer to my most perplexing questions I’d like to put my questions 57 00:05:38,839 –> 00:05:44,880 to him and so verse 2 the queen decides to pay Solomon a visit to test him with 58 00:05:45,239 –> 00:05:50,820 questions that’s what the scripture says. The Bible tells us that Solomon 59 00:05:50,820 –> 00:05:56,459 answered all her questions. There was nothing hidden from the king that he 60 00:05:56,459 –> 00:05:59,679 could not explain to her. In other words God gave particular 61 00:05:59,679 –> 00:06:04,399 wisdom to Solomon that as he was asked all these hard questions by this Gentile 62 00:06:04,399 –> 00:06:10,500 queen he was given the wisdom to give wise and Godly answers that brought 63 00:06:10,679 –> 00:06:17,059 light to her. And as you follow the story of this remarkable visit we find that 64 00:06:17,059 –> 00:06:23,140 after the queen heard King Solomon’s wisdom she’s then taken on a tour and 65 00:06:23,140 –> 00:06:28,359 she sees the grandeur, the glory of the temple that Solomon had built. She’s 66 00:06:28,359 –> 00:06:34,660 absolutely wowed by that. But even more emphasis is placed on her visit into the 67 00:06:34,660 –> 00:06:38,779 palace itself and in great detail the scripture records that she saw the 68 00:06:38,920 –> 00:06:43,260 servants and she saw the way the household was ordered and the joy of all 69 00:06:43,260 –> 00:06:50,320 who were in this royal household. And the scripture says this, that when she saw 70 00:06:50,320 –> 00:06:59,100 this there was no more breath in her. Wonderful phrase. We would say it just 71 00:06:59,100 –> 00:07:04,579 took her breath away. She had never seen anything like it, the wisdom of this man 72 00:07:04,619 –> 00:07:11,119 and the glory of the temple that he had built and the sheer joy of all of the 73 00:07:11,119 –> 00:07:15,720 servants in his house. Never seen a royal household like this. Royal houses are 74 00:07:15,720 –> 00:07:20,660 usually filled with intrigue rivalry among all of the servants. 75 00:07:20,660 –> 00:07:24,200 Solomon how do you have a household that’s full of joy and blessing like 76 00:07:24,200 –> 00:07:30,600 this. It just took her breath away. And the scripture says, the Queen says to 77 00:07:30,600 –> 00:07:33,600 Solomon, I’m quoting now 1 Kings 10 and verse 7 and 8. 78 00:07:33,720 –> 00:07:39,179 The Queen says, I did not believe the reports until I came and saw with my own 79 00:07:39,179 –> 00:07:43,920 eyes and behold the half of it was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity 80 00:07:43,920 –> 00:07:46,839 surpassed the report that I heard. 81 00:07:46,839 –> 00:07:51,559 Happy are your men, happy are your servants who continually stand before 82 00:07:51,559 –> 00:07:57,079 you and hear your wisdom. And then what does the Queen of Sheba do next? 83 00:07:57,079 –> 00:08:03,480 She brings out her gifts and for those of you who have 84 00:08:03,480 –> 00:08:09,480 arithmetically minded and like to sort out the footnotes in the Bible in all of 85 00:08:09,480 –> 00:08:15,619 the detail, you can work out, as I did it on my calculator this week, that the 86 00:08:15,619 –> 00:08:25,200 Queen of Sheba had shipped to Jerusalem no less than four tons of gold. Four 87 00:08:25,200 –> 00:08:30,200 tons and if you want to check that out in 1Kings 10.10, it refers to a 88 00:08:30,320 –> 00:08:34,960 hundred and twenty talents and then the footnote tells you that a talent was 89 00:08:34,960 –> 00:08:41,520 about 75 pounds in weight, so go do the math, four tons, that is some shipment of 90 00:08:41,520 –> 00:08:48,000 gold. And I was interested by the way to find out that as recently as three years 91 00:08:48,000 –> 00:08:54,140 ago, the Mines in which that gold from which it was taken, have actually been 92 00:08:54,140 –> 00:08:58,080 discovered by a group of British archaeologists as recently as the year 93 00:08:58,159 –> 00:09:06,380 2012 in Ethiopia, the ancient land of Sheba. So here you have this queen, gentile 94 00:09:06,380 –> 00:09:14,080 queen, and she brings lavish gifts to Solomon and what’s so fascinating is 95 00:09:14,080 –> 00:09:16,900 that in return she receives even more back. 96 00:09:16,900 –> 00:09:22,900 Solomon gave her quote all that she desired, whatever she asked besides what 97 00:09:22,919 –> 00:09:28,419 was given to her by the bounty of King Solomon. 98 00:09:28,419 –> 00:09:30,099 Now you get the picture. 99 00:09:30,099 –> 00:09:36,419 Here’s the most glorious king that Israel has ever had, Solomon. 100 00:09:36,419 –> 00:09:44,080 His glory took away the breadth of the Queen of Sheba, who brings gifts, 101 00:09:44,080 –> 00:09:47,979 four tons of gold and opens these treasures for him. 102 00:09:47,979 –> 00:09:53,460 But Solomon knew one thing that’s right at the very centre of the 103 00:09:53,460 –> 00:09:59,479 Bible story, and that is that God had given to Solomon’s father David a 104 00:09:59,479 –> 00:10:04,919 promise that into this line would come a greater son. 105 00:10:04,919 –> 00:10:11,200 And surely, because that was so central to the whole Old Testament narrative, 106 00:10:11,200 –> 00:10:15,599 so central, therefore, to Solomon’s life, surely it is not unreasonable to 107 00:10:15,599 –> 00:10:20,780 picture him speaking about this with the queen of Sheba. 