The King of Glory

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

    Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

    righteous and having salvation is he,

humble and mounted on a donkey,

    on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9 ESV

I think many of you know I have been writing a book for the last 4 years. I began in January of the year 2020. You know that year. You know the year our world seemed to turn upside down and inside out. We were separated and isolated and our plans, so hopefully planned, were dashed to the ground while we waited and waited…

I sit at the same desk this morning I sat at then. The first three months of that year I faithfully started reading a chronological New Testament Bible, stepping into discovering Jesus anew. My neighbor Hannah and I had multiple engagements scheduled to share The Loving Father Project, songs from her album about God the Father's love interlaced with stories from my book Genesis. Of course, by the end of April, all gatherings had been canceled. Including all in-person services of the church my husband and I belonged to as members.

We all became familiar with Zoom. Our small group of Just-Marrieds that Jeff and I had hosted weekly at our house slowly dwindled as the year and the fear dragged on. By the summer, riots and anger entered the streets of our nation and God led me away from the Gospels and into the heart-rending cries of The Psalms. I underlined the words, and those prayers became my prayers. For six months God would not let me return to the Gospels. He held me close in those songs of David and Asaph.

Over that summer I became convinced our God was not a God of fear. I needed to find others who believed the same. I started visiting churches that had their doors open. Finally, one Fall Day, I walked into a church and felt in my very soul that I had arrived home. People I did not know introduced themselves, reaching out to take my hand, smiling – with no mask hiding their face. I heard phrases spoken within the crowd from Psalms… Could God have taken these people I did not know into these same promises of His faithfulness? The pastor of the church kneeled down, leading prayer in humbleness, asking God for forgiveness, crying out for his brokenness, crying out for our nation, our world, for each one of us.

There were kneeling benches. And stained-glass windows. And there was music.

As the months led into winter, I became curious about one of the worship leaders. His voice felt familiar, yet more suited to country music– along with the likes of Chris Stapleton, I thought, than church music. He had a confidence that whispered rock star in my ear, yet he was humble and sincere… so that didn't make sense. Finally, one week after the service had closed with us singing a very joy-filled "Soul on Fire" I decided I had to look up on the internet how I possibly could know that song. I laughed out loud at myself! There he was, Mac Powell, creator of Third Day; he wrote the song, I actually owned the CD. Mystery solved!

The past few years have unfurled. God took me back to writing the eyewitness accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. He also introduced me to the leader of the Women's Ministry at The Church of The Apostles who has graciously invited me to speak and to share the stories of Genesis. And the stories of Jesus.

This December rushed swiftly into January as I have struggled to finish these stories. I had decided last year my exit point would be when all four of the gospel writers converged as Jesus entered Jerusalem with shouts of halleluiah. I have come to accept in this writing process, I never know the point of the poem or how the story will end until I write the last line. For weeks, I have risen at dawn to watch for the sunrise and re-read and re-write this last chapter. I have been surprised to find myself typing out the arrival of a king. Especially since it seemed like this king wasn't sitting on an earthly throne and his kingdom wasn't what anyone was expecting. Had it really arrived? But I knew this was the story of Jesus that I was to tell. And this is where it would end. On Friday I wrote the final words.

This, my dear friends, is the sweetness of God. Yesterday, I stood there in that sanctuary where God is praised, listening to Mac and Jeremy introduce the 'old hymn' that would introduce Dr. Youssef's message. I smiled as I listened and sang these precious words to "King of Glory". I have ended The Jesus Stories exactly where I am supposed to end. A King entering into his Kingdom, a King entering into our hearts.

Below I share with you the beginning of the last chapter of The Jesus Stories, abbreviated to jump down to the last few paragraphs I finished this past week. And I share with you the beautiful words to King of Glory; God's reminder to me that Jesus is more than king of a nation - he is King of Glory, King of my heart!

Excerpt from The Jesus Stories; Seeing Jesus Through the Eyes of Those Who Saw Him

Chapter Ninety-One              The King Comes to Town

Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19

We have been on a journey with Jesus. This isn’t the first time he has entered the Holy City of Jerusalem, but it will be the accomplishment of his purpose here among us: to be crowned King, to defeat the enemy of all people, to open the doors of his Kingdom, to bring peace to the ends of the earth. It will not be long before he will say with his last human breath, “It is finished.”

