Good morning, and thank you for being with us at the Means of Faith book. We'll be at Matthew chapter 27. Those of you in the auditorium, please stand. And we'll read one verse, Matthew 27. And in verse 37, it says, and set up over his head his accusation written, this is Jesus, King of the Jews. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we ask again that you be pleased to meet with us this morning. May thy spirit accompany thy word. Lord, as we speak concerning our great King, our Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that he has always been King, from his birth, we would say from the cradle to the cross, he's always been King. He was King when he was sent here from heaven to be born. He'll be King when he comes back the second time. He is King. And we want to deal with these things as how he was crucified, because he was the king. Lord, bless your word this morning. In Jesus' name we ask. Amen. Please be seated. This morning as we return to Matthew 27, I want to speak on the crowning of Christ of Calvary, the crowning of Christ at Calvary. We have seen already in the prior verses the awful punishment the Roman soldiers have afflicted upon the Lord Jesus Christ as he had been led away to be crucified The last time we also dealt with the awful pain of the Lower East Sea when they nailed his feet and his hand upon the cross. Those were just little nails, okay, that you think. Those were almost like werewolf tithes. They were big, giant nails. I cannot imagine the excruciating pain that he went through in his hand and his feet and through his whole body. but they crucify Christ also with an inscription on top of the cross that said, this is Jesus, the King of the Jews. And as I was doing my study early in the week, I read these words, I read them again and again, and I really wanted to go all the way to verse 45 and 46 and deal with the three hours of darkness and the crucifixion of Christ, but my heart could not stop thinking, meditating, considering these words that were written on top of the cross And so as I said, I will preach of the crowning of Christ at Calvary. I guess what fascinated me is that all four gospel writers mentioned this. Sometimes one mentions something and the other don't, but all four mentioned this. And what's also very interesting that all four gospel writers, like Matthew, actually the other three gospel writers, they all wrote these letters or these words, I should say, in capital letters. I don't know if you ever noticed that before. Which says, this is Jesus, King of the Jews. That's amazing when you think about it. Now, the Apostle John is the only one that wrote something different. He just added, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. Not only this, but John was the only writer that also mentioned regarding the Jews having a problem with Pilate writing this inscription on top of the cross. I'll read it to you in John 19, when it says, and Pilate wrote a title and put upon it, and the writing was, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. This title then read, many of the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh unto the city. It was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, write not, the king of the Jews, but that he said, I am the king of the Jews. Pilate answered and said, what I have written, I have written." So all four gospel writers mention about the inscription that was on top of the cross. But interesting that they also use different words how it was set forth. Now, I say this not because there's any contradiction and they use different words, but they all use different words to explain why this was put on top of the cross. For example, Matthew used the word accusation in our text there Matthew 27 37 and set up over this head his accusation written This is Jesus king of the Jews. This word accusation is the Greek word idea Which basically means fault or the reason of the crime the same Greek word is used in John 18 38 when it said Pilate said unto him what is truth and when he is a He had said this. He went out again to the Jews and said, I find no fault in him. So that's what the word accusation means, a fault. In Mark 15.26, he uses a different word. It says, and the superscription of the accusation written over the king of the Jews. Mark uses superscription, which is the Greek word epigraphia, which basically means an inscription that is written. Remember when they brought a coin to the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 22, 20? And Christ said unto them, who is the image and superscription on this coin? Saying, who is this upon the coin? Which meant, what is the inscription on this coin? Luke and Mark used the same word, superscription. But then John, the apostle John, uses the word title in John 19, 19. And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross, writing, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The Greek word for title is titlo, which basically means the inscription or the accusation that is written. And so we see the reasons that are written for his crucifixion. And so all three words are used, accusation, superscription, and title, to describe the reason a Lord was crucified, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. Now, I like what John Butler said in his commentary. He called this the vindication of Christ, and I love that phrase. In his opening statement, he makes this point. He says, quote, the reproach and suffering experienced by Christ during the crucifixion did not stop the unwitting vindication of him by Pilate. It had to do with the title or accusation which Pilate had posted. on top of the cross of Christ," unquote. As I said, I love that concept, the vindication of Christ. But then Butler continues by giving us two reasons this was written. One, he said, the custom which was judicial, and then secondly, too, the contempt of the Jews. Under the first point, under custom of judicial, he writes, quote, this title was generally written out before the crucifixion as Christ was led out from the Praetorium or the Judgment Hall to the place of the crucifixion. One carried this sign before the procession to let people along the way