108 00:10:20,780 –> 00:10:27,059 Queen of Sheba, you’re impressed with what you see. 109 00:10:27,059 –> 00:10:30,580 It takes your breath away, but I want you to know first that it’s 110 00:10:30,580 –> 00:10:31,820 God who’s done this. 111 00:10:31,820 –> 00:10:34,419 He’s the one who gave me the Gift of Wisdom. 112 00:10:34,419 –> 00:10:37,140 He is the one who has prospered me, and any blessing that is 113 00:10:37,140 –> 00:10:41,179 in my house is the gift of His hand. 114 00:10:41,179 –> 00:10:44,719 But I want you to know this, that God promised to my father 115 00:10:44,820 –> 00:10:48,719 that there would be a greater son than I will ever be. 116 00:10:50,599 –> 00:10:54,380 And roll the Bible story forward a thousand more years, and 117 00:10:54,380 –> 00:10:58,320 David’s greater son, the one that Jesus describes Himself as, 118 00:10:58,320 –> 00:11:02,260 one greater than Solomon, is born into the world. 119 00:11:02,260 –> 00:11:03,299 And what happens? 120 00:11:03,299 –> 00:11:06,840 Kings come from afar, just like the queen of Sheba. 121 00:11:06,840 –> 00:11:07,760 Now what do they do? 122 00:11:07,760 –> 00:11:12,760 They bring gifts of gold and they bring gifts of spices. 123 00:11:12,799 –> 00:11:14,859 And they say, Matthew 2 in verse 2, 124 00:11:14,859 –> 00:11:17,780 where is he who is born the King of the Jews, 125 00:11:17,780 –> 00:11:19,960 for we saw his star when it rose 126 00:11:19,960 –> 00:11:23,460 and we have come to worship Him. 127 00:11:25,500 –> 00:11:28,000 Now, put these two stories together 128 00:11:28,000 –> 00:11:30,739 and now project forward to the glorious day, 129 00:11:30,739 –> 00:11:32,539 brothers and sisters in Christ, 130 00:11:32,539 –> 00:11:35,659 when we will see King Jesus. 131 00:11:37,260 –> 00:11:39,440 If the glory of Solomon 132 00:11:40,320 –> 00:11:43,840 and His temple and the joy of His house 133 00:11:43,840 –> 00:11:48,760 could take away the breath of the Queen of Sheba, 134 00:11:48,760 –> 00:11:51,880 what will it be like for us 135 00:11:51,880 –> 00:11:55,179 when the glory of the King of Kings is revealed? 136 00:11:56,359 –> 00:11:58,080 And for sure we shall bring Him 137 00:11:58,080 –> 00:12:01,059 all of our hardest questions, 138 00:12:01,059 –> 00:12:04,020 all that has perplexed us. 139 00:12:04,020 –> 00:12:08,359 And we will listen to the wisdom of His words. 140 00:12:08,359 –> 00:12:10,820 We will see the glory of His temple. 141 00:12:10,820 –> 00:12:14,159 We shall share ourselves the joy 142 00:12:14,159 –> 00:12:16,780 of all of the servants in His house. 143 00:12:16,780 –> 00:12:19,900 We will live under the blessing of His rule 144 00:12:19,900 –> 00:12:22,719 forever and forever, as the scripture says, 145 00:12:22,719 –> 00:12:27,500 we will see the King in His beauty. 146 00:12:28,619 –> 00:12:30,020 And when we do 147 00:12:31,260 –> 00:12:35,760 His glory will take our breath away. 148 00:12:36,739 –> 00:12:39,419 And even though we do not see Him, 149 00:12:39,419 –> 00:12:41,719 now you know, whenever we come to worship, 150 00:12:41,719 –> 00:12:42,880 what are we doing? 151 00:12:42,880 –> 00:12:44,080 When we come to worship 152 00:12:44,080 –> 00:12:46,619 we are anticipating the day by faith 153 00:12:46,619 –> 00:12:48,780 when we shall see Him face-to-face. 154 00:12:49,719 –> 00:12:50,760 That’s why Peter says 155 00:12:50,760 –> 00:12:52,559 even though we do not see Him now, 156 00:12:52,559 –> 00:12:53,780 we love Him, 157 00:12:53,780 –> 00:12:56,859 and we are filled with an inexpressible 158 00:12:56,859 –> 00:12:59,919 and glorious joy even while we are receiving 159 00:12:59,919 –> 00:13:01,440 the goal of our faith, 160 00:13:01,440 –> 00:13:05,159 which is the salvation of our souls. 161 00:13:06,359 –> 00:13:08,200 Scene one, 162 00:13:08,200 –> 00:13:10,479 the king’s glory. 163 00:13:10,479 –> 00:13:11,679 And hasten the day 164 00:13:11,679 –> 00:13:14,840 when faith shall be turned to sight 165 00:13:14,840 –> 00:13:16,979 and our breath too 166 00:13:16,979 –> 00:13:20,080 will be taken away. 167 00:13:20,080 –> 00:13:21,159 Second scene, 168 00:13:22,239 –> 00:13:24,080 the king’s enemies, 169 00:13:24,080 –> 00:13:25,580 the king’s enemies. 170 00:13:26,599 –> 00:13:27,799 Now the Bible as you know, 171 00:13:27,799 –> 00:13:31,840 does not tell us how many wise men there were, 172 00:13:31,840 –> 00:13:33,960 but tradition has it 173 00:13:33,960 –> 00:13:35,119 that there were three 174 00:13:35,159 –> 00:13:37,000 because of course of the three gifts 175 00:13:37,000 –> 00:13:37,840 that were given, 176 00:13:37,840 –> 00:13:39,679 the gold, the frankincense and the myrrh. 177 00:13:39,679 –> 00:13:40,760 So let’s go with that. 178 00:13:40,760 –> 00:13:43,400 We have three kings 179 00:13:43,400 –> 00:13:48,200 and they have come to worship Jesus, the king, 180 00:13:48,200 –> 00:13:50,679 and in order to find him, 181 00:13:50,679 –> 00:13:54,000 they stop off at the palace of Herod the king. 182 00:13:54,000 –> 00:13:57,799 So that’s an awful lot of kings in the story. 183 00:13:57,799 –> 00:13:59,919 And when the wise men go to Herod 184 00:13:59,919 –> 00:14:01,320 who is king over the Jews 185 00:14:01,320 –> 00:14:02,359 and they asked the question, 186 00:14:02,359 –> 00:14:04,760 where is he who was born king of the Jews? 187 00:14:04,760 –> 00:14:08,359 You know for sure that there’s soon going to be trouble. 