1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:06,320 Let us pray. We thank you, Lord, that you're 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:14,200 giving us another opportunity to gather around these stories, to 3 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:22,320 gather around your Son, Jesus Christ, to behold him, to look 4 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:28,880 at him. He, our King and Savior, grant 5 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,920 us freshness even today. Amen. 6 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:40,480 Yeah. History teaches us that one 7 00:00:40,480 --> 00:00:45,920 portrait is never enough. For instance, the life of 8 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:50,280 Abraham Lincoln, our president, is an example. 9 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:57,960 It is quite striking that in the earlier portraits of his life is 10 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:02,120 shown just as a a clean and composed lawyer. 11 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,760 But the portraits later in his life, especially around the 12 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:12,040 Civil War, they show another person, a different man. 13 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:16,840 His face is lined and the eyes are heavy with burden. 14 00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:22,200 Some Civil War portraits emphasize his strength and his 15 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,200 resolve. They emphasize the kind of 16 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:29,680 leader that the nation needed during such a time of crisis. 17 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:36,480 But others capture his sadness and his fatigue, laden under the 18 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:41,720 burden of responsibility. And historians dramatically try 19 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:45,920 to argue that his appearance changed over time. 20 00:01:46,320 --> 00:01:50,920 He looked at different man, worn out and even beyond his age. 21 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:56,440 And in fact, if you place the portraits side by side, indeed 22 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:58,360 you would think this is a different man. 23 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,400 But it's not. He's the same man. 24 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:07,840 Rather, the different portraits cover various aspects about his 25 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:12,840 life and personality as a man of strength, as a man of suffering, 26 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,720 sometimes his leadership or his humanity. 27 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:22,560 So it's the same person can be portrayed differently, but if 28 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,560 you look at all the portraits then you can get a clear 29 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:31,000 complete picture of that person. I invite you to the Gospel 30 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:36,240 reading according to Matthew chapter 21 from verse one up to 31 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:43,800 10 and here we are given 3 images of this man, Jesus Christ 32 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:47,160 our Lord and King. We are presented in different 33 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:51,080 scenes and different angles, each revealing something about 34 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,720 this particular King, Jesus Christ. 35 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:58,160 We are shown 3 portraits. We are shown the portrait of the 36 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:02,840 sovereign King, the portrait of the humble king, and the 37 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:06,880 portrait of the celebrated King which we are going to be 38 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:12,840 examining in this sermon. So in the first scene we look at 39 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:18,440 this sovereign King before anything starts, as Jesus is 40 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:22,280 entering into Jerusalem, he shows us something surprising 41 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:25,360 about himself already, about his kingship. 42 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:30,360 Just as someone who is a director of a drama, he knows 43 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:35,280 everything even before the stage and the cameras are set, all the 44 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,480 details of the scene and the movement and the lines. 45 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,080 The director knows about all those details. 46 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:46,000 Everything is carefully planned by the director. 47 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,720 This is what we see in verse one to three. 48 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:55,080 Jesus sends out the disciples ahead of him as if he already 49 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,360 knew what everything that was going to happen. 50 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:01,800 He knows where the required animals are. 51 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:06,200 He tells them in verse 2 going to the village in front of you 52 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:11,520 and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a coat with her 53 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:14,080 and tie them and bring them to me. 54 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:18,160 He also know what the people in the town are going to respond to 55 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:23,000 the disciples for he says in verse three, if anyone says 56 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:28,440 anything to you, you shall say the Lord needs them and he will 57 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:32,720 send them at once. So Matthew reports that the 58 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:38,320 story, the mission, unfolded exactly as Jesus had said. 59 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,760 Jesus knows exactly how the events will unfold. 60 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,680 There is nothing that is random or accidental. 61 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:50,480 So the King is in control of the events, He's directing the 62 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:54,120 events. He's a king in complete control. 63 00:04:54,280 --> 00:04:57,520 Even in the small details, he's in complete control. 64 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,880 And the sovereignity is further revealed in his title of 65 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:07,800 reference, the Lord. In Jesus's days, this title was 66 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:12,640 reserved for a master, such as a slave owner or even a ruler. 