know why the victim was being led to execution. After the procession arrived at the scene of the execution, the sign was attached to the top of the cross above the victim's head to identify the victim and proclaim his crime." Erdensheim, in his commentary, says, quote, it was customary to carry this board before the prisoner, and there is no reason for supposing any exception in this respect regarding Christ, unquote. And so we see that the custom was that anyone who was going to be crucified, the Romans would carry a board assigned for the reason of the crucifixion so all the people could see that. And then the second reason that Butler used, it was the contempt. of the Jews, which is so true. He says, quote, obviously, the words in the title did not represent a criminal accusation. So why were the words what they were? The professing and protesting of the chief priest about the sign help us understand that Pilate wanted to show his contempt for the Jews by posting this sign above Christ. Vincent writes by saying, quote, The title expressed on his face the main intent of Pilate, which was to cast contempt upon the Jews." Now Butler continues under another quote. He says, quote, Pilate was not happy with the Jews. He had been embarrassed by them in his court and had been forced to sentence Christ contrary to his own personal wishes. The Jews had used political leverage to blackmail him into doing what they wanted done. But Pilate would have the last word here with these religious leaders. He would write the title above Christ, would make Christ their king. Pilate did not mean any contempt upon Christ, but only was angry at the Jews for the way they had pressured him into doing their wishes at the court. It was the claim of the king in John 19.12 that was the final appeal of the Jews that forced Pilate to sentence Christ to crucifixion So Pilate gets back at them with this title, unquote. I love that. J.C. Rowell also says, quote, my own decided opinion is that he worded the title as he did. He did it in anger, vexation, and for an intention to annoy and insult the Jews. He publicly helped up to scorn their king as a poor criminal from a mean village in Galilee, a fitting king for such a people, unquote. So we see that the reason for the inscription on top of the cross was twofold. One, it was custom that they would do this. The Romans would write on top of the cross why they were crucifying the person. Then secondly, it was pure contempt by Pontius Pilate. But I must throw in my two cents and make a third point on this. I personally believe that this was written upon the cross providentially by God. This was done providentially by God so that the whole world would know who was hanging upon the cross, King Jesus. And the fact, this is what's so important, and the fact that it was written in three languages is not a mistake. I think that was providential too. I mean, I don't think Pilate just happened to do this. Oh, no, no, no. It was providentially written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. for the whole world to read, that it was King Jesus who was being crucified. No, not for any crimes that he had. No, this was the innocent, sinless son of God that would be crucified. But we know that he was crucified with the sins of his own people. As it says powerfully there in Matthew 121, when Christ was born, and she shall bring forth a son, and you will call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. And so please know that Christ came into the world as king. He was born as king. He was king throughout his whole ministry. And therefore he was crucified as king. He was resurrected as king. He ascended as king. Now sits in the right hand of God as king. In other words, he has always been king. As I said earlier, from the cradle to the cross, he has been king. He did not become king when he came to earth. He has always been king. As a matter of fact, remember in Acts 2.23, I read it to you, it says, speaking of Christ, it says, that he was delivered. How? By the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by wicked hands and crucified and slain. Later on, in Acts 2, it says, Therefore being a prophet speaking of David Knowing that God has sworn on an oath of him that it's a Christ That is the fruit of his blood David that the fruit of his loin according to the flesh He would raise up Christ to sit on his throne because he's king He seen this speak of the resurrection of Christ that his soul was not left in hell Neither his flesh did seek corruption this Jesus had God raised up where of you are all witnesses Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and being received of the Father, the promise of the Holy Ghost He has shed for this which ye now see and hear." Remember, this was Peter preaching to the Jews that they had crucified their own king who now sits in the right hand of the Father. Hebrews 1.3 says, speaking of Christ, that Christ is the brightness of His glory, the express image of His person, upholding all things by the word of His power. When He Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty and high and then in Hebrews 12 to looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was said before him endured the cross despising the shame and has now sat down where on the right hand of the throne of God because he's King and thus we see our blessed Lord Jesus Christ sitting on the right hand of God as King of Kings and Lord of Lords which is how he will come also the second time, king of kings and Lord of lords. Thus, as they lifted up the Lord upon the cross, the inscription over him says that he was king. They put over the top of the cross that Jesus Christ is king. And I think as Butler said, this is a vindication of the Lord Jesus Christ writing these words, and they did it with capital letters. This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Butler again makes a statement. He says, quote, Pilate was absolutely correct. He did not realize how correct he was. However, God will have the truth proclaimed regardless of how man opposes its proclamation. God saw to it that even on the cross, our Lord will be styled a King, unquote. Even J.C. Rouse