That’s my King!
Luke 23:33-43
Our gospel reading today is one that we are all familiar with but one that would be typically read closer to Easter rather than Christmas. So, why are we looking at it today? I want to pull some lesser spoken truths from this section of Luke's gospel that will hopefully encourages us to think about who Jesus is to us in our lives?
We all know who Jesus is from the stories we have heard in the Bible, but how many of us Know Jesus personally? How many of us know who He is because we have a relationship with? How many of us truly grasp what He has done?
Today, It is my earnest prayer that we will ALL get to know Jesus just a little more, but not only that, I pray that we will allow that knowledge to lead us into a deeper relationship and that we will allow that relationship to change our lives.
One of the most profound questions in the Bible happens in that discussion between Jesus and Simon Peter... He says "What about you? Who do you say that I am?". Jesus get's His disciples to tell Him what the world says about Him so they realise that the world does not know Him... Those who do not have a relationship with Jesus do not know Him...
Our gospel reading in Luke today shows us a group of leaders who do not know Jesus and a criminal who doesn't know Him, but we hear of one of the criminals who knows exactly who Jesus.
In v34 of Luke 23 we see Jesus praying on behalf of those scoffers and the mockers, asking His father to forgive them for they do not know what they do. . . You see they knew had heard all of these stories about Jesus, they had even witnessed some of the miracles. They said in verse 35 that "He can save others, why can't He save Himself?"... So they knew what Jesus had done for others, they knew the stories about Him... but they did NOT KNOW HIM! ...
The world knows about Jesus. He is in History books, He is in RE lessons in schools (although that is becoming less and less the case these days)... But the reality is the world Knows about Jesus... they have heard of the amazing things He has done... So why isn't the world changed? . . . the answer is simple... the world does not know WHO JESUS IS.
In verse 35 we see the crowds standing back as the leaders of the time scoffed at Jesus... Who speaks for you? Do we rely on those who are in the world to speak for us? Or do we allow God to transform us to become a leader with a different message? We can sit back and allow the world to mock God and not believe in Him... or we can stand up and tell the world a different message.
The world wants to celebrate a defeated King but that king can't disrupt their lives. That is why the soldiers placed the sign above Jesus head.. because they wanted people to see a defeated King. The world accepts this view of Jesus because it shows a king who they don't have to put much effort into worshipping... It shows them a king that they don't have to change their lifestyles for. One that can be forgotten and discarded... But that's not who Jesus is... He didn't remain on the cross or in the grave but He rose again with authority and a Kingdom that has no end... It is our job to show the world this resurrected King who changes lives, who heals, restores, forgives and sets free the captive, who is coming again bringing the fulness of His Kingdom!
Can I be bold?... Some may be offended by this but the gospel wasn't given to us in order to remain a dead gospel. Jesus wasn't crucified on a cross to stay in the grave ... He was given that we may have life ... a transformed full life... sometimes that transformation can be uncomfortable, sometimes the gospel can be a little uncomfortable... But Can I be bold... Here it goes lol... If we don't believe that Jesus can heal, restore, do miracles, signs and wonders today... then we are just the same as the world remembering Jesus o a cross and not remembering a conquering King full of Love, mercy, and Justice!
The world mocks and rejects Jesus, just like the criminal did in verse 39... because just like the criminal they have no hope. The world is dying, the world is in pain, and they have no hope, no joy and no freedom... Why... because they do not know JESUS!
Do we really comprehend today what we have when we have Jesus? Do we truly get it?
Do we understand that we inherit a kIngdom that has no end? That we can drink from a well that can never run dry? If we did... if we truly did... then this church would be standing room only... if we truly grasped who Jesus was we would see people coming to faith on the streets, we would see revival in our towns, we would see people being healed, set free and restored up and down this peninsula... if we truly grasped who Jesus is .... then... we could not stay silent...
v42 tells us of the other criminal who did grasp who Jesus was... we know this because he corrected the other criminal by saying "Do you not fear God? We deserve to die for what we have done, but not this man... not Jesus... " He knew who Jesus was, He knew that he was bringing a Kingdom and He knew that the only way to be a part of that Kingdom was to allow Jesus to transform his life, even at the point of death... The reality is... just as this criminal was dying, he was never more alive!