67 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:17,000 So by such reference, Jesus indicates the fact that indeed 68 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,480 is the real owner of the animals. 69 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:26,920 But nevertheless, if I were the disciples, I would find several 70 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:31,680 reasons as to why not to obey this command that Jesus gives. 71 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:37,320 First, the instructions were immediate in a sense that they 72 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:41,760 raised the various questions. Why is He sending for this 73 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:45,720 particular code and why now He has never given us such a 74 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,280 command And why is this saying this thing abruptly? 75 00:05:49,280 --> 00:05:52,160 He has not given us a preamp about anything. 76 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:57,920 Often times we struggle with instructions to trust them if 77 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:00,000 they don't come with explanations. 78 00:06:00,840 --> 00:06:03,600 We often need clarity before we obey. 79 00:06:04,280 --> 00:06:07,680 But Jesus in this case gives direction without full 80 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:11,000 reasoning. The Master often does that with 81 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:13,760 our life. But apart from that, the 82 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:19,240 instructions are also risky. Imagine untying someone else's 83 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,840 animal and you merely say the Lord needs them. 84 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:31,560 That seems not enough. Fear of others and how they will 85 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,360 perceive us sometimes weakens our trust. 86 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:38,680 Sometimes obedience to the sovereign King puts us in 87 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:42,840 socially awkward situations and even risky situations. 88 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:48,560 But apart from that, the instructions also need immediate 89 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:52,080 attention. Jesus does not say Think about 90 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,520 it. When you are ready, find me an 91 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:57,960 animal. He gives a task that demands 92 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:03,680 prompt obedience, and several times when we meet instruction, 93 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,640 we reason that let me process it. 94 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:11,600 Then we plan about that. I I, I don't feel ready for it. 95 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:15,880 Let me first feel ready. But trusting the Sovereign King 96 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:20,040 looks like sometimes acting before everything is even 97 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:24,280 settled. So we thank the disciples that 98 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:29,200 they were enabled to overcome any forms of confusion or fear 99 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:33,200 or even delay. And their obedience is not 100 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,240 because of their willpower alone. 101 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:39,800 It flows because they knew or they know who Jesus is. 102 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:44,160 The whole instructions hinge on that one phrase. 103 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:49,240 The Lord needs them. Trusting what He says is always 104 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:53,920 tied to trusting who He is. And that's why this special week 105 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:58,600 is important to us. It invites us to look keenly to 106 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:02,000 Jesus even through these defining moments of his life 107 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,720 where we see his authority and his humility and his suffering, 108 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:11,280 but ultimately his victory. We see this kind of King for who 109 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:14,920 he truly is. So I invite you this Passion 110 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,840 week to look closely to Jesus and observe him. 111 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:23,080 Because if we see Him clearly, then we are enabled to 112 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:26,080 understand and obey His instructions. 113 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:30,560 How can this look like? I invite you to read these 114 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:34,039 passages, read these stories, find time and read them. 115 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,520 But also I would love to invite you to join us if you are able, 116 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:40,840 for the passion. We can even see at church. 117 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:44,440 We are together. We shall be looking at Jesus in 118 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:49,680 these stories. So in the second scene we look 119 00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:54,960 at the humble servant, and here Matthew draws back the cotton. 120 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:59,960 He tells us plainly why Jesus sends for the donkey and the 121 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,640 cold. So up to this point, Jesus was 122 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:08,600 walking everywhere. He has joined on foot and he's 123 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:11,720 like any other Pilgrim that is coming to Jerusalem. 124 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,320 So why is Jesus changing at this time? 125 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:16,800 He has been walking on foot. Why is he changing? 126 00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:23,480 Because this is not an ordinary arrival, Jesus chooses to ride 127 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,320 not out of need, but for a purpose. 128 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:32,480 It is a visible sign. It is a quite clear declaration. 129 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,960 It is not simply entering the city, but Jesus is presenting 130 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:41,480 himself to the city. Matthew explains this in verses 131 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:46,480 four and five, saying this took place to fulfill what was spoken 132 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:51,680 by the prophet, saying say to the daughter of of Zion, behold, 133 00:09:51,680 --> 00:09:55,760 your king is coming to you humble and mounted on a donkey, 134 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:59,640 and the cold the foul of a beast of burden. 