“Jesus is King”
John 12:12-19
Hello friend, I’m J. Mark Horst, your host and I welcome you to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope, we’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week the Bible teaching broadcasts of Heralds of Hope circle the globe in English and 21 other major languages. Thousands are tuning in each week to receive spiritual nourishment and blessing.
If you listen to this program regularly, I’m alerting you to expect some changes to our programming in the next several weeks. At Heralds of Hope, we are a growing and changing ministry. We are expanding our audience, we are adding new personnel, and we are updating our content. Eventually, you will hear a new musical intro to the program as well as some other cosmetic changes. But one thing that won’t change is our commitment to teaching God’s Word!
That’s because the Bible is the only source of lasting hope. It is God’s Holy Word. You know as well as I do that we can’t rely on the words of men because men change. Think of all the unkept promises people make, maybe even specific promises to you personally. But God is unchanging, He keeps His promises. His Word is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Psalmist, David, said in Psalm 119:89, “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven.” You and I can depend on God’s Word.
Because God’s Word is unchanging and reliable, we share this teaching with many people around the world in different languages in both audio and print. And we receive many testimonies of lives that have been transformed by the power of the Gospel.
Here’s a testimony from a young woman in India who listens to our Hindi language programs. Here’s what she wrote, “I am a long-time listener to your radio programs. My family members do not like me to have any Christian fellowship. They always oppose me going to church. But I continue to go to the church for fellowship.
In October 2021, I requested prayer for my nephew who was admitted to the hospital in very serious condition. He had fever and stomach pain. Your team prayed for his healing with much burden. After two days my nephew was out of danger and discharged from the hospital. I thank and praise Jesus Christ for His grace and mercy.”
What a wonderful testimony to the power of God and the power of prayer. We’re so grateful that we can encourage this young woman through our programs.
Now, here’s Dr. Yoder with today’s teaching, “Jesus is King.”
Rulers of countries claim their authority. They believe they have the right to rule. And they do, but under the sovereign rule of Almighty God. The Bible explains plainly by the Prophet Daniel that God sets up and puts down whom He wills in the kingdoms of men.
Many students of the Bible examine the life of Jesus and see only His works in the miracles He performed or His teachings in the words that He spoke. There is more, much more, to Jesus of Nazareth than His works or His words. In the purpose of God Jesus came as a King, the King of Israel.
In Matthew’s Gospel we read that when the wise men came from the East in search of Him they asked Herod, the king in Jerusalem, “Where is He that is born King of the Jews?” Were you to take the time to research it, you would find that His birth has all the qualities for His kingship.
Several times during His teaching career, the crowds would have supported any claim He might have made for the crown. On one occasion, at least, they were about to crown Him, but He refused.
In John 12:12-19 we have an experience that is quite the opposite. On this occasion Jesus accepted the applause of the crowd.
12. On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13. Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
14. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
15. Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.
16. These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
17. The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
18. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
19. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
From these verses I can establish the AFFIRMATIONS of His kingship.
I do so first By the Procession of the People.
Our Scripture informs us that the people, when they heard that Jesus was coming, prepared a procession. They went out to meet Him waving branches of palm trees. What is the significance of branches of palm trees? Branches of palm trees always signified victory. Earth rulers, warriors, generals when they came back from a victorious campaign marched into town bearing palm branches. Palm branches in this procession meant victory.
Then there was a proclamation that the people used. They cried, “Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” The word Hosanna means “Save now!” Here it was a kind of exaltation, a glorification, a word of praise to Jesus. They cried, “Blessed is the King of Israel,” and added “who comes in the name of the Lord.”
So by the procession of the people, we have the affirmation established, He is King. But there is more.
The second affirmation is By the Prediction of the Prophet.
There’s a quotation here from the Prophet Zechariah. He predicted this exact event six centuries before Christ. Jesus found a young ass, a donkey, and sat upon it fulfilling the prediction of the Prophet which reads, “Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.”
By the prediction of the Prophet, we establish the affirmation that He is King. What the Prophet predicted, Jesus did.
There was also the witness of the disciples. They did not understand what they were doing until it was all over. Afterward, after Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, then they remembered that they had done these things to Him.
You see how the prediction of the Prophet fits right in here? Jesus came to fulfill all that the prophets spoke about Him. That’s really wonderful! Jesus is King by the prediction of the Prophet.
The third affirmation is By the Proof of the Pharisees.
The people who saw Him and who welcomed Him to the Holy City, the capital of Israel, bore witness. They believed on Him. The miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead assured them that here is the King of Israel.
I will also call your attention to the fact that the opposition admitted that there wasn’t much they could do. They said among themselves, “You see, the world has gone after Him.”
Ah yes, my friend, even today many people follow Jesus. They are recognizing Him, all that He claimed to be and all that was ascribed to Him. Even these of the opposition acknowledge that He is more than just a man among them. Yes, Jesus is King.
These affirmations have never been set aside. The people acclaimed Him the King of Israel. The Prophet predicted Him to be the King of Israel referring to the daughter of Zion. The Pharisees admitted Him to be King when they said, “The whole world is gone after him.”
Now, my friend, what do you do about Him? Those who lived when He lived on earth said He is King. What do you do about Him?
CLOSING
My friend, was this teaching helpful to you? If so, you can request a copy of it either on an audio CD or in a printed script. Just ask for it by the title, “Jesus is King.”
The quickest way for you to contact us is to send an e-mail to [email protected]. That e-mail address is [email protected]. Or you may write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching, “Jesus is King.” We’d be happy to send one to you.
And when you contact us, you can request our newest publication, Hope Herald. It is a study guide that follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we are studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.
Here’s the contact information again. The quickest way to reach us is by at this address; [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember; you can request a free copy of this teaching, “Jesus is King.” It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.
And don’t forget about the changes that are coming to our programming in the next several weeks. At Heralds of Hope, we are a growing and changing ministry. We are expanding our audience, we are adding new personnel, and we are updating our content. Eventually, you will hear a new musical intro to the program as well as some other cosmetic changes. But one thing that won’t change is our commitment to teaching God’s Word!
Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Dr. Yoder continues our study from John’s Gospel. And until then, I urge you to keep looking for that blessed HOPE.