says, Quote, Jesus came as king. And as king, he lived and suffered and died. Though not acknowledged and honored by his subject, the Nazarene identified our Lord as a well-known teacher from Galilee, who for three years has stood up the Jewish mind, unquote. And then you have, in John 19, 20, again it says, and the title, Dan read many of the Jews. That was the whole point. then read many of the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city, that's nigh to Calvary, as it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. And so the title, Purim de Croz, allowed many people to read it. It was very legible. It was able to be read, and therefore very readable by all the people. And I remind you, that God was going to allow people from all over the world to read this title over Christ. Again, it is amazing that it is written in all three languages. Those three languages were the most important languages of that day. For example, Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire during the rule. Then we know, of course, that Hebrew was the known language of the Jewish people. was also the common language, especially in commerce and trade and things like that, ever since Alexander the Great had conquered the world centuries earlier. And so I remind you that there were people from all over the world that had come for the Passover feast, and as they're entering to Jerusalem, guess what they see up there? This is Jesus, King of the Jews. So no matter what language you were, of Hebrew, Greek, or Latin, you realize that King Jesus was being crucified. Again, notice what it says in John 19.20. This title then read many, many of the Jews. Why? Because the place where Jesus was crucified was not into the city or next to Jerusalem. And therefore the crucifixion being so close to Jerusalem meant that multitudes upon multitudes would be able to read the title. according to John 19, 20, as we just read. And John Butler makes another point when he says, quote, the effect of the great readability of the title of the cross of Christ meant that the message on the cross would be carried to many lands. There were visiting Jews returning to their home following the Passover festivities. God in his providence had arranged that the news of the crucifixion would travel far and wide people preparing for the proclamation of the gospel, the providential hand of God was obviously in all the publicity of the crucifixion. So here we see our Lord preparing the world, many witnesses to speak of the crucifixion as a witness to the world of our great God. As a matter of fact, remember in Acts 1, after the Lord's resurrection, remember what the Lord said again, to whom he showed himself alive after his passion, many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. In other words, Christ would be preached not only as Savior and Redeemer, but Christ would also be preached as King. Remember the Apostle Paul preached him as King because it says there in Acts 17.7 that when Jason received than all these do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying, There is another King, Jesus." Yes, King Jesus was going to be preached throughout the whole world. But we also see that the Jewish leaders were very, very upset. They were so mad with Pilate. They did not want our Lord to garner any type of honor in any form whatsoever. And of course, we see this very clearly and particularly in John's Gospel. I'll read it to you again, John 19, 22. It says, This title then read many of the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city. It was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priest to Pilate, Write not the king of the Jews, but that he said, I am the king of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written. And so Jews rejected Christ as king, as they falsely proclaimed him to be some sort of imposter. But before Pilate had crucified Christ, he did hear Christ mentioned about being a king. As a matter of fact, turn to John 18. Let's see that. Because this is very, very important, knowing why Pilate put that about him being king. John 18. For the sake of time, just drop down to verse 33. John 18 and verse 33. Okay, it says, Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Are thou the king of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and chief priests have delivered thee unto me. What hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. That's so powerful, even in the realm of eschatology. If you don't know what I'm saying, I'll explain it to you afterward. But he says, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should be delivered to the Jews, but now is my kingdom not from hence, because many believed that Jesus was going to come and start his kingdom while he was here, if the Jews had rejected every signum. But Christ said, My kingdom is not of this world. My kingdom is not from hence. Verse 37, Then Pilate said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. And he basically answers the question, he said, To this end I was born. And for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth." That what? That he is King. That's what he's saying. Everyone that is the truth hears my voice. Pilate said unto him, what is truth? Every time I read that, it blows my mind. Here's truth standing, personified, right in front of him. And he asked the question, what is truth? Open your eyes, Pilate. What is truth? And when he had said this, He went out again unto the Jews, and said unto them, I find no fault at all, but ye have a custom that I should release unto you one of the Passover. Would ye, therefore, that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then they all cried out, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. And Barabbas was a robber. And thus we see that Pilate gave more credit to the words of Christ than the Jews had said to him. Butler again makes this point. He says, quote, no wonder the Jewish leaders were angry and upset. Pilate had honored Christ and made them look like they were crucifying their own king. Furthermore, these Jewish leaders did not want any news going out that Christ was a king. They didn't want anyone to believe this fact. They