Jeremiah 23:1-6; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43

Our world is in a mess; it has been ever since the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden – through the ages people have disappointed and grieved our creator God - time and time again – with kings killing God’s messengers –prophets and priests. Time after time they moved further away from their God - the one who - rescued them from Egypt – sustained them in the wilderness – rescued them from their enemies – who helped them to take and occupy the promised land as they defeated those rising against them. And still they rejected Him – just as people do today!

“Finally, he sent his son [Jesus –the King of heaven] to them, hoping,they [would] respect [His] son – [and] they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him …” (Matt21: 37&39) – hanging Him on a cross between two criminals. The ultimate rejection of their God and His Son Jesus the Christ- the King of heaven and earth – who rose victorious over death on the third day – the earth shook and shuddered on that Friday - while heaven rejoiced and celebrated three days later - as the King of Glory Jesus rose again

 Jesus Christ the King‍

Jesus wasn’t part of the Pharisees and Sadducees’ plan – He challenged their rule so they killed Him - the hope of the world (Rom 15:12)– the one we know as Jesus the Son of God the one we know as the

·       Kingof the Jews (Mark 15;2)

·       ShepherdKing (Ps 23)

·       Servant King

·       Suffering King (Luke 23:33)

·       Kingof the ages (1 Tim 1:17)

·       Kingof Righteousness (Heb 7:2) - Melchizedek

·       King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19:16)

·       Kingof Peace (Eph 2:14)

Jesus the Shepherd King - who came looking for His lost sheep [us] in the wilderness of our world (Matt18:12) – emptying “himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness … [who] humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”(Phil 2:7-8) Through whom Paul tells us – “God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven by making peace through the blood of his cross” (Col 1:20) – this is Good News!! Jesus the perfect and sufficient sacrifice to bring ALL people back to His Father – A once and sufficient sacrifice - for all time. Jesus the Son of God – the Shepherd King – was sent by his Father to find us - in the wilderness of this world - and “to bring [us] back to [God’s] fold” (Jer 23:3) – “so that everyone who believes in him [would] not perish but [would] have eternal life” (John 3:16) – we are not here by accident!!

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Jesus is indeed a King – a King like no other king! – He is the King of Kings! Throughout the history of Israel – most of their kings had led their people away from God and to the very point of imminent destruction and or deportation to otherkingdoms. Kings like Jehoiakim, Jeroboam, Ahab, Nadab and Manasseh did “what was evil in the sight of the Lord” (2 Kings 8:27) – they “… scattered [God’s] flock, … ] and left them alone as easy targets in the wilderness of the world.]’ (Jer 23:2)

They had worshipped carved images (a golden calf(Exodus 32:1-8) and put them in places meant for God’s worship – they erected altars to Baal - they worshiped Asherah poles (2 Kings 17:10) and other gods – they led thepeople away from God

In Jesus we see a King who would personally confront and challenge the enemies of God - and in doing so - give His own life – to save His people. Jesus our King – entered the battlefield of our world - and confronted and did battle against the evil that had “scattered the sheep of [God’s] pasture”(Jer 23:1). As He hung and died on the cross - Jesus – the “King of the Jews” (Luke 23: 33-43) was - abused - humiliated – condemned –mocked – taunted – derided – reviled – and sneered at by the masse. While a Centurion and those with him keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, truly this man wasGod’s Son.” (Matt 27:54)

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He “was wounded for our transgressions [sins], crushedfor our iniquities; [crimes]- upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises [injuries] we are healed”(Isaiah 53:5). Through His victory over evil and death on the cross – Jesus - rescued “… us from the power of darkness … [and] transferred us into [His] kingdom”of righteousness and light (Col 1:13) – this isGood News!! King Jesus the Messiah - was indispensable in saving God’s people – it was through His death that His people - would live and be saved – this is mercy. Jesusour King of – love – grace - mercy and forgiveness and justice laid down his life for us “so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9) – this is Good News!!

