King of Peace
Luke 19:28-46

Focus on the King
The Triumphal Entry
Psalm 24:7-10

• Matthew 21:1-17
  
• Mark 11:1-10
  
• Luke 19:28-48
  
• John 12:12-15

Triumphal Entry ~ Background ~

• The Event
  
• The Environment
  
• C.S. Lewis was right when he said that "Jesus either was and is who he said he was, the Son of God, or else a madman or worse."
  
  • Lord – Liar – Lunatic
• The Feasts!
  
• The Feasts were special times, appointed by God where the covenant people of God come together for a time of spiritual renewal and celebration.
• The Lulov
  
• John 12:12 – palm branches
  
• Matthew 21:8 – the tender branches of the willow
  
• Mark 11:7 – the leafy branches like the myrtle

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9

The King of Peace!

• Luke 19:42 “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace!
  
• “Fear is the dark room where our negatives are developed.”
  
• Ephesians 3:12 “In Christ we can come before God with freedom and without fear. We can do this through faith in Christ.”
• Three decisions are needed this Passion Week:
  
  • Accept God’s love for you
    
    • I John 4:18
      
  • Believe that Jesus died and rose for you!
    
    • Hebrews 2:14-15
      
  • Commit your fears and your life to Christ
    
    • I Peter 3:14-15

There are three kinds of people: those who have sought God and found him, and these are reasonable and happy; those who seek God and have not yet found him, and these are reasonable and unhappy; and those who neither seek God nor find him, and these are unreasonable and unhappy. --- Blaise Pascal

Life, Death and Life After Death
The Resurrection Body - part 2
I Corinthians 15:35-49

What Is Eternal Life?

• Jesus brought clarity about the definition of eternal life and provided the means to obtain it.
  
• John 17:3
  “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

How Do We Know What We Know?

• We need to ask concrete questions
  
• We are to combine faith, reason, and imagination
  
• Begin with real data: Divine revelation
  
• Use earthly analogies (they are only just that!)
  
• Remember the humility of learned ignorance

I Corinthians 15:35-58

• Our Resurrection Bodies
  
• Vs 35 – The question is stated
  
  • Vs 38 – By Divine power!
    
• It is answered:
  
  • Vss 36-38 – In similarity
    
  • Vss 39-41 – By application
    
  • Vss 42-49 – Then, by explanation
• Our Resurrection Bodies
  
• Three considerations:
  
  • The Seed Sown
    
  • Degrees of Glory
    
  • Seven Contrasts

Resurrection Similarities – Vss 36-38

• As a seed
  
• Genesis 3:19 – Dust to dust –
  
  • Burial is a testimony to the hope of resurrection
    
  • In contrast to its wide usage among the Greeks and Romans
    
  • Embalming is mentioned only in the burial accounts of Jacob and Joseph (Genesis 50:2-3, 26)

Degrees of Glory – Vs 41

• There will be a varying degrees of glory
  
• Matthew 13:43 “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
  
• Daniel 12:3 “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”
• Ancient rabbinical commentaries concerning multiple degrees of glory, which the righteous shall possess in the kingdom of heaven.
  
• They make out seven degrees:—
  
  • The first is possessed by tsaddikim – “the just, who observe the covenant of the holy, blessed God, and subjugate all evil affections”
• The second is possessed by those who are yesharim, the upright; whose delight it is to walk in the ways of God and please him.
  
• The third is for temimim, the perfect: those who, with integrity, walk in the ways of God, and do not curiously pry into his dispensations.
  
• The fourth is for kedoshim, the holy ones; those who are the excellent of the earth, in whom is all God’s delight.
• The fifth is for baaley teshubah, the chief of the penitents; who have broken through the brazen doors, and returned to the Lord.
  
• The sixth is for tinukoth shel beith raban, the scholars and tender ones; who have not transgressed.
  
• The seventh is for chasidim, the godly: and this is the innermost of all the departments.

Seven Contrasts:

• Vs 42 – Sown perishable
  
  • raised imperishable
• Vs 43 – Sown in dishonor
  
  • it is raised in glory
• Vs 43 – Sown in weakness
  
  • it is raised in power
• Vs 44 – Sown a natural body
  
  • it is raised a spiritual body
• Vs 45 – Sown a “first Adam
  
  • raised a “last Adam”
• Vs 45 – Sown a living soul
  
  • raised a life-giving spirit
• Vs 47 – Sown bearing the image of the earth, earthy
  
  • raised bearing the image of the heavenly Man

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16

Life, Death and Life After Death
The Resurrection Body
I Corinthians 15:35-58

What Is Eternal Life?

• Jesus brought clarity about the definition of eternal life and provided the means to obtain it.
  
• John 17:3
  “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Our Confidence and Comfort ~ Love that lasts forever

Romans 8:37-39 NRSVA
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Isaiah 51:6
“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment, And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not be abolished.”

Isaiah 46:4
“Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

Psalm 9:7
“But the LORD shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment.”

Hebrews 13:5-6
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Psalm 23:6
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

John 10:27-30
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”

I Corinthians 15:35-58

• Our Resurrection Bodies
  
• Vs 35 – The question is stated
  
  • Vs 38 – By Divine power!
    
• It is answered:
  
  • Vss 36-38 – In similarity
    
  • Vss 39-41 – By application
    
  • Vss 42-50 – Then, by explanation

Resurrection Expressions

• Vs 35 – The question is stated
  
  • Vs 38 – By Divine power!
    
• It is answered:
  
  • Vss 36-38 – In similarity
    
  • Vss 39-41 – By application
    
  • Vss 42-50 – Then, by explanation
    
• Vss 50- 53 – The Mystery of Those That Remain
  
• Vss 54-57 – God’s victory over death
  
• Vs 58 – Final exhortation

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16

Life, Death and Life After Death
Promises Fulfilled

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth , for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." Revelation 21:1-4 (NLT)

What Is Eternal Life?

• Jesus brought clarity about the definition of eternal life and provided the means to obtain it.
  
• John 17:3
  
  • “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Revelation 21:1 – 22:5

• Heaven is portrayed in three different images:
  
  • Revelation 21:1-8 – the tabernacle
    
  • Revelation 21:9-27 – the city
    
  • Revelation 22:1-5 – the garden

God’s Covenant Fulfilled

• Revelation 21:1-8 – the tabernacle
  
  • The image of the tabernacle portrays heavenly life as perfect fellowship with God
    
  • Covenant vow of loyalty fulfilled
• Revelation 21:9-27 – the city
  
  • The symbolism of the city portrays heavenly life as perfect protection
    
  • Covenant vow of protection fulfilled
• Revelation 22:1-5 – the garden
  
  • The image of the garden shows heavenly life as perfect provision
    
  • Covenant vow of provision fulfilled

God of Covenant

• <Hebrew> (ber-eeth)
  
  • in the sense of cutting, an incision
    
• A contract or agreement between two parties
  
• Covenant is an oath sworn in blood between two partners pledging loyalty, protection and provision to one another.

The Covenant Oath:

• Loyalty for life – Strong friendship
  
• Protection – If one is in danger, the other would come to their aid.
  
• Provision – provision unto the exhaustion of personal resources
  
  • Everything that one has belongs to the other; – sharing all things in absolute common

God’s Covenant

• A Bond
  
• A Sign
  
• An Oath
  
• A Blessing

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16