were against Christ and would fight any honoring of Christ. Unfortunately, their kindness is not extinct, but thrives even in every age, unquote, which is so true. Because there are many today that believe that Christ is not king, that he won't be king until some millennium. No, he is king. Therefore, what we conclude is that what Pilate wrote was really a statement of truth. But again the Jewish religious leaders they were so upset and they could care less about the truth that Christ was king. Why? Because they hated him. They hated him so much that they just wanted to get rid of him. But truth would prevail that this indeed was King Jesus whom they had crucified. They crucified the king upon the cross as God's truth would providentially prevail if the gospel be witnessed, remember, beginning in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, to the animal parts of the world. And I'm so thankful that the gospel is debated all the way to America. Thank God for that. And we preach this from the pulpit that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. You know what? Turn with me to Matthew 25. Those who still don't believe that he is king. In Matthew 25, beginning at verse 31, it says, Then the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him. Then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory. And before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Then shall he who is the king say unto them on his right hand, Come ye, blessed my father, and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. You drop down to verse 31, it says, Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye courage, into everlasting fire. prepare for the devil and the angels. Yes, this King Jesus was crucified, and this King Jesus was crucified will have the last word on judgment day. And my question to you this morning, are you prepared to meet King Jesus on judgment day? Are you prepared to meet him when you die? Now, for the rest of my sermon, I would like to speak, warm your heart this morning. and I would seek to exalt my Lord Jesus Christ, speaking of his kingship. That is, that Jesus Christ is King, and therefore the crowning of Christ at Calvary is so true. Because I do remind you that every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is King. And I hope you do it now, and not after you die. Okay? speak of the things pertaining to the King, that he is King of kings and Lord of lords. Now there is no doubt that in the Old Testament and New Testament, many verses set forth Christ as King. As His kingdom is designated in two ways. His kingdom is designated, first He has a material kingdom, physical, but then secondly He also has a meritorial kingdom. a spiritual kingdom. Don't ever forget that. First of all, his material kingdom, okay? That is, his kingdom is universal, that he is king over creation, over the physical realm. He's king over this earth. Thomas Boston, in his Commentary of Rises, he says, quote, Christ is the sole monarch of the whole world, unquote. You know, the Word of God declares this. Many people don't believe it, but the Word of God declares this. I read it to you from Psalm 47. It says, For the Lord Most High is terrible. He is the Great King over all the earth. Sing praises to God. Sing praises to God. Sing praises to our King. Sing praises for God is the King of the earth. And then one of my favorite Bible verses to read, and I do it every once in a while on Wednesday nights when we come to pray. I love what it says there in 1 Chronicles 29 where it says, Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation, and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty And all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine. Thine is thy kingdom, O Lord. Thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come of thee. Thou reignest over all. And in thine hand is power and might. And in thine hand is to make great and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee and praise thy glorious name. The whole point is that Christ does have a material or essential external physical kingdom. But what's more interesting, is secondly his mediatory kingdom, his internal kingdom. We mean that his kingdom is also spiritual. And therefore, if it's spiritual, it is invisible. And included in this truth is a promise made to Christ. Remember, there was a promise made that Christ would be made king and that his kingdom would be made up of his people. that is all those whom he saves in his mediatory kingdom, because this kingdom is internal, it's spiritual, and it's in the heart of all the people that he saved. And therefore Christ exercises his kingly office in subduing sinners unto himself in the grace of salvation. As king, he rules in his kingdom, and he is the defender and protector of governing His people. This is why I preach and believe in what is known as Lordship Salvation because He is King and Christ will subdue sinners unto Himself. The Bible says that in the day of His power, He will save them. And when He saves them, what does He do? He writes His law in their heart, ruling, governing over them. and therefore the subjects of the kingdom, they do not enter into his kingdom by flesh or blood, no, but by, nor by the will of man, I should say that, but by the spirit of God in Christ. They enter his kingdom by a spiritual birth, which is called being born again, or theologically, it's called regeneration. This kingdom is in the heart of the people, whom he has saved, the kingdom of God is within you. Let me just read that from Luke 17, 21 that says, neither shall you say, lo here, lo there, for behold, the kingdom of God is within you. It is in you, it's a spiritual kingdom, the kingdom that is in the heart of all God's people whom he has saved and he sits enthroned as king. God saved sinners, how? By birthing them into His kingdom, delivered them from their sins in the great atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ in doing a great and mighty work in the salvation of sinners. I mean, it's unbelievable when you think about it, the great work that our Lord does when He saves a sinner. I love what it says, I'll read it to you. In