Jesus is our King - “David’s righteous Branch” (Jer 23:5) Jesus - himself reminds us that “No one has greater love than this, [than] to lay down one’s life for one’s friend” (John 15:13). Jesus our King is likeno other - “he shall reign [forever] as king and deal wisely and shall execute justice and righteousness inthe land.” (Jer 23:5) – Jesus is our refuge - our strength - our very present help and our stronghold (Ps 46) for all time – this is Good News!! There will be a day –when dangerous world leader’s – knees will bend and their tongues confess that Jesus Christ is – King and Lord of ALL - He is coming again for us - His bride the church

Message for us today

God promised a righteous king - who would deal wisely - execute justice and righteousness – His promise was fulfilled through His Son Jesus the King of kings – this is Good News!! Born in Bethlehem - killed on a hill outside of Jerusalem – raised victorious from the dead in a garden - is now seated at his Father’s right hand. In Jesus God has fulfilled his promises

We - are loved- have been saved - are forgiven - have the gift of the Holy Spirit - will be with Jesus for ALL time – this is Good News! The cross of Jesus 2000 years ago is our cross today – ‘… He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins’ (Colossians 1:13-14) – this is love!!

Jesus – the ‘first born of all creation’(Jer 23:3) – in whom “all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Col 1:19) – has brought us back to His flock as heirs of His Kingdom –this is grace!! Through His victory over death, we enjoy the promise of eternal life – through His ascension we have an advocate who intercedes continually with his Father on our behalf – this is our hope!!

Jesus is our King – He is a king! like no other king – He is the Son of God! – Israel’s Messiah! - and He will reign for all eternity! We will be with Him forever! – This is our promise!!

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We have arrived in Jerusalem.

Jesus has been betrayed by Judas, arrested in the gardern, taken to Caiaphas who said it is better for one man to die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed. He was sent to Herod Antipas who laughed and ridiculed him. He was brought before Pilate where he was flogged, beaten, mocked, a purple robe put upon Him and a Crown of thorns was placed on His head. Then he was sent on His way to Golgotha where Jesus would be crucified upon a well-used and beaten cross.

God's son and Emissary would die to pay the price for out sins which were put upon Him as he hung and died upon that cross and making us to look as white as snow in the eyes of His father.

Jesus died so that we would not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). He came not to condemn the wolrd but the save the world (John 3:17). Yet the world did not know Him (John 1:10) like the centurion keeping watch over Jesus, who at the finish, would proclaim "Truly this man was God's son!" (Matt 27:54).

They crucified Him then and our world is still crucifying Him today.

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We live in a time of much conflict – Ukraine/Russia – Israel/Gaza – Israel/Lebanon – USA/Iran – Israel/Iran – and maybe in the future the USA/Cuba is next - Yemen. We hear in the news of 16,000 US military being sent tothe middle east – 140,000 Israeli reservists activated – modern day warriors/liberators being called into action.

In today’s gospel we read about of a different kind of Messiah, warrior, Liberator, a Kingdom warrior – Jesus - Messiah, who entered the battlefield of our world. From the apostle Peter we read“You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” (Matt 16:16) Not a liberator in a worldly sense - but a liberator in a Kingdom of God sense - coming to redeem ALLpeople – “God desires everyone to be saved and come to aknowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim2:3) No - sword, horse, spear, rockets, drones, tanks, or bombs for Jesus - His weapons were - the love, grace, mercy,forgiveness, justice and truth of His Father A new type of warrior who came“… not to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved.”(John 3:17) Jesus, a Liberator, in whom His Father’s love, grace and peace overflowed from every pore of His very being– “Grace, mercy and peace will be with us from God the Father, and fromJesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.” (2 John 1:3)

We read more about this Liberator – Jesus- in today’s passage from Philippians “… though he was in the formof God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness … he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on across.” (Phil 2:(6-8)

His entry into our world was a covert operation – a baby born in Bethlehem - to the virgin Mary – His Father the Holy Spirit – “… she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” (Matt1:18) Not a battle-hardened warrior,equipped with weapons and coming on a horse ready to challenge and defeat the status quo – instead “Lo, your king comes to you triumphant and victorious He is, humble and riding on a donkey …” (Zach9:9) His profile and mission have ramped up from a being a village carpenter – to a Saviour, prophet, king, teacher and Rabbi – who brought with Him a new and better Covenant – of Love, grace and mercy - than the accepted covenant of the rigid Law. Jesus ushered in the opportunity for a new beginning for the known world – “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) would proclaim the coming of a new Kingdom – the Kingdom of God

