King
Commentary
We throw the word "king" around loosely in the church. We use it often and imagine that everyone who hears it agrees with what we have in mind. What do we have in mind? Do we, like those of the first century, envision some earthly kingdom that comes to pass in time and space? Are we, like them, worried about our part in that kingdom and who will be the greatest?
It is clear that in some ways the New Testament uses the term "king" as a way of portraying the ideal rule that will come as God's gift. The images are associated with the best of kings. Those who have measured up to the highest standards are the models for such a king.
It is clear that for most people of Jesus' day and for the church of the first century, the word "king" seemed to best be understood in the light of earthly kingdoms.
As time has passed, it is clear that not all things attributed to kings are attributed to the Kingdom of God. Tyranny, despotism, cruelty, exploitation, and the like are surely not to be part of his rule and reign. Peace (Shalom), joy, righteousness, holiness, justice, love -- these are the kinds of qualities associated with God's Kingdom.
One can turn to Isaiah 9 and his vision of the Kingdom that is to come and see it in political terms, or one can delve deeper into its meaning and know that something more is meant here and surely something more is understood.
A king is one who merits our devotion and faithfulness, one who has the best interests of his people at heart, and one who will spend his own life on behalf of those for whom he is responsible. Isn't it interesting that the images of the shepherd and the king blend so readily in the best of Old Testament and New Testament literature?
OUTLINE I
God Keeps His Promises
Jeremiah 23:2-6
Introduction: Take some time to do background work on Jeremiah who is known to many as the weeping prophet. Here is a man who is charged with delivering an unpopular message to a people who did not want to hear it. Remember that Jeremiah is the prophet who is left in Jerusalem when the Babylonian Captivity takes place. It falls to him to deal with those in Palestine who have unrealistic hopes and those in captivity who imagine that they will come home soon.
A. Let the Blame Fall Where It Will. Jeremiah lays blame on the priests and political leaders of the nation for the downfall of the nation. God is going to deal with them for their unfaithfulness. Little wonder that he was not liked and managed to offend so many.
B. God Will Save a Remnant. One of the most important doctrines of the Old Testament is the doctrine of the Remnant. It is a proclamation that God keeps his Word, that though the devastation of the nation seems thorough, yet God keeps a nest egg, and that he is one who offers new beginnings to his people.
C. The Vision. Compare the promise of God's raising up a Righteous Branch for his people with that in Isaiah 9. Little wonder that when the Christian church came to a full realization as to who Jesus truly was, they saw such visions fulfilled in him. Even though these scriptures meant something totally different when they were written, they still speak of God's faithfulness and declare that what we have come to know in Jesus is the fulfillment of his promises.
Conclusion: It is interesting to me to note that when the prophets come with a word of judgment, that judgment was balanced by a word of Good News. How often most of us imagine that the presence of God is discerned only when all is going well. We need to learn that God is active in every event, that even when the worst seems to be our lot, he is in the midst of it seeking to work for our benefit. Little wonder Paul could declare that all things work together for good to they that love the Lord.
OUTLINE II
See What God Has Done
Colossians 1:11-20
Introduction: Every church ought to wish that they had a spiritual founder who would pray such a prayer for them. Surely Paul carries a pastor's heart for his people at Colossae. I know of no better way of dealing with this passage than to take it a phrase at a time and expound on it.
A. May You Be Strengthened. There are moments in life when we are on our own and without strength. Such was the plight of the recipients of this letter, and Paul covets a special strength for them.
B. Giving Thanks. There is much to be thankful for. We share in the inheritance of the saints, and we have been transferred from the dominion of darkness to the Kingdom of his Son. This is not of our own doing; it is a gift.
C. A Word About Christ. Here Paul gathers up all the images and words that probe at the glory that we come to know in Christ. Just listen to them: the image of the invisible God, first-born of all creation, before all things, Head of the body (the church), the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. Here Paul summarizes all that Christ can mean to those who trust in him.