135 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:05,920 By quoting Zechariah, Matthew is alerting us that indeed God is 136 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,520 the director of this entire drama. 137 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:14,440 Long before he had revealed the script through a prophet and now 138 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:20,200 once was that what was promised many years ago is now unfolding 139 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:24,880 right before our very eyes. So this is not just chance or 140 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:30,520 coincidence, it's a fulfillment. Every detail and every step is 141 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:34,480 was planned and is now guided by the hand of God. 142 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,160 And here is the question we must wrestle with. 143 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:43,720 If God is faithful to fulfill His Word, then can we trust Him 144 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:47,200 before He fill His Word even today, even now? 145 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:51,400 It is one thing to admire the faithfulness of the Lord in the 146 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:55,600 past, but it's another rely on Him even in the present. 147 00:10:55,960 --> 00:11:01,120 We can point to the promises and we say fulfilled those promises 148 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:05,600 in those days then, but can we faithfully affirm that He 149 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,160 continues to fulfill His promises even today in the 150 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,880 present, here in this city of Chicago where we are living? 151 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:19,520 So the donkey ride shows us that Jesus presents himself for the 152 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:23,640 first time as a king according to the promises of God. 153 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,240 He comes to the people presenting himself. 154 00:11:27,560 --> 00:11:33,160 But what kind of king is he? He doesn't ride on a chariot, 155 00:11:33,680 --> 00:11:39,000 neither on a War Horse, but he comes on a borrowed donkey, a 156 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:42,560 borrowed donkey. And as the prophet Isaiah tells 157 00:11:42,560 --> 00:11:45,560 us, this is a sign of Jesus. Humility. 158 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:49,520 What is humility is something that is internal. 159 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:54,240 You cannot see it, but what is internal in the King is made 160 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:58,160 visible before us. His humility is not hidden, it 161 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:03,720 is embodied for us to see. And every detail matters in this 162 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:08,480 scene because he also allows that donkey to be brought with 163 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,480 the fowl. He's unwilling to separate them. 164 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:15,200 He lets the parent to accompany the younger one for this 165 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:19,720 particular occasion of service. This portrays the gentleness of 166 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,720 this king. He's the king who has compassion 167 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:29,000 for his people and subjects. So this is our King, who is not 168 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:33,560 adorned in four sons splendor, but he's clothed with humidity. 169 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:38,680 And this is the invitation before us to behold our King. 170 00:12:39,680 --> 00:12:43,440 This is not just a simple command, but it carries weight. 171 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:48,760 There are many things that distract us and which pray to 172 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:52,520 pay us and which stand before us under the King. 173 00:12:53,560 --> 00:12:56,760 When we are called to behold the King, it is a call that we 174 00:12:56,760 --> 00:13:01,080 should shift everything that is causing us not to focus on the 175 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:05,760 King and allow him to be our sovereign and the person of 176 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:10,480 attention in our lives. So the same command that was 177 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:14,520 given to Israel is given to us today to behold the King. 178 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:18,600 So what is taking our attention? We might ask ourselves such a 179 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:22,560 question. What are we focusing on apart 180 00:13:22,560 --> 00:13:25,480 from Jesus? Until we come to that full 181 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:29,640 attention that other things can pull us away from Christ, then 182 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:33,080 we cannot be focused on this man, this our King. 183 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,440 Let me suggest some of the practical ways how you can focus 184 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:41,520 on the King in this week, the Holy Week that we are beginning 185 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:45,320 today. Maybe you can skip an even a 186 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,200 normal activity in your life. Is it a meal? 187 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:50,400 Is it a show, something that you enjoy, a habit? 188 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:54,160 You can skip that and instead read scripture or pray. 189 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:58,840 This is a form of fasting in itself as well, the fasting, the 190 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:02,520 skipping something and using this time to focus on Jesus. 