The King in the Courtroom

On the 2nd of June, 1953 at 11am the 27 million people gathered around their 14 inch black and white TV sets. They were following the coronation service from Westminster Abbey. The climax of which was when Geoffrey Fisher, the old Archbishop of Canterbury, placed St Edward's Crown on the Queen's head. The moment the crown touched Elizabeth's head the congregation shouted out "God save the Queen" three times, the trumpets played and a 21 gun salute was fired from the Tower of London.

What is going on behind all the pomp and pageantry? The coronation communicates a reality about the Elizabeth. She was already the Queen before her coronation, but it communicated a reality about her. For all the people watching in the Abbey, on their TV sets at home the message is clear: Elizabeth rules!

Over the last few years we've been looking at the book of Luke which has a similar message: Jesus rules!
Right back in chapter 1:32 the Angel Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to a son who, "will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David…his kingdom will have no end." The first part of Luke shows us Jesus' power. He doesn't rule through an army, but through his word. At a word Jesus rules storms, sickness and even death.

At the end of the first part of Luke, Peter realizes who Jesus is: he is the Christ, God's promised king. Following this, the movement of the story changes direction. In 9:51, Luke says, "As the time approached for him to be taken up in to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem." The climax of Luke's story is Jesus being enthroned in heaven. But before then he must go to Jerusalem. That is where we pick up our story today.

Jesus is in Jerusalem. We've heard over the last few weeks how Jesus was betrayed by Judas, arrested by the temple guards and denied by Peter. Today, we see that The Christ was judged by rebels. Come with me to verse 63:

"The men who were guarding Jesus began to mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?" And they said many other insulting things before him."

While awaiting his trial Jesus is in the care of the soldiers. Luke tells us he is mocked, beaten, blindfolded, demanded of and insulted! And the greatest of ironies, he is told to prophecy who was beating him. The greatest prophet the world ever saw is being mocked for not knowing what will happen. Yet, the tragic irony is Jesus knows exactly what will happen. He's already prophesied it and it's coming true: "He will be turned over the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again."

At day break Jesus is lead before the council made up of the priests and teachers of the law. Jesus is on trial. The trial stays focused on one issue: Who is Jesus? We see that in verse 67:

"If you are the Christ," they said, "tell us." Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer."

They want to know if Jesus is claiming to be the Christ, God's promised king whose kingdom would have no end.

They want to get him in trouble with the Romans for setting himself up as a rival king to Caesar. So they keep on asking Jesus about his identity. Jesus says even if he told them they would not believe him. He's been here before with the Pharisees. Back in chapter 18, when Jesus asked them whether John the Baptist's authority came from heaven or man, they said they didn't know. They knew that if they said it was from God, it would reveal their rebellion against God. This little exchange reminds us that the heart of disbelief in Jesus is not ultimately a head issue, but a heart issue. The Pharisees refused to believe in Jesus' claims because they did not want Jesus to rule over them. That's the heart of sin: refusing to let God be God over our lives.

So as we see God's king beaten by soldiers, judged by men, it's worth asking why? Why did the Christ let rebels judge him? Many expected God's king to come in judgment; to defeat the enemies of the Jews. Yet Jesus said he must be mocked, insulted, spat upon, flogged and killed. Instead of bringing judgment on his enemies, Jesus is judged.

Jesus could have brought judgment on his enemies, but no one would have been able to stand. No one would have been able to escape.

The bad news is we're all by nature rebels deserving judgment. So this is the good news: God's king did not come to judge, but to be judged. His beating by the soldiers, the judgment of the elders leads to his death on the cross. There on the cross Jesus is judged in his people's place. But one day Jesus will return to defeat God's enemies. The Christ will judge all rebels.

Let's look at what Jesus says in verse 69:

"But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."

The trial is driving at who Jesus is. Jesus calls himself the Son of Man. The Son of Man of Man was a figure from the book of Daniel who is given all authority by God. Jesus is in effect saying, you think you have authority over me to judge, think again! I'm the one with all authority. He cranks it up another notch. When he says he'll be seated at the right hand of God he's referring to Psalm 110. He is the one who will defeat God's enemies and restore God's rule. It's as if he's saying to his judges, "You have no authority to judge me. I'm God's judge, and I have authority over you!" So they all ask in verse 70:

"Are you the Son of God?" He replied, "You are right in saying I am." Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips."

Jesus is claiming a unique position. He's claiming to be able to sit next to God as his virtual equal. He's says, "I'm God's vice regent!" Jesus could not make a bigger claim. For the Jewish court it is enough; no more testimony is needed in this trial. Jesus has condemned himself! In their mind Jesus has been blasphemous, he has claimed God as his virtual equal. They can now take him to the Romans so the foreigner can execute him. The court of men issue Jesus with a verdict of blasphemy. He is a liar. Yet there is another court at work here.

