This King - A Sermon on Honoring the Rightful King

I have been a church staff member, Youth and Associate Pastor, at two different evangelical Christian churches. I am posting a few of my sermons/messages/talks on hubpages. I often use media, video clips, PowerPoint or other visuals when I speak (so it helps to watch the video or media at the particular point in the message as I often refer to it later.) I will include what I can with my messages. My goal is always to challenge a congregation or group to think about theology, Christianity and Jesus and how it relates to an individuals up and down, fun, difficult, messy and exciting life.

Romans 12:1-2 (The Message) sums it up well.

What a great legend – the story of King Arthur and the knights of the round table. The land is broken, war-torn and without a king. The sacred sword Excalibur, forged by God himself, is set, immovable in a stone and only THE ONE who draws it out will be king.

Many try, but only the young boy Arthur is able to withdraw the sword. He becomes king. He finally brings peace and unity to the land. He is good, wise and strong.

That story is only legend of medieval times, but a thousand years earlier, Jeremiah, the weeping prophet has seen the last good king of Judah and hope of a new king who will serve God faithfully seems unlikely.Jeremiah cries out with the words of a hurt God towards a disobedient people.

Jeremiah 2:22

Although you wash yourself with soap
and use an abundance of cleansing powder,
the stain of your guilt is still before me,”
declares the Sovereign LORD.

Jeremiah 5:27-28

Like cages full of birds,
their houses are full of deceit;
they have become rich and powerful
²⁸ and have grown fat and sleek.
Their evil deeds have no limit;
they do not seek justice.
They do not promote the case of the fatherless;
they do not defend the just cause of the poor.

Where is the earthly king that will restore the nation and bring peace, unity and hope?

350 years earlier King David led the nation of Israel. He is strong and powerful, uniting the northern and southern kingdoms. David, “a man after God’s own heart” had his ups and downs (to put it mildly), but he was a great man of God in his desire to humble himself, to seek forgiveness and give all glory to God.

David’s journey to kingship was not easy. He was constantly on the run and in danger. Once David became the king, he was a good king (even with his failings in adultery and murder, which he repented of.) As a boy, he bravely killed the giant who threatened his people. When no MAN would stand up and fight, David did. He continually showed his bravery and wisdom. God blessed him, forgave him, raised him up as someone who would be honored by his people for thousands of years.

We can see David’s heart as he extends grace to Mephibosheth in this beautiful story from 2nd Samuel. Mephibosheth, the last relative of the previous king, Saul. Being related to the previous king typically meant death or banishment. Not only that, Mephibosheth was disfigured, lame in both feet, seemingly good for nothing and to no one.

But David welcomed Mephibosheth to the kings table.

He who was supposed to die was rescued by the grace of the King and honored at the King's table.

And finally, here He is.

Here is the promised king who would restore Israel. Look, there on the cross, Jesus, the king of the Jews. The sign above him says just that.

But wait.

The king is on a cross and he is dying. He did not draw a sword, raise up an army, unleash the wrath of God on his enemies. He did not build walls or towers. He was rejected, beaten, whipped and mocked.

And this is our King?

He isn’t much like that legendary King Arthur. What has he conquered? And he isn’t like David who sat on a thrown, behind the walls of a great city with a great army eventually dying in his old age.

This king must be a different kind of king.

Jesus, the servant king, died so that He might fulfill His father’s will. That He might be that perfect means to which men could be saved.

That is our king.

The servant.

The healer.

The faithful one.

The sinless one.

The righteous one.

God's Son.

But another king continues to do battle against the servant king, Jesus.

Let me introduce you to King Me. King Me is self-anointed. King Me asserts his will. King Me serves himself because comfort and ease seem to be those instant rewards that he thrives on in his kingdom.

King Arthur’s mentor and protector, Merlin, admonished Arthur when he said, “Remember it well…for it is the doom of men that they forget.”

So many times King Me forgets who is really on the throne. He forgets what King Jesus did and the price He paid for King Me’s life.

When we begin making our decisions based on cultural norms, unchecked emotions, deceptive theologies, narcissism and at times what simply feels right we are exerting our will over His. We are taking the throne and asking Jesus to step aside, so that we may rule. And Jesus will step aside. So that we might truly be free, Jesus will step aside and allow us to become ruler of our own lives. In our selfishness that is exactly what we do. We give Jesus some time off from ruling our lives and let him know that we have it covered; we have this king thing down, we will make the decisions and do the ruling, often to disastrous results.

Ahh, but the doom of people, we forget.

Everyday, Christ is King.

Everyday, King Me must submit to the will of God.

Every moment of everyday, we either make a choice to serve the servant king, or serve King Me.

This King… stepped down from his throne in heaven, was born in a manger, was worshipped by men and angles, became fully man yet was fully God, healed, served, taught and gave His life for me and for you. He defeated death, giving each of us the HOPE of eternal life and the reward of heaven!

He did and does what I could never do for myself!

I choose to serve this King.

Yes, that’s my King!