191 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,680 Maybe you can set up times, brief times, either in the 192 00:14:06,680 --> 00:14:10,640 morning, throughout the day and you remember, you try to think 193 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:14,040 about what was Jesus doing during this time? 194 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:17,040 What was Jesus saying around this time? 195 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:21,440 Who was he speaking to? What was he exactly, where was 196 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:23,800 he? And you try, as you are setting 197 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:27,360 this time, you are trying to imagine what Jesus was doing in 198 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:31,360 this entire week. And as we are doing that, I am 199 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:36,240 hopeful that these practices might help us encounter the king 200 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:43,280 during this Holy Week. And now let's look at this third 201 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:45,920 scene where we see the celebrated king. 202 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:51,360 The scene is set by the obedience of the disciples. 203 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:57,560 In verse 6 to 11, Matthew tells us plainly that the disciples 204 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:00,480 went and did as Jesus had directed them. 205 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:05,280 There was no hesitation, no confusion, No Fear, no delay. 206 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:09,400 They went out and performed what Jesus had instructed them. 207 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:15,760 Their faithful obedience allows God is planned to be unfolded 208 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:20,720 exactly as God intended. And this is what we see, our 209 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:24,880 obedience even in the small acts, our daily acts of 210 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:28,680 obedience. They propel the gospel story. 211 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:32,840 Our response to God's instruction becomes the 212 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:36,520 participation in the unfolding of God's purposes. 213 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:42,920 And in verse 7, we read that they, the disciples, brought the 214 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:48,880 donkey and the cold and put on them their clocks, and he sat on 215 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,960 them. We see another action that we 216 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:53,880 are doing. They are saddling the donkey. 217 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:57,640 They are saddling the animals for Jesus by their own 218 00:15:57,640 --> 00:15:59,760 initiative. Jesus is not directing them. 219 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,400 In this case. There is no command that is 220 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,200 given to them. They see the need and they 221 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:09,360 respond to the need. They are not just mere followers 222 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:13,000 of instructions in this case. They are thoughtful and they are 223 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:17,640 willing to do something out of the need that they realize. 224 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:21,920 And here the disciples, they portray a fuller picture of 225 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:26,000 service to God. They are serving both out of 226 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:29,240 being commanded but also voluntarily. 227 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:34,360 They obey what is said, but also they give what is not asked. 228 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:41,800 We may reflect on the aspect of our service. 229 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:47,080 Are we doing only what is required or we are also willing 230 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:50,080 to respond beyond what is commanded? 231 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:54,000 Because our service is not just fulfilling an obligation, 232 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:57,840 sometimes it's responding willingly even when there is 233 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:01,880 nothing, that you are obligated to do this in your capacity. 234 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:06,640 So when we speak about winning service, this intensifies the 235 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:11,599 scene because we later see the crowds also come and join in. 236 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:15,599 Other pilgrims that we are coming in join in with the 237 00:17:15,599 --> 00:17:18,480 disciples. And in verse 8, we read that 238 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:23,040 most of the crowd spread their clocks on the road and others 239 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:27,200 cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 240 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:32,000 We see enthusiasm and they are honoring this king. 241 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:36,440 Their actions turn into a moment of a royal procession. 242 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,960 They lay down their clocks just as they would have done for an 243 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:43,560 important person. In fact, the scene here is 244 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:48,120 similar to a red carpet event like that which we see in Second 245 00:17:48,120 --> 00:17:51,080 Kings that was given to King Jehu. 246 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,520 And if their clocks are not enough, they improvise with 247 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:58,320 branches. They use what they have and they 248 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:05,240 also improvise to honor this king, and they are cornering 249 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:09,600 this person in royalty. But in addition to their acts, 250 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:13,880 they now voice their honor using these words that are drawn from 251 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:17,840 Psalm 118. They are saying hosanna in the 252 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:21,320 highest, Hosanna to the son of David. 253 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:24,120 This is you comes in the name of the Lord. 254 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:29,040 They are shouting this song that other pilgrims would use many 255 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,920 times when they are coming to Jerusalem. 256 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:36,840 But as they're scrying out this, they're expressing 3 things. 257 00:18:37,120 --> 00:18:41,000 They are making a request, they are making a declaration, and 258 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:44,120 they're uttering out praise. What is their request? 259 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:49,080 Their request is simply that hosanna, which means save or 260 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:51,920 help. They openly express their need 261 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:55,400 for deliveries. Though they have some 262 00:18:55,400 --> 00:19:00,320 nationalistic undertones in their cry, expressing a need for 263 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,360 national freedom, but they express a real need. 264 00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:05,520 They need a deliverer. They need a savior. 