Sunday Recap for 3/25: How does Jesus’ kingship relate to your fear?
Sunday, March 25, Evident Grace Fellowship looked at John 12:12-19:
John 12:12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
We attempted to answer this Big Picture Question:
How does Jesus’ Kingship relate to your fear?
We found these three answers to our Big Picture Question:
- He is Present
- He is Appointed by God
- He Offers Something the World Doesn’t
He is Present
John 12:12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”
Jesus arrives in Jerusalem soon after raising Lazarus from the dead. This miracle draws a crowd that is hopeful that Jesus is the promised king and messiah. As He enters the town, the people cry, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. The king of Israel.”
The people declare that the long-promised king has come. The king is present.
Friends, your king is present. Jesus is that king. His kingship is both a declaration of the end of your fear and the promise that you have no need to ever fear again
But we do fear, don’t we? Thankfully, King Jesus is…
He is Appointed by God
John 12:14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
Jesus’ riding through Jerusalem on a donkey fulfilled this promise of Zechariah 9:9. Jesus was appointed by God to be your king, and His arrival is the declaration that the reason for your fear is gone.
He offers something the world doesn’t
John 12:16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
Jesus is different than every other thing that world offers. The Pharisees think chasing after Him is a waste of time. The disciples realize that He is the appointed king. The world offers its own ideas of what is right and what is best. Christ offers His Kingship. He offers the end of guilt. He ends our shame. He ends the trusting of ourselves.
Big Picture Question: How does Jesus’ Kingship relate to your fear?
Truth: Jesus’ appointed presence alleviates your fear as you withdraw from the anxiousness of this world.
Application: Live knowing that Jesus’ intimate presence in your life is intended to grow a comfort and confidence in you.
Action: Jesus’ kingdom is graceful and fearless. Your kingdom is graceless and fearful. Choose this day who you will serve.