188 00:14:08,359 –> 00:14:09,960 Herod of course has cunning 189 00:14:09,960 –> 00:14:13,239 and he does not reveal his hands to the wise men. 190 00:14:13,239 –> 00:14:14,859 He says go verse eight 191 00:14:14,859 –> 00:14:16,840 and search diligently for the child 192 00:14:16,840 –> 00:14:18,239 and when you have found him, 193 00:14:18,239 –> 00:14:19,200 well now bring me word, 194 00:14:19,200 –> 00:14:21,640 I too want to go and worship him. 195 00:14:23,119 –> 00:14:25,340 But God who is the fount of all wisdom 196 00:14:25,340 –> 00:14:27,919 revealed to these wise men 197 00:14:27,919 –> 00:14:30,679 that this was indeed a trap and a deception 198 00:14:30,679 –> 00:14:33,280 and so when they had worshipped Jesus, 199 00:14:33,280 –> 00:14:37,239 they returned by another route. 200 00:14:38,580 –> 00:14:43,580 Now Furie then fills Herod 201 00:14:44,659 –> 00:14:48,940 and he determines to destroy Jesus. 202 00:14:50,400 –> 00:14:52,179 And from that note that is right 203 00:14:52,179 –> 00:14:53,520 at the beginning of the gospel, 204 00:14:53,520 –> 00:14:55,520 you get this intense antagonism, 205 00:14:55,520 –> 00:14:57,140 hatred and opposition to Jesus 206 00:14:57,140 –> 00:14:59,280 that goes all the way into the cross. 207 00:15:00,679 –> 00:15:02,760 And I want us to understand this today 208 00:15:02,760 –> 00:15:05,599 that the hatred of Jesus that has gone 209 00:15:05,599 –> 00:15:09,520 throughout human history arises for one reason 210 00:15:09,520 –> 00:15:12,059 and for one reason alone and it is this, 211 00:15:12,059 –> 00:15:15,000 that he is the king. 212 00:15:15,000 –> 00:15:17,380 That’s why he arouses such antagonism. 213 00:15:17,380 –> 00:15:20,539 That’s why he has so many enemies throughout the world. 214 00:15:22,599 –> 00:15:24,179 Now think about this with me, 215 00:15:25,020 –> 00:15:29,440 if the wise man had come to Herod and said, 216 00:15:29,440 –> 00:15:32,140 you know there’s a baby that’s been born in your country, 217 00:15:33,119 –> 00:15:36,280 and God has revealed to us that when this little one 218 00:15:36,280 –> 00:15:41,159 grows up he will do good for many people. 219 00:15:41,159 –> 00:15:42,679 In fact it’s been revealed to us 220 00:15:42,679 –> 00:15:44,219 that he will make the blind see 221 00:15:44,219 –> 00:15:45,559 and he’ll make the deaf hear, 222 00:15:45,559 –> 00:15:48,359 and the dumb speak, and even make the lame walk. 223 00:15:48,359 –> 00:15:52,880 In fact, he is going to be able to feed 5,000 people 224 00:15:52,880 –> 00:15:55,820 with just five loaves and two fishes, 225 00:15:55,820 –> 00:15:57,940 and Herod, here’s something else he can do, 226 00:15:57,940 –> 00:16:00,320 and this might be especially of interest to you, 227 00:16:00,359 –> 00:16:05,179 is that he’s going to be able to turn water into wine. 228 00:16:05,179 –> 00:16:06,700 Well, I think Herod might have said 229 00:16:06,700 –> 00:16:08,260 I could use a bit of that. 230 00:16:09,599 –> 00:16:11,080 Why don’t you bring him into the Palace? 231 00:16:11,080 –> 00:16:12,719 I’ll take good care of him. 232 00:16:12,719 –> 00:16:15,200 I’d like to co-opt him into my regime. 233 00:16:15,200 –> 00:16:17,039 I think this could be very very helpful 234 00:16:17,039 –> 00:16:19,700 to someone who can do all these things for me. 235 00:16:21,619 –> 00:16:23,919 Or suppose the wise men had said, 236 00:16:23,919 –> 00:16:26,760 Herod, a baby has been born, 237 00:16:26,840 –> 00:16:30,700 and God has revealed to us that he is going 238 00:16:30,700 –> 00:16:33,320 to bring remarkable teaching into the world 239 00:16:33,320 –> 00:16:37,119 and especially teaching on how we are to love one another. 240 00:16:38,280 –> 00:16:39,719 I think Herod might well have said 241 00:16:39,719 –> 00:16:41,320 well, you know, we all need that. 242 00:16:43,039 –> 00:16:45,719 What the world needs now is love, sweet love, 243 00:16:45,719 –> 00:16:48,119 that’s the only thing there’s just not enough of. 244 00:16:48,119 –> 00:16:49,479 Can I feel a song coming on? 245 00:16:49,479 –> 00:16:51,000 Not sure that Herod would have sung it 246 00:16:51,000 –> 00:16:54,719 but if that was the message, 247 00:16:54,719 –> 00:16:56,640 I could see Herod saying 248 00:16:56,640 –> 00:16:59,299 bring him to the palace, I’ll take good care of him. 249 00:17:00,840 –> 00:17:03,880 But you see, here’s where the antagonism comes from, 250 00:17:03,880 –> 00:17:05,760 that the wise men, when they come, 251 00:17:05,760 –> 00:17:09,459 they say, a baby is born and he is the king. 252 00:17:11,760 –> 00:17:13,000 And Herod says, wait a minute, 253 00:17:13,000 –> 00:17:14,400 there’s only one king around here 254 00:17:14,400 –> 00:17:15,239 and that’s me 255 00:17:15,239 –> 00:17:17,599 and so anyone who’s wanting to lay claim to king 256 00:17:17,599 –> 00:17:20,400 is laying claim to a throne on which I sit 257 00:17:20,400 –> 00:17:22,199 and there’s only one course of action for me. 258 00:17:22,199 –> 00:17:23,979 I therefore have to kill him 259 00:17:23,979 –> 00:17:26,459 and so right at the beginning of the story, 260 00:17:27,140 –> 00:17:28,699 you have kings who worship him 261 00:17:29,780 –> 00:17:33,060 and you have a king who wants to kill him. 262 00:17:34,800 –> 00:17:38,599 Now, understand this then, 263 00:17:38,599 –> 00:17:42,239 that Jesus Christ the king has enemies 264 00:17:42,239 –> 00:17:43,800 and always will have enemies 265 00:17:43,800 –> 00:17:47,560 precisely because he is the king. 266 00:17:47,560 –> 00:17:50,359 That is why it says he came to his own 267 00:17:50,359 –> 00:17:54,119 and his own received him not 268 00:17:55,040 –> 00:17:57,160 and we still live in the pressure 269 00:17:57,160 –> 00:17:59,219 of this as Christian believers today. 