D. The Point of It All. Read verses 19 and 20 slowly. Here is the theme that the Gospel of John will pick up so thoroughly in the first chapter. Thus, it was not John who first spoke the Christian message in terms intelligible to the Greek world. Here was Paul, the man who was the bridge from the nation of Israel to the Graeco-Roman world. In these phrases one hears the Word that is essential for salvation.
Conclusion: It is clear that Paul wishes to leave not a shred of doubt as to who Jesus was and is. We need to do the same when we face our congregations. And we need to let them know that all of it was at God's initiative, even when we were and are unworthy.
OUTLINE III
A Miracle Too Far
John 12:9-19
Introduction: John gives the matter of the raising of Lazarus much space. He seems convinced that this was the straw that broke the camel's back, the act that spelled the death of Jesus. One can hear the despair of his enemies in verse 19 as they throw up their hands and admit that everyone is following him. Their desperation is further noted in the fact that, when they hear that Lazarus has been raised from the dead, they plan to kill him. So strong is their disbelief in the Resurrection that they are ready to kill any evidence that what they believe is not true.
A. The Crowd. Who knows what they had in mind. They had seen the raising of Lazarus, and for them that was enough evidence. They were ready to take the next steps and make Jesus their king. They would remember the words from Zechariah 9:9 that portrayed the new king's entry into Jerusalem. Everything seems to come together for them. Surely this is the Day of the Lord, surely this is the time to come, surely the New Age has dawned upon them. Even so, John points out that they do not understand the full implication of what takes place. That will come later, following the Resurrection. Then all things will fall into place.
B. Sign Seekers. Jesus knew that, unfortunately, they were all thrill seekers, that they followed for the wrong reason, and that they were looking for some good thing for themselves. How fickle they would prove to be when he would not fulfill all their visions and lead them to national greatness again. The same people who praised him on this day would cry "Crucify him" at the end of the week.
Conclusion: Ask the hard question. How many of us are really in the church for what we hope to get out of it? How many of us are ready to join the parade and shout hosannas until the going gets rough? How many of us are ready to change sides when the temperature is turned up? Ask these questions.
It is clear that in some ways the New Testament uses the term "king" as a way of portraying the ideal rule that will come as God's gift. The images are associated with the best of kings. Those who have measured up to the highest standards are the models for such a king.
It is clear that for most people of Jesus' day and for the church of the first century, the word "king" seemed to best be understood in the light of earthly kingdoms.
As time has passed, it is clear that not all things attributed to kings are attributed to the Kingdom of God. Tyranny, despotism, cruelty, exploitation, and the like are surely not to be part of his rule and reign. Peace (Shalom), joy, righteousness, holiness, justice, love -- these are the kinds of qualities associated with God's Kingdom.
One can turn to Isaiah 9 and his vision of the Kingdom that is to come and see it in political terms, or one can delve deeper into its meaning and know that something more is meant here and surely something more is understood.
A king is one who merits our devotion and faithfulness, one who has the best interests of his people at heart, and one who will spend his own life on behalf of those for whom he is responsible. Isn't it interesting that the images of the shepherd and the king blend so readily in the best of Old Testament and New Testament literature?
OUTLINE I
God Keeps His Promises
Jeremiah 23:2-6
Introduction: Take some time to do background work on Jeremiah who is known to many as the weeping prophet. Here is a man who is charged with delivering an unpopular message to a people who did not want to hear it. Remember that Jeremiah is the prophet who is left in Jerusalem when the Babylonian Captivity takes place. It falls to him to deal with those in Palestine who have unrealistic hopes and those in captivity who imagine that they will come home soon.
A. Let the Blame Fall Where It Will. Jeremiah lays blame on the priests and political leaders of the nation for the downfall of the nation. God is going to deal with them for their unfaithfulness. Little wonder that he was not liked and managed to offend so many.