265 00:19:06,120 --> 00:19:10,040 And then they make this declaration that Jesus is the 266 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:13,320 Son of God. They are not just pointing about 267 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:17,160 a lineage or genealogy, but they are making an affirmation. 268 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:21,320 They are giving him a title that indeed Jesus is the promised 269 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:25,680 deliverer, the one who was spoken about in the Scriptures. 270 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:29,560 And again they praised him, saying blessed is you comes in 271 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:33,240 the name of the Lord. They recognize that Jesus is not 272 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:37,120 coming with his own authority, but he's bearing the authority 273 00:19:37,120 --> 00:19:39,720 of God. His mission is according to the 274 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:44,760 purposes of God. We might ask whether these 275 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:50,320 crowds genuinely understand who Jesus is, but Marshall gives us 276 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,640 an answer as the scene is ending. 277 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:58,600 He tells us in verse 10 and 11 that as Jesus is entering into 278 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:03,840 Jerusalem, the whole city was stared up saying who is this? 279 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:10,440 And the crowds answered, this is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth 280 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:15,200 of Galilee. So still, what we observe there 281 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:19,360 is still mystery. A lot has happened, they have 282 00:20:19,360 --> 00:20:22,200 performed everything, they have said everything, but there is 283 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:26,120 still uncertainty because to call him a prophet we are not 284 00:20:26,120 --> 00:20:31,000 wrong, but it falls short. It is not enough to describe who 285 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:34,000 Jesus is. So there is all the activity, 286 00:20:34,120 --> 00:20:39,000 but still they have not yet received him as the Messiah King 287 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:42,240 who truly he is. So this truly illustrates 288 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:46,760 something that sometimes it is possible to say the right thing, 289 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:50,040 but still misunderstand Jesus's mission. 290 00:20:50,360 --> 00:20:53,360 Then we are quoting this particular phrase from Psalm 291 00:20:53,360 --> 00:20:56,360 118. But they were not understanding 292 00:20:56,360 --> 00:21:01,400 how this phrase indeed, indeed relates to this man, Jesus 293 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,240 Christ. So they were misunderstanding. 294 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:09,400 I think that their misunderstanding was as a result 295 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:13,280 of not looking at Jesus in totality, looking at all the 296 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:18,680 portraits of Jesus, when we look at the entire portraiture of 297 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:22,640 Jesus, we are able to solve this confusion. 298 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:28,440 The three portraits that we have seen, I'm not meant to sit side 299 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:32,640 by side or to sit independently. They are meant to be seen 300 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,840 together. They come to confront us with 301 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:40,000 the reality because the sovereign king demands our 302 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,440 obedience. The humble king demands our 303 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:48,200 trust because he even let us to explain himself humbly to us, 304 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:52,360 feeble as we are. The King explains to us, calling 305 00:21:52,360 --> 00:21:55,680 us to trust him. And then the celebrated king 306 00:21:56,000 --> 00:22:00,560 receives our worship. And when we look or to onto all 307 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:03,760 those portraits together, they don't leave us on a new top 308 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:08,160 ground. We are called to look at this 309 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:12,840 sovereign King because if we only think about him as being 310 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,960 sovereign, we shall obey him just out of fear. 311 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:19,280 You know, if someone is a sovereign person, sometimes we 312 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:23,000 just obey him because you fear him, not because you want to do, 313 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:27,400 but because if he's merely A sovereign king, we would obey 314 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:31,400 him just out of fear. And if he were only a humble 315 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:35,520 king, we might just admire him. And then we don't submit to him. 316 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:39,320 It's just a weakling. Admire him, and then we don't 317 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:42,000 submit. But if he's just merely A 318 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:46,120 celebrated king, we might just join in the crowd and celebrate 319 00:22:46,120 --> 00:22:49,600 him and wave palms and sing along and then walk away 320 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,520 unchanged. Just celebrate and go away. 321 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:59,920 But Jesus is all three in one. Matthew presents us not 3 322 00:22:59,920 --> 00:23:03,600 Jesus's, but he presents us this one King. 323 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:07,880 He wants us to obey Him and look at Him in all his totality. 324 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:12,800 So, dear Emmanuel, I invite you to behold this, our King. 325 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:17,520 Let us respond to Him in obedience, trust and allegiance. 326 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:22,880 Because if we don't do that, who is our King apart from Christ? 327 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:26,920 I welcome you to this Holy Week, The name of the Father, the Son, 328 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:28,760 and the Holy Spirit. Amen.