Christ the Lowly Conquering King of Sinners
(Message delivered by Pastor at the RELC 10.30 am Service, Apr 04, 04)
Text: Matt. 21:1-17
Today is Psalm Sunday the beginning of the Holy Week which leads to Maundy Thursday the night Jesus was betrayed and to Good Friday when our Lord was crucified and buried and to happy Easter Lord’s Day when Christ rose from the dead. It is our Church’s custom to observe Holy Week which starts with Palm Sunday.
Palm Sunday is so called because when Jesus ceremonially rode a lowly ass into Jerusalem in fulfilment of Zechariah’s prophecy 500 years before, all Jerusalem came to greet Jesus with palm fronds and tree branches to celebrate Jesus’ Kingship. Today there are some churches that celebrate Palm Sunday carrying palm leaves and marching in their church compounds. In fact He is God’s Son and that is the least honour he should receive.
When the children sang Hosanna, a praise word which means, Save, I pray, to God, the chief priests and scribes, Pharisees, were displeased. But Jesus readily accepts such words of adoration to Him as He comes to be their King. He silenced them, quoting Ps. 8, “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.”
He is the King to those who worship and turn in humility to Him, King to the despised harlots and tax collectors now repenting of their sins. Yes you and I who realise we are sinners need Jesus, and are not rejected. Since you came to this Church six months ago have you asked Jesus to save you? If you still haven’t it is now or it may be too late.
Jesus knows our weaknesses. He forgave the woman taken in adultery. He forgave her and said to her, go and sin no more. I believe she did what the Son of God said and was forgiven. Jesus resists the proud and hypocritical Pharisees but He loves repentant sinners.
When you truly come to Him for salvation He will take good care of you, like your King. Our government can help you somewhat in times of hardships like these. But He is God and He can do much more for you. As a prodigal son you lost touch with your father. Now that you know how to call on Him, you will experience His answering your prayers.
But Jesus is soon coming back again, not as a lowly, conquering King of sinners but as King of kings and Lord of lords, as King of the whole world. He will set up His Capital in Jerusalem. The present struggle between Jews and Palestinians will lead to WWIII and the end of the world, perhaps during our lifetime. Rev. 9:13-16 ominously reveals how WWIII will break out from Iraq again. He will come with His saints riding on a white horse and rule this earth 1,000 years. We who are alive when He comes from heaven will not die but be changed and live forevermore with Him during the 1,000 golden years. We will never be in difficulty earning a livelihood. But this will not be yours until you have repented. Let us make right this Holy Week with our God and be saved.
Golgotha, or Calvary, “the place of a skull” (Lk. 23:33)