Colossians, it says, giving thanks unto the Father, who has made us meet to be partakers of an inheritance of the saints in light, who has delivered us from the power or kingdom of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear son. And that's exactly what happens at salvation. We're taken from the kingdom of darkness and we're brought into the kingdom of light, the kingdom of his dear son. And this is a spiritual kingdom and never lose sight of that. That's the essence of being born again. burning them into his kingdom, delivering them from their sins. He is our mediator. And the mediator, he has a mediatory kingdom that is spiritual. Now, this kingdom of Christ was assigned to him threefold. That is, the kingdom of Christ is set forth in three ways. I'm gonna read the verses to you quickly. Number one, by decree. By decree of God. In Psalm 2, it says, yet have I set my king upon my holy hill. I will declare the decree the Lord said unto me, thou art my son, this day have I begun thee. So he is king by decree of God. Secondly, he is king by the promise of God in the scriptures in Daniel 2.44, and in those days shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, But it shall break in pieces and consume all nations, and it shall stand forever, the kingdom of God. And for the sake of time, I'm not going to read verses, and there's many verses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the psalm. But it's by decree, by promise, and then thirdly, by sonship. That is, in Christ is a pure line that we'll see in a moment, and therefore a true heir of the throne. which is in 2 Samuel 7, which is fulfilled in Luke 1, that we'll read in a little bit. But in these verses in Samuel and Luke, I believe have been fulfilled spiritually in the salvation of sinners who are birthed into the kingdom of God. I remember I preached on Christ being king years ago, and I went and snatched out some things from that sermon. And when I preached, I said that Christ had seven ensigns. okay, of royalty, and I added an eighth one. Okay, and I'm just gonna mention these quickly and go through them. First of all, Christ, number one, he has a crown. And we know that a crown is always what? A symbol of power, a symbol of royal power and authority. Not only does he have a crown, but secondly, our Lord has a sword. And the sword is a symbol of bringing enemies into subjection. Number three, he has a coat of arms. This coat of arms and the shield are symbolic of family and, you know, distinction. And the lion is inserted in his coat of arms because he is what? The lion of the tribe of Judah. He has a scepter. And the scepter is a rod or stab that is symbolic of the ruler with authority. Fifthly, he has a throne. The throne is symbolic of what? Position and power and authority. Number six, he has a kingdom. A kingdom is symbolic of sovereignty and how often Christ kept preaching about his kingdom. Number seven, Christ also has a banner. A banner signifies a standard of representation. It's like our American flag is our banner. Christ's banner is a banner of truth. In Psalm 60 verse 4 it says, Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thy name. It may be displayed because of the truth. Psalm 20 verse 5, We will rejoice in thy salvation. And in the name of the Lord, we will set up our banners. The Lord fulfilled all thy petitions. And the eighth one that I added is that Christ also has a white horse. Yes, we added this because the white horse is always What? Symbolic of victory. Anytime a general wanted to battle back then, he would always come into the city riding upon his white horse, showing that he had the victory. Well, our conquering general, the God of our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ, is going to ride upon his white horse one day. We're told in Revelation, and I saw heaven open. And behold, a white horse, and he that sat upon it, was called Faithful and True, which is Christ. And in righteousness he does judge and make war. His eyes were as flame of fire, and his head were many crowns. He had a name written over it that no man knew but himself. He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, and out of his mouth grew a sharp sword." See, everything I said that he had, he had. that it should be they should smite the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron and he treated the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of the almighty God and upon his own vesture and thigh a name written king of king and lord of lord yes that's our lord Jesus Christ coming back one day upon the white horde and so there's so many verses in the old and new that speak about Christ being king no doubt that the Old Testament saints had no problem that Christ was king. But what I'm going to do is give you scripture from the New Testament, that the New Testament writers, they set forth Jesus Christ is king. And so what I'm going to do for the rest of my sermon is chronologize the kingship of Christ, as I said, from the cradle to the cross, that is from his birth, his ministry, his crucifixion, his burial, his resurrection, until his second coming. In other words, There's not one time ever that Jesus Christ has not been king. And there's never been a time that Christ either relinquished or lost his reign as king. He has always been king of kings and he will always be king of kings. That will never change. But let's now consider from the cradle to the cross, Jesus Christ is king. The first thing we see that our Lord Jesus Christ was king within his birth. Let's go to Matthew chapter 1, which is very important. And it's interesting because Matthew is the first New Testament book from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Matthew begins with what? With the lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ. And you first see that Jesus Christ is in the line of David. Because in Matthew 1.1 it says, the book of the generations of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. I was asked the question, why is David mentioned ahead of Abraham? Since Abraham preceded David by over a thousand years. Nonetheless, it is. So Matthew begins his gospel in sending forth the royal