270 00:17:59,219 –> 00:18:01,780 So, let me put it to you this way, 271 00:18:01,780 –> 00:18:04,599 imagine a conversation that you might be having 272 00:18:04,599 –> 00:18:08,199 with a postmodern secularist friend. 273 00:18:08,199 –> 00:18:10,319 Here’s a neighbor or a colleague at work 274 00:18:10,319 –> 00:18:12,560 and they don’t share your Christian faith at all 275 00:18:12,560 –> 00:18:14,359 but this person’s a friend 276 00:18:14,359 –> 00:18:17,199 and he or she really would like to be able 277 00:18:17,199 –> 00:18:19,520 to understand your faith 278 00:18:19,520 –> 00:18:21,719 which seems very strange to them 279 00:18:21,719 –> 00:18:24,020 but to understand your faith in a way 280 00:18:24,020 –> 00:18:26,319 that would be comfortable for them, 281 00:18:26,319 –> 00:18:28,479 a way that they could affirm 282 00:18:28,479 –> 00:18:31,020 and so they’re constantly trying to express it 283 00:18:31,020 –> 00:18:34,359 in a way that they say it can fit one of my categories 284 00:18:34,359 –> 00:18:36,959 and I can be okay with it. 285 00:18:36,959 –> 00:18:39,099 So, here this friend comes and says to you, 286 00:18:39,099 –> 00:18:42,060 yeah, so what you’re saying is 287 00:18:42,060 –> 00:18:45,839 that Jesus is there to help us 288 00:18:45,839 –> 00:18:48,760 when we want him and if we feel we need him, 289 00:18:48,819 –> 00:18:50,579 yeah, I can buy that. 290 00:18:51,640 –> 00:18:54,260 I can see that religion helps people, 291 00:18:54,260 –> 00:18:56,339 it helps some people more than others, of course, 292 00:18:56,339 –> 00:18:58,739 but, you know, and if you feel you need that, 293 00:18:58,739 –> 00:19:01,380 yeah, I can buy that and you say, 294 00:19:01,380 –> 00:19:03,180 well, yeah, but it’s more than that. 295 00:19:04,599 –> 00:19:05,660 Okay, what more? 296 00:19:05,660 –> 00:19:09,619 So, she says to you, okay, I get it, 297 00:19:09,619 –> 00:19:12,439 what you’re saying is that Jesus is calling 298 00:19:12,439 –> 00:19:14,500 all of us to love, I can see that, 299 00:19:14,500 –> 00:19:16,619 I should be more of a loving person, 300 00:19:16,619 –> 00:19:18,500 we certainly need that in the world 301 00:19:18,800 –> 00:19:21,900 and you say, yeah, but it’s more than that. 302 00:19:23,219 –> 00:19:25,900 Now she’s beginning to scratch her head, 303 00:19:26,800 –> 00:19:27,739 what more? 304 00:19:29,939 –> 00:19:31,900 And you say, do you really want to know? 305 00:19:32,979 –> 00:19:34,060 Yeah, go on, tell me. 306 00:19:36,020 –> 00:19:37,420 Okay, here’s where it is. 307 00:19:38,599 –> 00:19:42,579 Jesus Christ is the sovereign Lord of the universe 308 00:19:43,579 –> 00:19:48,579 and what that means is that he lays claim today 309 00:19:49,540 –> 00:19:51,319 to everything that you are, 310 00:19:52,339 –> 00:19:54,660 everything that you have, 311 00:19:54,660 –> 00:19:57,180 and everything that you ever will be, 312 00:19:58,699 –> 00:20:01,459 and she looks at you and she says, get out of here. 313 00:20:04,380 –> 00:20:06,260 The world is always trying 314 00:20:06,260 –> 00:20:09,339 to slim down the message of the gospel 315 00:20:09,339 –> 00:20:11,540 in such a way that it can fit categories 316 00:20:11,540 –> 00:20:13,420 with which we are comfortable, 317 00:20:13,420 –> 00:20:14,819 but here’s the declaration 318 00:20:14,819 –> 00:20:16,300 that’s right at the heart of Christmas, 319 00:20:16,300 –> 00:20:20,959 Jesus Christ is the King and it’s no surprise, therefore, 320 00:20:21,780 –> 00:20:26,099 that when he came to his own, his own received him not, 321 00:20:26,099 –> 00:20:28,420 and you roll the story forward from Christmas 322 00:20:28,420 –> 00:20:31,540 and soon in the gospels you’re getting to the place 323 00:20:31,540 –> 00:20:33,420 where they’re taking him by force 324 00:20:33,420 –> 00:20:36,680 and they’re handing him over to this man Pontius Pilate, 325 00:20:36,680 –> 00:20:39,500 and Pilate has just one question for Jesus, 326 00:20:39,500 –> 00:20:42,219 remember what it was, are you the King? 327 00:20:44,000 –> 00:20:47,459 Then Jesus says to him, my kingdom is not of this world. 328 00:20:48,979 –> 00:20:53,619 The soldiers pick up on this Jesus the King piece. 329 00:20:53,619 –> 00:20:55,859 Oh, the King, we know what to do about that. 330 00:20:55,859 –> 00:20:56,680 What do they do? 331 00:20:56,680 –> 00:21:01,500 They twist a crown of thorns and they force it 332 00:21:01,500 –> 00:21:03,979 onto his head and they go get a piece of purple 333 00:21:03,979 –> 00:21:05,939 and they dress him in this purple robe 334 00:21:05,939 –> 00:21:09,339 and they get a reed and they put it in his hand 335 00:21:09,339 –> 00:21:13,020 to mock a kind of a scepter and then they kneel down, 336 00:21:13,020 –> 00:21:16,819 you remember, in the fake worshiping hymn 337 00:21:16,819 –> 00:21:19,459 and then they get up and they spit on him 338 00:21:19,459 –> 00:21:21,579 and then they take the reed that they’ve put in his hand 339 00:21:21,579 –> 00:21:23,699 and they hit him over the head with it again 340 00:21:23,699 –> 00:21:25,859 and again and again, the Bible says. 341 00:21:25,859 –> 00:21:27,920 And then they nail him to the cross. 