B. God Will Save a Remnant. One of the most important doctrines of the Old Testament is the doctrine of the Remnant. It is a proclamation that God keeps his Word, that though the devastation of the nation seems thorough, yet God keeps a nest egg, and that he is one who offers new beginnings to his people.
C. The Vision. Compare the promise of God's raising up a Righteous Branch for his people with that in Isaiah 9. Little wonder that when the Christian church came to a full realization as to who Jesus truly was, they saw such visions fulfilled in him. Even though these scriptures meant something totally different when they were written, they still speak of God's faithfulness and declare that what we have come to know in Jesus is the fulfillment of his promises.
Conclusion: It is interesting to me to note that when the prophets come with a word of judgment, that judgment was balanced by a word of Good News. How often most of us imagine that the presence of God is discerned only when all is going well. We need to learn that God is active in every event, that even when the worst seems to be our lot, he is in the midst of it seeking to work for our benefit. Little wonder Paul could declare that all things work together for good to they that love the Lord.
OUTLINE II
See What God Has Done
Colossians 1:11-20
Introduction: Every church ought to wish that they had a spiritual founder who would pray such a prayer for them. Surely Paul carries a pastor's heart for his people at Colossae. I know of no better way of dealing with this passage than to take it a phrase at a time and expound on it.
A. May You Be Strengthened. There are moments in life when we are on our own and without strength. Such was the plight of the recipients of this letter, and Paul covets a special strength for them.
B. Giving Thanks. There is much to be thankful for. We share in the inheritance of the saints, and we have been transferred from the dominion of darkness to the Kingdom of his Son. This is not of our own doing; it is a gift.
C. A Word About Christ. Here Paul gathers up all the images and words that probe at the glory that we come to know in Christ. Just listen to them: the image of the invisible God, first-born of all creation, before all things, Head of the body (the church), the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. Here Paul summarizes all that Christ can mean to those who trust in him.
D. The Point of It All. Read verses 19 and 20 slowly. Here is the theme that the Gospel of John will pick up so thoroughly in the first chapter. Thus, it was not John who first spoke the Christian message in terms intelligible to the Greek world. Here was Paul, the man who was the bridge from the nation of Israel to the Graeco-Roman world. In these phrases one hears the Word that is essential for salvation.
Conclusion: It is clear that Paul wishes to leave not a shred of doubt as to who Jesus was and is. We need to do the same when we face our congregations. And we need to let them know that all of it was at God's initiative, even when we were and are unworthy.
OUTLINE III
A Miracle Too Far
John 12:9-19
Introduction: John gives the matter of the raising of Lazarus much space. He seems convinced that this was the straw that broke the camel's back, the act that spelled the death of Jesus. One can hear the despair of his enemies in verse 19 as they throw up their hands and admit that everyone is following him. Their desperation is further noted in the fact that, when they hear that Lazarus has been raised from the dead, they plan to kill him. So strong is their disbelief in the Resurrection that they are ready to kill any evidence that what they believe is not true.
A. The Crowd. Who knows what they had in mind. They had seen the raising of Lazarus, and for them that was enough evidence. They were ready to take the next steps and make Jesus their king. They would remember the words from Zechariah 9:9 that portrayed the new king's entry into Jerusalem. Everything seems to come together for them. Surely this is the Day of the Lord, surely this is the time to come, surely the New Age has dawned upon them. Even so, John points out that they do not understand the full implication of what takes place. That will come later, following the Resurrection. Then all things will fall into place.
B. Sign Seekers. Jesus knew that, unfortunately, they were all thrill seekers, that they followed for the wrong reason, and that they were looking for some good thing for themselves. How fickle they would prove to be when he would not fulfill all their visions and lead them to national greatness again. The same people who praised him on this day would cry "Crucify him" at the end of the week.
Conclusion: Ask the hard question. How many of us are really in the church for what we hope to get out of it? How many of us are ready to join the parade and shout hosannas until the going gets rough? How many of us are ready to change sides when the temperature is turned up? Ask these questions.