This has been God's perfect plan. He told his plan to Adam and Eve in the first Garden, David sang it, and Daniel dreamed it. The Prophets shouted it and died for it. It is beautiful and offensive. It is dangerous if you are intent on holding onto the authority of God's enemy. Make no mistake about it, God's plans will not be thwarted, and His Word will not go out from Him void. He is a Covenant Maker and a Promise Keeper. He will not be mocked. And I think it is safe to say He will not be ignored. He has sent His Son into His vineyard; the renters will kill him. But it will not be the end of the story.

John tells us it is 6 days before Passover when Jesus and his disciples arrive in Bethany, just outside Jerusalem. The quiet night before, there was a dinner in honor of the newly alive Lazarus. Jesus had shown up too late to heal Lazarus from disease, but not too late to raise him from the dead. Lazarus sat beside his dear friend Jesus, as Martha served dinner, of course, and Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume. The fragrance of the perfume filled the house. It would cling to the skin of Jesus, reminding him as the days unfolded that Mary had extravagantly anointed him as King and Savior, and unknowingly she had also anointed him for burial. Both were unfolding before them; he would be declared King of the Jews and would be found guilty of that crime, with the penalty of death.

All four of our gospel writers tell of this triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. It is the glorious shimmering moment. It is what every miracle has pointed to. It is what every hopeful heart has longed for. It is the fulfillment of Gabriel's announcement to the young girl Mary at the beginning of the story concerning her unconceived son to be named Jesus:

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,  

and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever,

and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Luke 1:22-23ESV

But we know the story began long before that. So let us begin this glorious parade into the city with the prophesy of Zechariah. Zechariah, the prophet who lived 500 years before Jesus was born. Zechariah wrote words of encouragement to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin after only a handful of them left their captivity in the land of Babylon to return to rebuild Jerusalem. The city was no city at all. The temple had been destroyed, the walls had been broken down, and their spirits were discouraged within them. Yet listen to these unbelievable promises of God!

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your King (Messianic King) is coming to you;

He is righteous and endowed with salvation,

Humble and unassuming [in submission to the will of the Father] and riding on a donkey,

Upon a colt, the foal of a donkey.

I will cut off the [war] chariot from Ephraim

And the [war] horse from Jerusalem,

And the bow of war will be cut off.

And He will speak [words of] peace to the nations,

And His dominion shall be from sea to sea [absolutely endless],

And from the River [Euphrates] to the ends of the earth.

Zechariah 9:9-10 Amplified

Jerusalem, destroyed and abandoned in the days of Zechariah, may have numbered a population of anywhere from 20-30,000 - perhaps even 40,000 inhabitants in these days of Jesus. With the celebration of the feast of Passover, an additional 150,000 worshipers flocked into the city. Or more. It was a city that was filled beyond its capacity as the Jewish worshippers streamed into town.

And Jesus is one of them. But he is not, is he? I imagine there is an electric current running through the air. Remember the thousands who have shown up in the wilderness to hear this prophet teach? To see this miracle worker heal? And now he is rumored to be on this same road to Jerusalem! What in the world did the crowds look like flowing into the most important city on this most important holiday? Today Jesus is not slipping in unnoticed. He is very intentional in his arrival. He sends two of his disciples into the next village beyond Bethany, just outside Jerusalem for a very specific colt of a donkey. He knew where the donkey would be. He knew that its owners would send it for use by “the Lord”. He would not be walking into the Royal City of Kings.

The Messianic King arrives in Jerusalem, not as one of the crowd, but riding on the colt of a donkey. These sons and daughters of Israel were very aware of what this meant. There was a history of Israel's great leaders coming to them, not on warhorses, but on humble donkeys and mules. In Judges, we can read of Israel's rulers coming to them on white donkeys (Judges 5:9-10). King David had announced his approval of his son Solomon succeeding him by sending him into the streets of Jerusalem riding on King David's own mule (I Kings 1:33, 38, 44).

David’s descendants would not miss the symbolism of the arrival of this long-awaited deliverer! He comes to them humble and gentle, bringing his salvation, riding on a donkey’s colt. And they shout with joy! They surrender their cloaks before him. Surrendering to his authority. They cut branches to line his path and wave palms of peace over his pathway. The one who brings them victory arrives! Can it be true? Can this be a king who defeats their enemy and is victorious over the military might of the Romans occupying their land?

They shout with joy and with anticipation in the streets, as well as in the Temple:

“Hosanna to the Son of David;

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord;

Hosanna in the highest!”

The Roman soldiers watching this parade for the king would not understand these words and what they heralded. Hosanna means “save us” in Hebrew. “Blessed is he (the King) who comes in the name of the Lord.”