342 00:21:29,339 –> 00:21:31,140 And you remember what’s over his head. 343 00:21:31,140 –> 00:21:34,300 Pilate wrote the sign, Jesus of Nazareth, 344 00:21:34,300 –> 00:21:37,680 the King of the Jews. 345 00:21:38,680 –> 00:21:40,880 And the people who are watching, they mock him 346 00:21:40,880 –> 00:21:43,000 and what’s at the center of their mockery, 347 00:21:43,000 –> 00:21:48,000 if you’re the King, why don’t you come down from the cross 348 00:21:48,959 –> 00:21:52,020 and save yourself? 349 00:21:53,359 –> 00:21:58,359 Now, how are we to use this truth of the King’s enemies? 350 00:22:03,420 –> 00:22:04,640 The rejection of the King. 351 00:22:04,640 –> 00:22:06,439 That when the King comes into the world, 352 00:22:06,439 –> 00:22:09,219 the first move of Herod is to seek to kill him, 353 00:22:09,219 –> 00:22:10,760 and when his ministry begins, 354 00:22:10,760 –> 00:22:12,359 it’s the same with the Pharisees 355 00:22:12,359 –> 00:22:13,939 and it goes all the way to the cross. 356 00:22:13,939 –> 00:22:15,640 How are we to use this truth? 357 00:22:15,640 –> 00:22:16,839 Here’s how we’re to use it. 358 00:22:16,839 –> 00:22:18,880 It’s really important for us today. 359 00:22:20,920 –> 00:22:23,060 You see, when you look at the world today, 360 00:22:23,060 –> 00:22:28,060 you may find yourself saying, if Jesus is the King, 361 00:22:28,439 –> 00:22:31,199 why is there so much evil in the world today? 362 00:22:32,599 –> 00:22:34,880 There are many Christians who really struggle here. 363 00:22:34,880 –> 00:22:36,020 You can’t get beyond it. 364 00:22:36,020 –> 00:22:38,680 You’re just going round and round and round in circles 365 00:22:38,680 –> 00:22:39,520 on that question. 366 00:22:39,520 –> 00:22:41,239 If Jesus is the King, if he’s really the Lord, 367 00:22:41,239 –> 00:22:42,160 if he has all this power, 368 00:22:42,160 –> 00:22:43,920 why’s the world in a state that it is today? 369 00:22:43,920 –> 00:22:45,640 And people will ask you this question. 370 00:22:45,640 –> 00:22:47,280 You need to know how to answer it. 371 00:22:48,880 –> 00:22:51,400 And I would suggest you do it like this. 372 00:22:53,119 –> 00:22:55,800 When you feel the weight of the evil 373 00:22:55,800 –> 00:22:57,780 that is in the world today, 374 00:22:58,680 –> 00:23:00,560 you say to yourself, 375 00:23:00,560 –> 00:23:04,359 this is what a world looks like when it rejects. 376 00:23:04,959 –> 00:23:05,800 The king. 377 00:23:06,719 –> 00:23:07,959 If you don’t have that peace, 378 00:23:07,959 –> 00:23:10,219 you’ll never be able to answer that question. 379 00:23:11,579 –> 00:23:13,939 Why is there so much evil in the world today? 380 00:23:13,939 –> 00:23:14,780 I’ll tell you. 381 00:23:15,619 –> 00:23:17,719 This is what a world looks like 382 00:23:18,959 –> 00:23:22,780 when the king has been rejected. 383 00:23:25,160 –> 00:23:27,719 You say, but why did Jesus allow his enemies 384 00:23:27,719 –> 00:23:29,719 to perpetrate all this, this evil? 385 00:23:29,719 –> 00:23:31,040 I mean, he is the king. 386 00:23:31,040 –> 00:23:34,859 He could have called in a million angels 387 00:23:35,119 –> 00:23:37,760 and what they would have done 388 00:23:37,760 –> 00:23:39,579 would make anything in Star Wars 389 00:23:39,579 –> 00:23:42,160 look very, very tame indeed. 390 00:23:44,619 –> 00:23:46,660 But you see, if Christ had established 391 00:23:46,660 –> 00:23:48,439 his kingdom in that way, 392 00:23:49,300 –> 00:23:50,420 you realize the problem. 393 00:23:50,420 –> 00:23:52,939 There isn’t a single one of us that would be in it. 394 00:23:55,020 –> 00:23:58,160 See, this king came to redeem a people 395 00:23:58,160 –> 00:24:01,380 for himself, and in order to do that, 396 00:24:01,400 –> 00:24:05,459 he had to endure all that he did on the cross. 397 00:24:06,219 –> 00:24:07,979 And yes, the Bible is very clear. 398 00:24:07,979 –> 00:24:10,619 One day he will defeat all of his enemies, 399 00:24:10,619 –> 00:24:14,180 but until that day he is very wonderfully 400 00:24:14,180 –> 00:24:16,839 in the business of making his enemies 401 00:24:16,839 –> 00:24:19,280 into his friends. 402 00:24:20,500 –> 00:24:22,500 And today, therefore, this king, Jesus, 403 00:24:22,500 –> 00:24:24,660 offers forgiveness and reconciliation 404 00:24:24,660 –> 00:24:26,420 to all who have been fighting against him, 405 00:24:26,420 –> 00:24:27,819 all who’ve been resisting. 406 00:24:28,520 –> 00:24:31,699 Today, he offers an entrance into all the blessing 407 00:24:31,699 –> 00:24:34,599 and all of the joy and one day all of the glory 408 00:24:34,599 –> 00:24:37,540 of the kingdom that is his. 409 00:24:38,839 –> 00:24:43,300 So the king’s glory, the king’s enemies, 410 00:24:43,300 –> 00:24:46,819 third, the king’s people. 411 00:24:46,819 –> 00:24:50,199 Now, although we find throughout the gospels 412 00:24:50,199 –> 00:24:52,739 that there are so many enemies of Jesus, 413 00:24:52,739 –> 00:24:56,339 you find from the beginning that there are always 414 00:24:56,339 –> 00:25:00,319 some people who stand up and identify themselves 415 00:25:00,319 –> 00:25:03,819 as his friends and give themselves to him 416 00:25:03,819 –> 00:25:06,140 in wholehearted allegiance. 