Sermon Supplement, Lord’s Day, April 1, 2007

Kihei Baptist, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii, Morning Worship Services 

Message: DID JESUS BELIEVE HE WOULD RULE ON EARTH? John 12:12-20

Glenn Armstrong D.D. Pastor

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Some people have a sense of God without a sense of government. Others want a sense of government without God. Either position is wrong as well as impossible. It is just as impossible to perfect government with God by church actions, as it is by the world in general. The last generation of the American church will be remembered by its social involvement. Care must be given to make sure that the sudden sense of social good and moral concern does not sidetrack the serious presentation of the gospel of personal redemption, which alone can change the nature of man. The basic error in the whole of human history is the assumption that flawed man can produce an acceptable social order without divine input. Resisting God’s right to govern was the sin of the garden of Eden. Eating that which was forbidden and unneeded, was the act which demonstrated the refusal of man to obey a simple divine imperative. As creator, sustainer and redeemer, God has the power, right and authority to make commands of His creation of a binding and compelling nature.

This short passage relating the history of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem clearly demonstrated the real tragedy of man’s attempt to govern himself without God. Living under human government without God will end in tragedy; it can do no other!

The historical setting involves both Lazarus and Jesus who already were under the sentence of death as determined by the religious leaders of Israel. Crowds of thousands were camped  across the Kedron valley, onto the Mt. Of Olives and the town of Bethany, waiting to celebrate the great Feast of Passover. Jesus chose this time to go to the temple. The crowd assumed they could force Him into His role of King over all creation ahead of God’s schedule. The Kingdom rule of  Christ is 1)literal 2) earthly, but still 3) futuristic. This passage in Christ’s life leads to the last week, the last feast, the last miracle, the last presentation and the last of His earthly ministry.  

GOVERNMENT UNDER GOD, John 12:12-19

 I. Government under God must be a declared truth, 12:12

            A. At first observation, the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem may seem to be incongruous with His former life of solitude and refusal of the sensational.

            B. The major purpose of this entry was to make sure everyone knew who He was in light of the coming cross of Calvary.

            C. Our governments are pressured to solve problems which are a result of the depraved nature of mankind. This nature is directly the result of sin and rebellion against God and His right to set moral standards for His creation.

            D. Every time creation is rejected and non-theistic evolution is substituted, God is dismissed from the human situation. Nothing hurts the cause of Christ more than religious organizations who teach and support  forms of creation without God concept. Divine government is no longer taught  as the major aspect of  Christian theology. It is often replaced by adapting the church to the world’s views, rather than viewing the church by the eye of God. What God thinks is eternally vital. What the world thinks is comparatively worthless.

II. Government under God will be a joyous occasion, 12:13

            A. Palm tree branches are symbols of joy when connected to the feasts, Leviticus 23:40; Nehemiah 8:15; Zechariah 14:16.

            B. Palm tree branches will be used to express joy by people saved during the tribulation, Revelation 7:9. Palm leaves have been considered a sign of victory and triumph for centuries.

            C. This day of joyful expression stands in public contrast to the dishonor to the Lord as recorded in verse 11 of this chapter.

            D. All creation looks forward in joyful anticipation to the final and finished act of redemption when the Lord returns to put an end to sin, suffering, diseases, and death and removes all restriction associated with the curse of sin, Revelation 21:1-8. 

III. Government under God will be a prophetic fulfillment, 12:14,15

            A. The central theme of the Bible is not only personal redemption, as important as that may be, but rather the absolute rulership of Christ over all His creation.

            B. God pronounced the rulership of the Redeemer in His promise to Jacob, Genesis 49: 8-11. This promise was fulfilled in part with Christ’s entry into Jerusalem.

            C. The fulfillment of God’s message to Jacob will be in the “last days”, 49:1. There are three sets of last days in the Bible, 1) the last days of Israel 2) the last days of New Testament times 3) the last days of the church.

            D. Daniel 9:25 includes the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem and when totally fulfilled speaks of: the end to disobedience, end of rebellion, reconciliation, bringing in righteousness, fulfills prophecy, and announces the King.

            E. John 12:14 is a quote from Zechariah 9:9.

            F. In this passage of John, Jesus makes an official offer of a kingdom. This kingdom offer was refused and the king crucified. Following the resurrection, Jesus again taught forty days in regard to the kingdom. Following Israel’s refusal to receive Him as King, as presented by the Holy Spirit, the offer of the kingdom is postponed and the church started. The stoning of Stephen is often cited as the turning point in the kingdom becoming futuristic.

            G. Do not make the mistake of substituting the church for the kingdom. There are many differences and have little in common.   

IV. Government under God is a spiritual reality, 12:16

            A. The disciple’s confusion is understandable in light of their expectation that Jesus would become king, a theocratic kingdom would be established, and they would have places of leadership in the kingdom.

            B. The question of the exact timing of the kingdom continued to be the subject of the disciples following the resurrection, Acts 1:6.

            C. With nearly two-thirds of the scriptures relating to the Kingdom of God, the subject is still vital to an understanding of eschatological doctrine.

            D. Only a literal earthly kingdom with Christ as King will fulfill the spiritual implications of the kingdom passages.  

            E. The universal government of God will become a literal reality, Revelation 19:15, 16. While the Lord has ruled in millions of human hearts, he has not ruled as King over any earthly government.

V. Government under God will be miraculously conceived, 12:17-18

            A. John relates the miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead to the Kingship of Jesus. Both will be miracles.

            B. Just as certain as Lazarus was raised, so will be the rulership of Jesus. Neither are the results of nature, nor the nature of man.

            C. Jesus gave detailed information regarding the coming kingdom in Matthew 24:25-31 and 25:31-46.  

VI. Government under God will be a surprise to the unregenerate, 12:19

            A. The religious leadership did not understand the offer of the kingdom. They saw only political implications and  the possible loss of positions.

            B. Their conclusion that the “whole world is gone after him”, must be understood in the general sense of wanting Jesus to be their earthly leader, not in the particular sense of following Him in redemptive belief.

            C. The same crowd that cried “Hosanna” was part of those who cried “crucify Him” four days later, John 19:15.

            D. The futuristic activities of the Lord will be a surprise to the world in general, but should not be to the believer, I Thessalonians 5:1-6.

            E. When Jesus comes to be King, it will be: 1) with His saints, not for them, 2) on a horse, not a donkey, 3) to make war, not peace, 4) in judgment, not forgiveness, 5) to be an earthly king, not a spiritual king.

Application:

Any person can submit to the King right now for: 1) salvation 2) service 3) sense of duty.             

GAA 4/1/2007 (f)