Jesus the servant King, who came not to be served but to serve – His mission was at the interface between the Old and the New Covenant establishment with new teaching – 2 tectonic plates – the old thought they had won but the new made a final push from the cross– the old had rejoiced at His death but the heavenly hosts rejoiced as rose victorious from the dead, “They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mark1:22). Yet the establishment identified him as a blasphemer and troublemaker - He was targeted by the Pharisees and the Sadducees – now He is on His way to His next battle - the cross

Let’s just recap a bit - there was the last supper and the sharing of bread and wine with His disciples – He was betrayed by His disciple Judas – with a kiss on the cheek – “…His disciples deserted Him and fled.” (Matt 26:65) He was denied three times by Peter – “I do not know what you are talking about … I do not know the man… I do not know the man! At that moment the cock crowed.” (Matt26:72-74) He was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane - taken to Caiaphas the High Priest and tried - the Pharisees - and the others who shouted Hosana as He came into Jerusalem on a donkey – now called for His death by Crucifixion

And we pick up the story with Jesus, Messiah and Kingdom warrior - standing before the Roman Governor - Pilot in today’s Gospel passage – “… and the governor asked Him, are you the King of the Jews?” (Matt 27:11 NRSV) “Jesus said to him, it is asyou say.” (Matt 27:11 NKJV) But Pilot wants nothing to do with the death of Jesus - but he can’t afford for a riot to occur – for then he would lose his role as governor. His wife had sent word to Him while he was sitting on the judgement seat that he should “… have nothing to dowith that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about Him.” (Matt 27:19) Pilot asked the crowd what he should do with Jesus - the mob “shouted all the more, let him be crucified” (Matt 27:23)

In line with Passover practices - Pilot asked who he should release - Barabas a notorious prisoner - or Jesus the Messiah and Saviour. The crowd asked for Barabas a known criminal to be released - and for their Messiah – Jesus - to be crucified– people are fickle. What had he done to warrant this – loved people, healed people, set people free, revealed the grace of His Father, taught on the scriptures, and taught people about the Kingdom of God through parables. From Pilot, I am “…innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves. Then the people as a whole answered, His blood be on us and on our children.” (Matt 27:24-25). In their response the crowd was taking full responsibility for Jesus’ death, not only for themselves but also for future generations - (Lam 5:7) . They took Jesus away, stripped him - put a scarlet robe on Him, placed a crown of thorns on His head and a reed in His right hand – they mocked Him saying “Hail King of the Jews.”(Matt 27:29) - they struck Him on the head – “… and then put His own clothes on Him.” (Matt 27:31)

And they “… led Him away to crucify Him.” (Matt 27:31) – and they crucified him with one criminal on each side of Him - they divided His clothes among them - and they put the charge against him over his head – “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” (Matt27:37). And “then they sat down and kept watch over him.” (Matt 27:36) as He struggled to breath - He was ridiculed by the crowd, the chief priests and the scribes – from noon on darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. Then Jesus cried out with aloud voice “it is finished” (John 19:30) and Jesus breathed His last – and at that moment “… the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” (Matt 2751) and “… the earth shook and rocks were split.” (Matt 27:51). The centurion and those watching over Jesus - God’s mighty Warrior King - proclaimed “Truly this was/[is]God’s Son” (Matt 27:54)

Message for us today

In worldly terms Jesus wasn’t much of a warrior - but as God’s mighty Liberator and warrior - He had two significant victories in the battle of good versus evil on the cross . From John the Baptist “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29). And from Peter – “God raised him up, having freed him from death,because it was impossible for him to be held in its power”. (Acts 2:24). This unworldly warrior – Jesus - freed us from the consequences of our sin – our separation from God – “… repent for the kingdom of God has come near.”( Matt 3:2) in Jesus - He has brought us into the Kingdom of both God and himself. He facilitated the promise of eternal life for those who believe in Him, us and others – “I give them eternal Life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)

Paul reminds us that we are to “…look out not only for [our] own interests,but also for the interest of others.” (Phil 2:4) – “Let this mind be in [us] which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 2:5 NKJV). The world won’t be set free by bombs, missiles or drones - but it will be set free by the Good News of our triumphant and victorious Kingdom warrior – Jesus!