417 00:25:06,140 –> 00:25:07,979 And that’s right in the story here. 418 00:25:07,979 –> 00:25:10,260 His herods determined to destroy him, 419 00:25:10,260 –> 00:25:12,339 but here are three wise men, three kings, 420 00:25:12,339 –> 00:25:15,099 and they come and worship him. 421 00:25:15,099 –> 00:25:16,660 And again, you find this pattern 422 00:25:16,660 –> 00:25:18,979 all the way through the gospels’ story. 423 00:25:18,979 –> 00:25:21,219 There’s one scene that’s particularly poignant 424 00:25:21,219 –> 00:25:24,060 I think for us as Christian believers today 425 00:25:24,140 –> 00:25:26,699 in John’s gospel in chapter six. 426 00:25:27,680 –> 00:25:31,400 There were times when the crowds of people 427 00:25:31,400 –> 00:25:34,680 that followed Jesus, and spoke well of him, 428 00:25:34,680 –> 00:25:37,280 swelled to become very very large indeed, 429 00:25:37,280 –> 00:25:38,819 especially after the miracles. 430 00:25:38,819 –> 00:25:42,099 Who didn’t want to be part of one who could feed 431 00:25:42,099 –> 00:25:44,599 5000 people with loaves and with fishes, 432 00:25:44,599 –> 00:25:47,959 and so the crowd at times became quite large. 433 00:25:49,040 –> 00:25:50,579 But, invariably, what happened, 434 00:25:50,579 –> 00:25:52,859 at some point Jesus would say something 435 00:25:52,859 –> 00:25:55,280 that caused most of them to be offended, 436 00:25:55,280 –> 00:25:58,040 and then they were off somewhere else. 437 00:25:58,040 –> 00:25:59,500 And in John chapter six, 438 00:25:59,500 –> 00:26:02,099 we have a scene that in many ways 439 00:26:02,099 –> 00:26:05,339 is resonant with what many of us as believers 440 00:26:05,339 –> 00:26:08,699 are feeling and experiencing in our own culture today. 441 00:26:08,699 –> 00:26:11,119 What was once a large crowd that’s following Jesus 442 00:26:11,119 –> 00:26:14,300 and people are moving away from allegiance to him 443 00:26:14,300 –> 00:26:17,079 in droves in very very large numbers. 444 00:26:17,079 –> 00:26:19,619 And you remember in John six when that happens 445 00:26:19,619 –> 00:26:21,380 Jesus comes to the twelve and he says, 446 00:26:21,420 –> 00:26:22,439 now what about you? 447 00:26:24,060 –> 00:26:26,140 Lots of friends, lots of people you know, 448 00:26:26,140 –> 00:26:27,739 lots of folks in the school, 449 00:26:27,739 –> 00:26:29,760 don’t want anything to do with me now. 450 00:26:32,060 –> 00:26:32,920 What about you? 451 00:26:34,859 –> 00:26:37,219 Are you going to leave as well? 452 00:26:37,219 –> 00:26:38,660 You remember what Peter said? 453 00:26:40,060 –> 00:26:41,819 Lord where are we gonna go? 454 00:26:43,479 –> 00:26:48,479 Only you have the words of everlasting life. 455 00:26:49,219 –> 00:26:53,680 And you roll it forward to the darkest hour there 456 00:26:53,680 –> 00:26:56,040 at the cross and all of this mockery 457 00:26:56,040 –> 00:26:59,319 that’s focused around Christ the King 458 00:26:59,319 –> 00:27:02,239 and there’s the inscription above him, 459 00:27:02,239 –> 00:27:05,599 nobody wants you as their King. 460 00:27:07,599 –> 00:27:09,660 But right next to him there’s a thief 461 00:27:11,219 –> 00:27:15,439 and it’s as if this guy says, I do, 462 00:27:16,099 –> 00:27:20,699 Jesus will you remember me when you come 463 00:27:20,699 –> 00:27:23,000 into your kingdom? 464 00:27:25,140 –> 00:27:26,739 And there at the foot of the cross 465 00:27:26,739 –> 00:27:29,260 there’s Mary and some devoted godly women 466 00:27:29,260 –> 00:27:31,719 and John the Apostle and they’re saying we do, 467 00:27:32,699 –> 00:27:35,280 whatever it costs, even if it costs us our lives, 468 00:27:35,280 –> 00:27:38,000 you’re our King and we worship and adore you 469 00:27:38,000 –> 00:27:39,800 though all the world hates you. 470 00:27:40,400 –> 00:27:45,400 And then on the third day, he rises from the dead. 471 00:27:47,500 –> 00:27:50,760 The scattered disciples are gathered 472 00:27:50,760 –> 00:27:54,400 and Peter, who is so ashamed of his many failures 473 00:27:54,400 –> 00:27:57,439 is wonderfully restored and Thomas, 474 00:27:57,439 –> 00:27:59,839 who is ashamed of his many many doubts 475 00:27:59,839 –> 00:28:03,920 is wonderfully confirmed in faith and then Christ 476 00:28:03,920 –> 00:28:06,599 ascends to Heaven and where he reigns 477 00:28:06,599 –> 00:28:08,780 as the King forever and forever 478 00:28:09,079 –> 00:28:10,579 and on the day of Pentecost, he pours out 479 00:28:10,579 –> 00:28:13,319 the Holy Spirit on all who believe 480 00:28:13,319 –> 00:28:16,640 and Peter stands up and speaks boldly 481 00:28:16,640 –> 00:28:19,140 and he says to this vast vast crowd 482 00:28:19,140 –> 00:28:20,979 now this Jesus who you crucified 483 00:28:20,979 –> 00:28:23,500 God has made him the Lord and the Christ 484 00:28:23,500 –> 00:28:25,420 and essentially in his messages 485 00:28:25,420 –> 00:28:27,939 asking this question who now wants 486 00:28:27,939 –> 00:28:30,500 to submit to the Savior King 487 00:28:30,500 –> 00:28:33,420 and now there are 3000 people 488 00:28:33,420 –> 00:28:36,760 and all of them say we do, we do, 489 00:28:36,760 –> 00:28:37,760 we want him as our King 490 00:28:37,760 –> 00:28:40,520 and Peter says well then you’d better repent 491 00:28:40,520 –> 00:28:41,760 you’d better be baptized 492 00:28:41,760 –> 00:28:43,040 and here’s the wonderful good