Cause of Christ

Though very aware of the destination before Him, Jesus humbly participated in a celebration of His entrance into Jerusalem as the King of the Jews. This was obviously not the procession of an installed political figure, but something of much greater significance was being fulfilled. Upon arrival in the promised land, Israel had demanded a ruling human king like that of the surrounding nations, to be adorned and heralded as a leader and powerful protector. This was something that would displace what God had desired to be Himself, the only One they looked to for these things. Looking away from God was what brought their ultimate demise and status as Roman subjects. Their hope and desire in the coming Messiah was someone who would rightly fulfill this lingering desire for a conquering king. In Jesus, though, the arrival of their true King would not be diminished to the pomp and frivolities that would confine His role to that of a monarchy limited in earthly time and scope. Rather than a procession of expensive chariots and carriages drawn by impressive animals, His was an organic celebration erupting from the hearts of those who had been touched by the glory of God. For Jesus, this very well could have been a significant part of His setting the joy before Him of those people for whom He would soon lay down His life. For His accusers, though, this could also have been a final motivation for the role they would play in redemption.

Though the crowds would disperse and the exhilaration subside into mourning, there was a very intentional and deliberate fulfillment of a divine cause being carried out in every completed prophecy. His coming death by crucifixion would be the culmination of this earthly plan for Jesus' role in this cause, and He drew back from nothing that was needed. He submitted completely to the Father’s incredible plan of bringing all mankind into the realm of His Kingship. There will come a day when Jesus returns again on a prancing white horse to rule in the glory of the Father. Until that time, though, He has made a way for all to join Him in fulfilling the great plan yet to be completed on earth. For all who follow Him in refusing to be caught up in the facades of earthly superficialities, there will be a part to play in His rule. The Father’s cause in flooding the earth with His glory so that everyone everywhere knows who truly reigns as King is more than enough reason to let all earthly ties be buried with Him. Making this our cause today ensures a spiritual rising now, but also participation in that great majestic parade yet to come.

Notes

Entrance into Jerusalem

Luke 19:35-40 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. 37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying: " ‘BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

The Celebration of a King

Inappropriate for an earthly reign/Representative of an eternal one
Part of setting the joy before Him/Securing His death sentence
The return of glory to the Father/way made for final rule

The cause of Christ – filling the earth with the knowledge of the glory

Habakkuk 2:14 14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

In giving us the glory, our cause is caught up in the Father’s.

John 17:21-23 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

In Christ – the joining of all nations in the cause

Zechariah 2:11
11 Many nations will join themselves to the LORD on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the LORD of Heaven’s Armies sent me to you.

Through us the cause of Christ is displayed to the world

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 14 But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 15 For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. And who is competent for this?

In that second coming – a throne of judgment

Matthew 25:31 31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

The cause of lawlessness will be consumed in the glory of God

2 Thessalonians 2:8 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

Own cause is secured when joined with His

Luke 9:24-26 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.

2 Corinthians 4:6 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Overview:

In the celebration of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, there was honoring of Him as eternal king.
This parade was significant in returning rule of the hearts to the Father and setting this joy as an enduring cause.
In Christ’s cause the glory would flood the whole earth and its nations through those who join with Him.
In His return will be a grand celebration with those who have joined in His cause to rule with Him forever.
To choose own cause over His is to determine His choice in the end.
To join in His cause is to be flooded with a glory that exceeds and consumes all others.

Prayer:

All glory and blessing be to the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Shine Your glory in my heart and fill me with this great cause of letting the world know Your glory. Secure and establish the purpose of my life in this great cause of Christ and let all distractions be lost in the glory of Your presence.

Declarations:

When I received Jesus as my Savior, the light of His glory shone into my heart with redemption and life purpose.
I am now a continual display of His glory and have taken His cause of spreading this knowledge of Him everywhere.
As I behold His glory, I am changed into that same glory, becoming more and more like Him in appearance and demonstration power.
Wherever I go together in Him, He is causing me to succeed, triumph, and prosper for the testimony of His glory.
I am not ashamed of this eternal purpose in Christ but lay aside every other one to ensure its place.
My blessed hope is to be a part of that coming celebration when Jesus comes to rule in glory.