Jesus says he'll be seated at the right hand of God. The elders see this claim as offensive to God. Yet the resurrection shows Jesus had a personal invitation from his Father to sit at his right hand. In the resurrection it is as if God pulls out the chair to welcome the Son. Following his resurrection Jesus ascended to heaven. There he takes his throne at the right hand of God. His enthronement in heaven, like the Queen's coronation, communicates a reality.

God's exaltation of Jesus to his right hand side communicates in reality who he is. Jesus is God's king, and he rules!

And the question for us this morning is which courtroom will you side with? The elders say Jesus is a blasphemous liar. God's courtroom receives him as vice regent, and declares him the judge of all men. Men call Jesus a liar; God calls Jesus his Son. The division of opinions could not be more divided. They can't both be right. So let me ask you, who are you siding with this morning?

It's a decision that has eternal consequences. There is no middle ground: Jesus is Lord of all or not at all. If we acknowledge him as our rescuer king now we will enjoy his coming rule as freedom, peace and joy. But if we reject him, we will experience his coming rule as conquest, death and judgment.

After the Queen was crowned she was enthroned. Once seated, the Archbishop, her husband, and her Lords and Ladies kneel before her and make a vow to serve her. Again, kneeling before someone on a throne is picture language for saying, "She is my Queen, and I serve her."

Imagine if once enthroned Prince Philip refused to kneel before the Queen, said, "I'm not serving you!" It would be a shocking sign of public rebellion before the Queen. There would have been gasps of astonishment in the Abbey! But that's nothing compared to rebelling before God's king. If we refuse to acknowledge Jesus as King, saying, "I'm not serving you" with our lives then we make him our enemy. It's a battle we will not win. When he returns we will face judgment.

You may feel Jesus is irrelevant. Maybe bland at best? Jesus' ascension to his throne in heaven means he's the most relevant person you will ever meet. He's your king. Are you ready to meet him?

Let me be clear, God's king's enthronement is good news. God is at work to restore his rule in this world. Jesus did not come first in judgment; he came first to save. His route to his throne was via the cross. Think back to those soldiers who beat and mocked him. He went to the cross for them. Think back to all the times you've ignored his rule in your life. He went to the cross for you. The Christ will save rebels who acknowledge him. Jesus ascended into heaven to allow time for men and women to acknowledge him as king.

If you put your trust in him as your rescuer and king then his coming rule is good news. It's salvation!

There's a Unilever advert doing the rounds at the moment. It's called 'So long, old world' highlighting how Unilever's charity work is bringing about a new world. It starts with a child saying, "The end of the world is near because a new one is just beginning. A world where our basic needs are met. Where all kids have access to education. Where every child learns healthy habits. It's the end of the world as we know it and that's a good thing. When you choose Unilever you choose a bright future."

The advert nails the fact we long for a better world: one characterized by freedom, peace and joy. But we know Unilever can't to deliver it. We can buy all the Domestos bleach in the supermarket, Unilever won't deliver the world we long for. Neither will that promotion, nor the pay rise, nor the new home or the holiday either. Do you see how we look to the wrong rescuers? We long a world of peace, freedom and joy, but only God's king can deliver it! That's the world that the Christ saves us for.

That is the message of the church: Jesus rules! Our job is to tell people Jesus is their king. Our job is tell folks to turn from rebellion, and submit to the coming king so they can enjoy the freedom, peace and joy that he will bring.

Yes, his kingship is denied in the world. But the seating of Christ by the Father communicates the reality: Jesus rules! This should give us confidence to proclaim the coming king. At the coronation service the Queen is given an orb with a cross on top, literally a globe with a cross on top. The Archbishop gives it with these words:

"Receive this Orb set under the Cross,
and remember that the whole world
is subject to the Power and Empire
of Christ our Redeemer."

It's a visual aid to remind the Queen who is her judge. It reminds the Queen who is the real authority! It's Jesus. Now it'd be lovely to give a 17th century golden orb to everyone this morning, but reading this part of God's word is even better than getting a golden orb! It reminds us who our king is.

If we know who is the boss then we'll have boldness to announce his reign to our friends. If we remember who is king then we'll be able to obey Christ's commands in the face of temptation. If we remember who is on the throne we'll be able to hold onto his promises in suffering. As we live like that in the power of the Spirit then Christ's reign is made visible to Gateshead. Be encouraged: as you live for Jesus you make his reign visible. Our gathering here this morning makes Christ's reign visible. As churches gather across town we give a tiny foretaste of the world to come to Gateshead.

Let's sum up. We've seen that the Christ was judged by rebels. But he rose from the grave and ascended to his throne in heaven. One day he will judge all rebels, but he is willing to save rebels who turn to him. Jesus rules so bow the knee before it's too late. And bow in adoration at the king who died for you.