pedigree of Christ by authenticating his birth to what? To both the seed of David and of course, the seed of Abraham. But why is David mentioned before Abraham? I believe that David is mentioned for only to acknowledge the kingship of Christ. That he is king, because David was king. And that holy baby that was in the womb of Mary was truly a king. In other words, his credential is his pedigree. or the royal line of David, fulfilling the promises and prophecies of Christ. As I said earlier, they're in 2 Samuel. Now I'm gonna read them to you. In 2 Samuel 7, verse 12, 13, 16, it says, and when thy days be fulfilled, thou shalt sleep with thy father. I will set up thy seat after thee. This is the prophecy that was given to David, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and thou will establish his kingdom He shall build a house for my name, which is the church, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever and ever before thee. Thy throne shall be established forever. Amen. Was this fulfilled in Christ's birth? Of course it was. Keep your finger there, Matthew 1. We'll come back. But turn to Luke 1. The prophecy of Samuel, I believe, is fulfilled clearly in Luke chapter 1. There's a lot here too, but I'm just going to get to my main text in Luke 1. In verse 31, what does it say? And behold, let us get your attention. You paying attention? Behold! And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto him what? The throne of his father David that we just read in 2 Samuel 7. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom shall be no end. This is the fulfillment of that. Go back to Matthew 1. And notice again how the Spirit of God guided Matthew with the essence of the kingship of Christ regarding the genealogy. Okay? Look at verse 6 of chapter 1. After all the other names were mentioned, when you get down to David, not once, but twice. Notice what stands out. And Jesse begat David, who? The king. And David, who? The king. Begat Solomon. I've heard that would have been the wife of Uriah. Not once, but twice, as I said, he was called the king. But I want you to notice that he is the only one mentioning king. There were other kings. in the Lenox, but he's the only one named as king. And you might ask, what's the big deal? Thank you for asking. I like when y'all ask questions. The big thing is that, as I said, there were other kings mentioned in Christ's genealogy, but only one is designated a king in the sea of David, which is Christ Jesus. And therefore my two cents in the matter is that I think that he speaks volumes regarding Christ's kingship. I mean, it's not an accident that Matthew only highlights David's name, but he highlights it by calling him what? A king. And sets forth the standard for the rest of the New Testament record, recognizing that Jesus Christ is king. He was born as king and he is king. Remember, Matthew was moved by the Spirit of God, carried along by the Holy Spirit to write this particular truth. Have you forgotten that even the wise men from the East acknowledge Christ as King? Go to Matthew 2. In Matthew chapter 2 verse 1 it says, Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen a star in the east, and are come to worship him. We also read in this chapter that King Herod was threatened regarding his throne and became afraid. And then he commits such wicked atrocity in killing so many male children two years and under. Why? Because he knew a king was born. And so we see that Jesus Christ was truly born a king. And I say this because this really disputes and destroys what I call ultra-hyper-dispensationalism that because the Jews rejected Christ and did not make him king, then Christ had to go to plan B and go to the cross. Can't believe they would write that in books, but they do, because they're more concerned about their eschatology than the truth of the scriptures. In other words, the point is, if the Jews had accepted Christ as king, then he would have inaugurated his worldly kingdom. Then how we would be saved? He didn't go to the cross. No, there was no plan A, there was no plan B. The plan of salvation was decreed from all eternity, as we read earlier there in Acts 2.23, in the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, that Christ would come and be crucified as king. So we see that in his verse, he's king. Not only that, but secondly, in the beginning of his ministry, Christ is king. Turn to John chapter one. John does not give us the genealogy. He jumped right into the ministry of Christ. And after John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus Christ as being the Lamb of God, coming to the world to take away the sins of the world, that's why Christ came. He came that He would take away the sin of the world. Now, notice again, at the very beginning of His ministry, Christ is acknowledged as King. Drop all the way down to verse 45. Okay? After He was baptized the next day, verse 45 says, Philip found in Nathanael, and said unto him, We have found him of whom Moses and the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip said unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no God. Nathanael said unto him, Whence knoweth thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou was under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and said unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel." There it is. How much clearer is the Word of God that shows that Jesus Christ is King. Not that He's going to be King. He is King. And so Nathanael confessed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and also what? The King of Israel. Had nothing about the Jews accepting or not. He was the King of Israel. And we do know Interesting though, when Nathaniel said that, you don't see Christ correcting Nathaniel saying, shh, shh, shh, don't say that, they haven't accepted me yet, don't say that, Nathaniel. No, we don't see any of that. I haven't been accepted as king yet, shh, shh, don't say that yet. No, no, he didn't rebuke Nathaniel because he knew it was a true word that he was king because he is king. For example, Old Testament verses, I'll read them to you. Psalm 89, 18. For the Lord is our defense, the