news 493 00:28:43,040 –> 00:28:45,239 for you there is forgiveness 494 00:28:45,239 –> 00:28:48,800 and for you there is the gift of the Holy Spirit 495 00:28:48,800 –> 00:28:50,520 and ever since that day the good news 496 00:28:50,520 –> 00:28:52,699 of this Savior King has been spreading 497 00:28:52,699 –> 00:28:54,819 around the nations of the world 498 00:28:54,819 –> 00:28:56,520 Christ the King is in the business 499 00:28:56,520 –> 00:29:00,040 of making former enemies into his friends 500 00:29:00,040 –> 00:29:02,160 the door to his Kingdom is open 501 00:29:02,160 -> 00:29:04,959 it is open here today submit yourself 502 00:29:05,079 –> 00:29:08,319 to this King and enter into all the joy 503 00:29:08,319 –> 00:29:10,959 and all the good of his rule 504 00:29:12,880 –> 00:29:14,839 and you roll the story forward 505 00:29:14,839 –> 00:29:16,439 to the end of the New Testament 506 00:29:16,439 –> 00:29:19,319 and what do you find in Revelation chapter 19 507 00:29:19,319 –> 00:29:21,760 that Jesus Christ is revealed as 508 00:29:21,760 –> 00:29:27,719 the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords 509 00:29:27,719 –> 00:29:29,920 and in Revelation chapter 19 in verse 12 510 00:29:29,920 –> 00:29:32,560 we have this wonderful statement 511 00:29:32,560 –> 00:29:37,599 that on his head are many crowns 512 00:29:37,599 –> 00:29:41,119 try and draw that 513 00:29:41,119 –> 00:29:45,160 one head, many crowns 514 00:29:45,160 –> 00:29:46,079 you can’t draw it 515 00:29:46,079 –> 00:29:49,359 like many things in the book of Revelation 516 00:29:49,359 –> 00:29:51,959 the images are impossible to draw 517 00:29:51,959 –> 00:29:55,560 what they’re given to us for 518 00:29:55,560 –> 00:29:58,319 is to communicate a glorious truth 519 00:29:58,319 –> 00:30:01,280 that’s so clearly communicated 520 00:30:01,280 –> 00:30:03,719 in that marvellous statement 521 00:30:03,719 –> 00:30:06,760 on his head are many crowns 522 00:30:06,760 –> 00:30:09,520 why are there so many crowns 523 00:30:09,520 –> 00:30:13,479 on the head of King Jesus? 524 00:30:13,479 –> 00:30:15,520 well, many of you will remember 525 00:30:15,520 –> 00:30:17,079 and you’ll think of this immediately 526 00:30:17,079 –> 00:30:18,880 that earlier in the book of Revelation 527 00:30:18,880 –> 00:30:20,880 we are given this glimpse 528 00:30:20,880 –> 00:30:23,959 into the creatures 529 00:30:23,959 –> 00:30:25,479 that is, created beings 530 00:30:25,479 –> 00:30:26,959 heavenly creatures 531 00:30:26,959 –> 00:30:28,800 that are around the throne in heaven 532 00:30:28,800 –> 00:30:31,160 god’s heavenly creation 533 00:30:31,160 –> 00:30:33,319 unfallen creation 534 00:30:33,319 –> 00:30:35,760 and we’re told the living creatures 535 00:30:35,760 –> 00:30:38,560 give glory and honour and thanks 536 00:30:38,560 –> 00:30:40,560 to him who is seated on the throne 537 00:30:40,560 –> 00:30:42,560 and then we read these words 538 00:30:42,560 –> 00:30:45,680 they cast their crowns 539 00:30:45,680 –> 00:30:47,359 before him 540 00:30:47,359 –> 00:30:49,119 saying, worthy are you 541 00:30:49,119 –> 00:30:50,199 our Lord and God 542 00:30:50,199 –> 00:30:51,239 to receive glory 543 00:30:51,239 –> 00:30:52,359 and honour 544 00:30:52,359 –> 00:30:53,439 and power 545 00:30:53,439 –> 00:30:54,359 friends 546 00:30:54,359 –> 00:30:56,920 if heavenly creatures 547 00:30:57,400 –> 00:30:59,400 cast their crowns 548 00:30:59,400 –> 00:31:01,400 before the creator-king 549 00:31:01,400 –> 00:31:05,079 what will redeemed sinners do 550 00:31:05,079 –> 00:31:07,800 with whatever may be awarded 551 00:31:07,800 –> 00:31:08,599 to us 552 00:31:08,599 –> 00:31:10,319 by the grace of god 553 00:31:10,319 –> 00:31:13,560 with regards to our saviour-king 554 00:31:13,560 –> 00:31:16,280 see the bible speaks about 555 00:31:16,280 –> 00:31:18,280 crowns that are in store 556 00:31:18,280 –> 00:31:20,280 for christ’s own people 557 00:31:20,280 –> 00:31:23,319 the bible speaks about a crown of righteousness 558 00:31:23,319 –> 00:31:24,400 remember Paul 559 00:31:24,400 –> 00:31:26,119 as he comes to the end of his life 560 00:31:26,160 –> 00:31:28,920 there is laid up for me now 561 00:31:28,920 –> 00:31:30,479 a crown of righteousness 562 00:31:30,479 –> 00:31:32,160 and it’s not just for me 563 00:31:32,160 –> 00:31:32,839 he says 564 00:31:32,839 –> 00:31:34,680 but it’s going to be awarded to all 565 00:31:34,680 –> 00:31:36,239 who have loved 566 00:31:36,239 –> 00:31:38,800 you love the appearing of Jesus 567 00:31:38,800 –> 00:31:40,640 you’re living in anticipation of it 568 00:31:40,640 –> 00:31:43,359 the bible speaks about a crown of righteousness 569 00:31:43,359 –> 00:31:44,000 for you 570 00:31:45,199 –> 00:31:46,079 Peter speaks 571 00:31:46,079 –> 00:31:48,239 to those who extend themselves 572 00:31:48,239 –> 00:31:50,239 in service of a crown of glory 573 00:31:50,239 –> 00:31:51,560 he speaks to elders 574 00:31:51,560 –> 00:31:53,119 he speaks to spiritual leaders 575 00:31:53,119 –> 00:31:54,319 he speaks to those who 576 00:31:54,319 –> 00:31:55,800 shepherd the flock of god 577 00:31:56,199 –> 00:31:58,280 and he says to those who do this faithfully 578 00:31:58,280 –> 00:32:00,119 when the chief shepherd appears 579 00:32:00,119 –> 00:32:03,640 you will receive the unfading crown of glory 580 00:32:05,079 –> 00:32:06,280 for