We need to be full of life... that gift that God has given, even when we don't deserve it. Gensis talks about the breath of God filling Adams lungs and bringing him to life... I preached a few weeks ago about the dry bones forming skeletons and then flesh attaching to the bones, but they were not complete until the breath of life had filled their lungs... That breath is the Holy Spirit... that Life... is the holy spirit... when we realise and accept the Holy Spirit we are brought to life. To live a life in the KINGDOM...
The rest of that scripture from Matthew, when Jesus asks Simon Peter "Who do you say that I am goes on to say...
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[d] loosed in heaven.”
This is what it means to live a life in the Kingdom. whatever is bound on earth will be bound in heaven and whever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. But look... Why does Jesus talk about the church? If we just read this scripture it looks like an add on... an extra comment... but its deeper than that... its all connected... Jesus is saying here that the Kingdom needs to be evident in the church! The church needs to be the place where we see pain dealt with, where we find joy, where tears are wiped away! The church needs to represent the KINGDOM!!! We ... THE CHURCH... Need to represent the Kingdom!
Jesus was saying to this criminal on the cross... that if you truly see who I am, you will witness the kingodm... Jesus is saying that to His church today... If you truly see who I am you will witness the kingdom?
When we make Jesus the King of our lives today, we inherit His Kingdom
I want to finish by asking you a question... How would you describe Jesus?... If there were enough words to describe Jesus, may it would sound similar to how SM Lockridge described Him... I wan to finish by reading you what he said...
He’s the King of righteousness.
He’s the King of the ages.
He’s the King of Heaven.
He’s the King of glory.
He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords.
Now that’s my King.
Well I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him?
Don’t try to mislead me. Do you know my King?
My King is the only one whom there are no means of measure can define His limitless love.
No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.
He’s enduringly strong.
He’s entirely sincere.
He’s eternally steadfast.
He’s immortally graceful.
He’s imperially powerful.
He’s impartially merciful.
That’s my King.
He’s God’s Son.
He’s the sinner’s saviour.
He’s the centrepiece of civilization.
He stands alone in Himself.
He’s honest.
He’s unique.
He’s unparalleled.
He’s unprecedented.
He’s supreme.
He’s pre-eminent.
He’s the grandest idea in literature.
He’s the highest personality in philosophy.
He’s the supreme problem in high criticism.
He’s the fundamental doctrine of proved theology.
He’s the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion.
That’s my King.
He’s the miracle of the age.
He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously.
He supplies strength for the weak.
He’s available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He’s strong God and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleanses the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharged debtors.
He delivers the captives.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.
Do you know Him?
Well, my King is a King of knowledge.
He’s the wellspring of wisdom.
He’s the doorway of deliverance.
He’s the pathway of peace.
He’s the roadway of righteousness.
He’s the highway of holiness.
He’s the gateway of glory.
He’s the master of the mighty.
He’s the captain of the conquerors.
He’s the head of the heroes.
He’s the leader of the legislatures.
He’s the overseer of the overcomers.
He’s the governor of governors.
He’s the prince of princes.
He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords.
That’s my King. Yes. Yes. That’s my King. My King, Yes.
His office is manifold.
His promise is sure.
His light is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His Word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Well. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He’s indescribable. Yes.
He’s incomprehensible.
He’s invincible.
He’s irresistible.
I’m coming to tell you, the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explaining Him.
You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hands. You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him.
Well, Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him.
Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn’t kill Him.
Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him.
That’s my King. Yes.
He always has been and He always will be.
I’m talking about He had no predecessor and He’ll have no successor.
There’s nobody before Him and there’ll be nobody after Him.
That’s my King! That’s my King!
Do you know Him?....
Let us pray...
Lord Jesus, we simply pray that we would know you more... We declare you as king of our lives, King of this church... King of this parish... and we pray that all would come to know you...
Amen.