Holy One of Israel is our King. Psalm 44, 6. Thus saith the Lord, the King of Israel, and the Redeemer, the Lord of hosts. So Nathanael understood the title, the King of Israel, and applied it to Christ correctly. Christ understood the role of his kingship, and therefore announces what his establishment of his glorious kingdom at the beginning of his ministry In Mark 1, when it says, now after they put John the Baptist into prison, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, saying, the time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent ye and believe the gospel. So we see in his birth the beginning of his ministry. He's king. But even during his ministry, we see that he is king. Matter of fact, in the Sermon on the Mount, Christ made it clear that it's not lip service that he wants. He wants your heart, all of your heart. And only that will secure admission into his kingdom. Remember what he said there in Matthew 7, 21? Christ says, not everyone that say unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Only he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Let me tell you that Jesus Christ spoke so much of the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God to understand that these terms, kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God, they're synonymous terms. And I'm going to say this, I don't care how great of a lawyer he was and a scholar he was, but C.I. Scofield was wrong. And he's the one that brought all the dispensational stuff. C.I. Scofield was wrong when he tried to separate and divide kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God into two different dispensations. One now and one future. No, these are synonymous terms. And we see this very clearly when you see Christ's application regarding his kingdom parables, where he used the terms, he used both terms, kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven, and he used them interchangeably. The king always was talking about his kingdom. As a matter of fact, one of my favorite verses, what he says there, I'll read to you Matthew 12, 28. Jesus Christ said, but if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. It was there. You know, in John 12, turn there. In John 12, Christ acknowledges his kingship by reminding the Jews, his hearers, that Isaiah had seen him in his glory. Go to John 12. He is getting ready to enter into Jerusalem. The Jews rejected him and attacked him. 37, we'll pick up there, John 12, verse 37. It says, but though he had done so many miracles before them, yet believed not on him. Why? That the saying of Isaiah, the prophet might be fulfilled which he spake, Lord, who had believed a report, And to whom had the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again, He had blinded their eyes, hardened their heart, that they should not see nor understand what their heart, and be converted, that I should heal them. These things, verse 41, these things said Isaiah when he saw His glory and spake of Him. I hope you understand what Christ is saying. It's very powerful. He's quoting from Isaiah chapter 6. Isaiah chapter 6 says this. In the year that King Uzziah died, I also saw the Lord sitting upon the throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. He's talking about His glory. When Isaiah saw His glory sitting upon the throne, that what? That He is King. King. Powerful King. As a matter of fact, interesting to notice I said right before this in John 12 up at verse 12 in this triumphant entry again. John 12 verse 12, on the next day much people they would come to the feast when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem to branches of palm tree Went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel, that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat there on his ridden, fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold, thy King cometh." Amazing. All four gospel accounts, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, they speak of what happened on that particular day. And they all said that all the people were claiming that Jesus Christ was King Hosea the Highest. That was just a week before his crucifixion. The same people that were praising him a week earlier, a week later, screaming out, crucify him, crucify him. You remember what I preached in Sunday school? Words without substance? You can say whatever you mean. Or you can say whatever you want, I meant to say. But if it's from the heart, it's a totally different thing. My, my, my. There's so much there, really, when you think about it. This was just a week before his crucifixion. But they all profess that he's coming into Jerusalem. Here comes the king of Israel. So during his whole ministry, he was king. And thus, forcefully, at the end of his ministry, now they're going to crucify Christ. But we have seen already, as they crucify Christ, what is He? He is King. Again, verse 37. And they said up over his head, his accusation, this is Jesus, the King of the Jews. And again, in all God's little account, Pilate kept asking the Jews, would you that I release unto you the King of the Jews, would I release unto you the King of the Jews? And they would get so mad, so mad. And we read early in John 18 that Christ spoke with Pilate and told him that, basically, that he was king. He said, to this end was I born, for this cause came into the world, that I should bear witness to this truth, that he was what? The king of the Jews. And that's why Pilate said, lo, behold, your king. So even in his crucifixion, he is king. And thus, in his burial, he was king. He was buried in the tomb for three days. And even in his burial, he triumphed, because it says in Colossians 2.15, in heaven's boy principalities and power, he made a show of them openly triumphed over them. My, my, my. You know, in the Old Testament, I love what Joshua wrote that when they would triumph over a king, they would bring the king up to the front, and they would take their leg, and they would put their feet on top of their legs. And then they would show, you know, we beat that country. We beat that empire. And it says there, Joshua 10, it says, come near and put your feet on top of the necks of these