those who suffer 581 00:32:06,280 –> 00:32:09,640 and especially perhaps those who even lay down their lives 582 00:32:09,640 –> 00:32:12,199 the scripture speaks of a crown of life 583 00:32:12,199 –> 00:32:15,239 revelation in chapter 2 and verse 10 584 00:32:15,239 –> 00:32:16,439 Christ himself says 585 00:32:16,439 –> 00:32:19,079 Do not fear what you are about to suffer 586 00:32:19,079 –> 00:32:21,079 be faithful unto death 587 00:32:21,079 –> 00:32:23,719 and I will give you a crown of life 588 00:32:23,719 –> 00:32:25,079 so throughout the bible 589 00:32:25,079 –> 00:32:26,680 it becomes very plain 590 00:32:26,680 –> 00:32:29,239 that in the gift and in the kindness 591 00:32:29,239 –> 00:32:32,359 and in the undeserved favor of our loving God 592 00:32:32,359 –> 00:32:34,199 There are great rewards 593 00:32:34,199 –> 00:32:36,839 and there are great crowns that lie ahead 594 00:32:36,839 –> 00:32:38,599 of all of christ’s people 595 00:32:38,599 –> 00:32:39,800 and here’s the question 596 00:32:41,640 –> 00:32:44,599 what will God’s people do with these crowns? 597 00:32:46,920 –> 00:32:51,880 picture the thief who died on the cross next to Jesus 598 00:32:51,880 –> 00:32:56,280 and he’s got a crown of righteousness on his head 599 00:32:57,959 –> 00:32:59,319 what’s he going to do with it? 600 00:33:00,680 –> 00:33:01,560 he’s going to say 601 00:33:02,680 –> 00:33:06,119 I’m not the one who should be wearing a crown of righteousness 602 00:33:06,119 –> 00:33:08,760 I’m the last person who should have this crown 603 00:33:08,760 –> 00:33:12,359 The only righteousness Jesus that I ever had in my life 604 00:33:12,359 –> 00:33:14,520 is the righteousness that came from you 605 00:33:14,520 –> 00:33:16,520 I know exactly what to do with this crown 606 00:33:16,520 –> 00:33:17,959 I’m going to place it on your head 607 00:33:20,199 –> 00:33:21,560 and here are some elders 608 00:33:21,599 –> 00:33:24,199 pastors, spiritual leaders, Sunday school teachers 609 00:33:24,199 –> 00:33:26,199 those who have extended themselves 610 00:33:26,199 –> 00:33:28,839 in shepherding the flock of God 611 00:33:28,839 –> 00:33:30,599 and they’ve got crowns on their head 612 00:33:30,599 –> 00:33:31,959 crowns of glory 613 00:33:33,160 –> 00:33:36,920 What is this elder going to say in the presence of Jesus 614 00:33:36,920 –> 00:33:37,959 Surely he’s going to say this 615 00:33:38,599 –> 00:33:41,640 I’m not the one who should be wearing this crown 616 00:33:43,400 –> 00:33:45,160 Jesus you’re the good shepherd 617 00:33:45,160 –> 00:33:47,640 in any shepherding I was ever privileged to do 618 00:33:47,640 –> 00:33:51,160 I did to an absolute complete and utter dependence upon you 619 00:33:51,160 –> 00:33:53,400 I know there’s only one place for this crown 620 00:33:54,439 –> 00:33:56,119 I’m gonna place it at your feet 621 00:33:58,040 –> 00:34:01,079 Here’s someone else who has suffered greatly for her faith 622 00:34:02,599 –> 00:34:04,680 She’s endured injustice, loss 623 00:34:04,680 –> 00:34:05,959 Here is a martyr 624 00:34:07,239 –> 00:34:11,560 She laid down her life in some dangerous place in the world 625 00:34:11,560 –> 00:34:13,479 for the sake of Jesus Christ 626 00:34:13,479 –> 00:34:17,320 And now she has a crown upon her head 627 00:34:17,320 –> 00:34:19,080 It is the crown of life 628 00:34:19,080 –> 00:34:21,800 And what is she going to do with it? 629 00:34:21,800 –> 00:34:23,320 She’s going to say something like this 630 00:34:23,320 –> 00:34:27,080 You know Jesus, I’m not the one who should be wearing the crown of life 631 00:34:27,080 –> 00:34:31,000 because you are the one who laid down your life for me 632 00:34:31,000 –> 00:34:34,280 And I’m not here because I laid down my life for you 633 00:34:34,280 –> 00:34:37,800 I am here because you laid down your life for me 634 00:34:37,800 –> 00:34:40,439 and I’m taking this crown right off my head 635 00:34:40,439 –> 00:34:43,000 and I’m going to place it on yours 636 00:34:43,000 –> 00:34:49,959 Now, picture the whole scene of this vast company 637 00:34:49,959 –> 00:34:52,919 The scripture says a crowd that no one could number 638 00:34:52,919 –> 00:34:55,719 And they’re before the throne of God 639 00:34:55,719 –> 00:35:02,060 And there is not a single one of them has a crown on his or her head 640 00:35:02,060 –> 00:35:04,439 Why? 641 00:35:04,439 –> 00:35:07,520 Because all that has been given to them 642 00:35:07,520 –> 00:35:10,280 Has been placed on the head 643 00:35:10,320 –> 00:35:15,580 And at the feet of Jesus 644 00:35:15,580 –> 00:35:18,139 Crown him with many crowns 645 00:35:18,139 –> 00:35:21,340 The lamb upon his throne 646 00:35:21,340 –> 00:35:24,820 Hark how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own 647 00:35:24,820 –> 00:35:31,219 Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee 648 00:35:31,219 –> 00:35:37,139 And hail him as thy matchless King 649 00:35:37,199 –> 00:35:40,500 Through all eternity 650 00:35:40,500 –> 00:35:43,239 Lord, we have come here to worship 651 00:35:43,239 –> 00:35:46,459 And we lift our hearts even now 652 00:35:46,459 –> 00:35:49,840 In praise and adoration 653 00:35:49,840 –> 00:35:53,239 Of Christ, the King 654 00:35:53,239 –> 00:35:55,699 In whose name we pray, Amen

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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