What were they saying? Who made up these chants welcoming Jesus? Could these words be from the ancient prayers that were in their Hebrew songbook?

Lord, save us!

Lord, grant us success!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

From the house of the Lord we bless you.

The Lord is God,

and he has made his light shine on us.

With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession

up to the horns of the altar.

Psalm 118:25-27 NIV

They are calling out for salvation. They are calling out for the blessed one who comes in the name of the Lord; they are praising their king, the descendant of King David, the Messiah promised by God to deliver them. They come with boughs in hand as they join in the festal procession! They are on their way to the Temple! Could David have written this psalm with any idea this would be sung before his own descendant on this day entering the royal city?

The people are hoping this Jesus has come to deliver them from the Romans. How interesting that God did not think that was enough. He sent His Messiah to deliver His people from death instead. And how ironic that God’s people would not be limited to only the children of Israel, but one day soon would include the hated Romans. What did that prophecy from Zechariah say?

…he shall bring peace among the nations.

His realm shall stretch from sea to sea,

from the river to the ends of the earth.

This King, lowly and gentle, arriving on the colt of a donkey, would save his people - those he would gather from the ends of the earth, from something much worse than the temporary rule of the Romans – he would save them from Satan’s lies and the eternity of death.

I have gotten ahead of myself, as I often do. Today we have read of Jesus entering Jerusalem. So, I will try to stay here – in this day of entering in. I will look around at the hopeful faces in the crowd two thousand years ago.

“Hosanna to the Son of David;

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord;

Hosanna in the highest!”

There is no mistaking the title that these descendants of Israel are giving Jesus. Son of David. It has been a long, long time since a descendent of David sat on a throne in Jerusalem. Israel has no king. Israel is ruled by a foreigner: the Emperor of Rome. To walk into this town and be declared king is a 'hanging offense', and you can be sure the Jewish rulers of the Temple need to get this situation under control. It seems the whole world is going after him! Who does this Jesus think he is, anyway? The leaders will ask him that… tomorrow.

Soon, very soon, they will despise his answer to their questions. They will hand him over to the Gentiles who will crown him with thorns, place a king's robe over his bleeding wounds, and bow down to him in mockery. He will be as silent as a sheep before his slaughter (Isaiah 53:7). He will ask God to forgive them, for they know not what they do. The king has come to town.

Our disciple John will have much more to say about the identity of this Jesus. And his authority. He will tell of another time when Jesus will enter this world as King. He will not be riding a borrowed colt of a donkey. He will be leading a great army, seated on a white stallion. There will be no question of his authority.

 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse,

whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 

His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.

He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 

He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 

The armies of heaven were following him,

riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 

Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.

“He will rule them with an iron scepter.” 

He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.  

On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 19:11-16 NIV

This is the poignant question we must ask ourselves as we travel this day with Jesus into the Royal City of David, into God’s Holy City of Jerusalem: Do we recognize our King? Do we see our need for a Lord and a Savior? Or have we walked away in disappointment and disgust, walking the path with Judas – hoping to force his hand to our own liking? Or is our response to him closer to what some casual observers on the street will reply: “This Jesus is a prophet from a small town, Nazareth, in Galilee. He is a miracle worker and a teacher, but I cannot call him King, and I cannot call him Lord.”

Last night the king was anointed. Today the king arrives. Soon it will be the evening of Passover and you will need to decide: Do I want the blood of the Lamb over my door? Soon he will pass by us on the way to his Kingdom. Will we shout “Hosanna! Save us!” to the Son of David, the One who comes in the name of the Lord? Soon he will be seated on the heavenly throne. Answer now. Will you bow down to worship the King of Kings?

****

Who is this King of glory that pursues me with His love

And haunts me with each hearing of His softly spoken words

My conscience, a reminder of forgiveness that I need

Who is this King of Glory who offers it to me

Who is this King of angels, O blessed Prince of Peace

Revealing things of Heaven and all its mysteries

My spirit's ever longing for His grace in which to stand

Who is this King of glory, Son of God and son of man

His name is Jesus, precious Jesus

The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart

The King of Glory

Who is this King of glory with strength and majesty

And wisdom beyond measure, the gracious King of kings

The Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things

Who is this King of Glory, He's everything to me

The Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things

He is the King of Glory, He's everything to me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zryx3HbNYng

Third Day   King of Glory Live

Songwriters: Bradley B. C. Avery / David Carr / Johnny Mac Powell / Mark D. Lee / Samuel Tai Anderson

King of Glory lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Songtrust Ave, Universal Music Publishing Group