kings. And they came near and put their feet on top of their necks. Which, the reason I share this, because this is what I believe the Lord Jesus Christ did when he was put into the tomb in his burial, OK, that Jesus Christ was the victorious king. And this is what I believe Christ did to Satan, put his foot over Satan's head, because Christ triumphed over sin, death, and Satan himself. It's not like that Christ barely resurrected. No, he resurrected totally, powerfully, that he is king, showing forth significant triumph that he is king. I remind you that in Romans 16.20, it says, and the God of Pesha Satan under your feet shortly, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. So yes, even in his burial, he was king. And then how glorious in his resurrection, he is king. If you know anything in the book of the Psalms, you know Psalm 24 speaks of what? Jesus Christ resurrected as king because it says, Lift up your heads, all ye gates, and be lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come. Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your head, all ye gates, even lift them up, everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come. Who is the King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory, Selah. Psalm 24 speaks about the resurrection of Christ, that He resurrected what? As King. And then as we saw earlier, that secondly, Paul preached him in his ministry as king. In Acts 17, Paul, as what is manner, went into them, three Sabbath days, reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening the legend that Christ might suffer, be risen again from the dead, and that Jesus, who I preach unto you, is Christ. And then in verse seven, it says, again, these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying, there's another king, one Jesus. That is, King Jesus. And therefore, we see throughout the whole ministry of Christ, his life, through everything, Jesus Christ is King. King Jesus rules. He reigns in heaven. He rules on earth. And this is what gives me peace at night. And I'm thankful that we live in a country that we do have religious freedom. And I'm so thankful for that. But what gives me peace is that I know that Jesus Christ right now sits upon his throne. And he is the supreme God of the universe, that he's the king, and he rules everything. But I remind you again what everyone will do one day. As it says there in Philippians, wherefore God has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that is the name of Jesus. Every knee shall bow of things in heaven, things in earth, things under the earth, and that every tongue would confess that Jesus Christ is Lord or King to the glory of the Father. You know, in 1 Corinthians 15.25 it says, Christ must reign till he puts all his enemies under his feet. And in 1 Timothy 1.17 it says, now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only one God, beyond and glory forever and ever. 1 Timothy 6.15, which in times you will show forth the blessed and only potentate, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, which is who? King Jesus. And as we saw earlier, Jesus Christ will come. Lastly, in his second coming, he is coming back as what? As King of Kings and Lord of Lords upon his white horse. You can read that again in Revelation 19, that he's coming back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Yes, this victorious King of Kings and Lord of Lords has never and shall never relinquish his rule, his reign, his authority or power or title that he is the living and true king. He is the Lord God Almighty. Again, in Revelation 15, it says, and they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb saying, great and marvelous thy word, O God Almighty, true are thy ways, thou King of saints or thou King of nations, speaking of Christ. And I love what it says there in Jeremiah 10.10, that he is the king of all eternity. It says, but the Lord is the true God. He is the living God and everlasting king or the king of eternity. That's so powerful. And so, yes, this great king of all the earth is the Lord Jesus Christ. And if you're lost this morning, wouldn't you want to serve this great, merciful, compassionate king, this great savior? And I say this to you because you do not want to meet him as your judge on Judgment Day. So this morning, I plead with you, I compel you, bow the knee. Bow the knee, confess him as Lord and Savior. Come to Christ for salvation, that he is the King. Because if you don't do this before you die, you will do it anyway after you die, because you will. Confess that. And so I plead with you this morning, confess your sins, repent from your sins, and flee to the Savior of sinners, He who is, what? The King of mercy, the Lord Jesus Christ. Okay? You know, in Psalm 2 it says, kiss the son, lest he be angry and ye perish from the way, and his wrath is kindled but a little. Oh my, my, my. So again, we have, we have not come to Christ this morning, Come and bow to this King of King and Lord of Lord. Come in repentance toward God and in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ, because we said that He is the sovereign ruler and every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord, that He is King. And that's the title to my sermon, The Crowning of Christ, a Calvary. And I pray that God speaks to your heart that one day, You will meet this King of Kings, but I pray you meet him today in the grace of salvation. And may God add to the preaching of his word this morning. Oh God, Heavenly Father, we thank you so much that your word is so clear. It sets forth that you are the true King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And even in your crucifixion, we have the crowning of Christ at Calvary and sending forth the truth that even in his death, he was king. Buried as king, but thanks be to God, resurrected as king, and coming back as king, as we said. And so, Lord, I pray this morning that you speak with those that are yet outside Christ, that you be pleased to save and amiss, because one day we will all meet and face this king of king and Lord of lords one day. And so, God, we ask all these things in your blessed and holy name. Amen and amen.