Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: Personally Anointing Christ as King

Theme: Examining Truths in the Triumphal Entry

Series: Easter Season Messages

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor.

Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair.

And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Him, objected, ‘Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?

It was worth a year's wages.’

He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied.

‘It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of My burial.

You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me.’

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of Him but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in Him.

The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem.

They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting, ‘Hosanna!’

‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the King of Israel!’

Let us pray!

Biblical examination of the “Triumphal Entry”

In Jerusalem the chief priests were making plans to kill Jesus and anyone who God was using to draw people to Christ.

(John 12:10-11) There are many truths worth grasping as we take time to take a Biblical examination of the “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem and the day just preceding Palm Sunday.

Those sad days brought sorrow upon Mary and those who loved the Lord Jesus Christ.

We see Lazarus enjoying fellowship with Christ after being raised from the dead.

We see Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet, growing in grace and knowledge of the Son of God as well as Martha serving, exercising her gift of hospitality.

This Biblical account gives us some essentials for the Body of Christ.

They are walking in victory over sin and death, worshiping and giving adoration to the Lord, and service to the King of kings.

I would propose to you that when Christians grasp the truth of Jesus Christ being King as well as Savior they want to live a life that says, “I care about Jesus’ Kingship in my life.”

The Holy Spirit wants you to understand that Jesus holds many places of authority such as Savior, Teacher, Great Shepherd, and Healer, however, our kingless culture and democratic process down play the very important matter of Jesus as “Messiah,” “The Christ,” being “God’s Anointed.”

Just what are the steps to proclaiming Jesus Christ as the King to whom everyone someday will bow their knee and every tongue will confess that He is the Lord?

(Philippians 2:9-10)

Know Jesus as God’s Messiah

The first step to truly proclaiming a life that says “Hosanna!” “Blessed is the King of Israel, blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord” is to know Jesus as God’s Messiah.

John 1:41 says, “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ)…”

Andrew’s actions reflect a Holy Spirit illuminated heart about Jesus Christ being not only Savior, but God’s anointed faithful High Priest (Psalm 110:4), Prophet of God (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) and I purposely repeat, “Anointed King” (2 Samuel 7:12-13).

These three officials in the Old Testament were always anointed with oil, a symbol of the Holy Spirit who perfectly anointed the Christ, the Messiah.

(Luke 3:21-22; John 1:32-33) It is imperative that Christians understand that “Messiah” (Hebrew - masiyah) and “Christ” (Christos) mean “Anointed one.”

Anointed as “Priest,” Jesus intercedes for us.

Hebrews 7:21-25 says, “[Jesus] became a priest with an oath…” [and] because He lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood… He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for [the saints of God].”

As anointed “Prophet” He leads in all truth.

John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.”

Matthew 22:16 says, "‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.’”

As anointed King He reigns over all to whom they will give an accounting.

Philippians 2:9-11 says “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus personally accepted this title “Messiah” and “Christ” at least three different times in the New Testament.

(Matthew 16:17; Mark 14:61-62; John 4:26) What is the work of the God’s “Messiah” the “Christ?”

We read of Jesus’ answer to that question in Luke 4:17.

Here, Jesus makes His way to the place of worship, which was the custom of His life.

(Luke 4:16) In the Synagogue worship was not perfect, yet He went to the house of the Lord to worship with God’s people.

Starting at verse 17 and going through to verse 20 in the Book of Luke, “The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him.

Unrolling it, [Jesus] found the place where it is written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because [God] has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.’

Then [Jesus] rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.

The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him, and He began by saying to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’"

The Holy Spirit moved upon the apostle Paul to write about what Jesus purchased for all who would approach Him in repentance, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

(2 Corinthians 6:2) Humanity groans under the headings, “poverty,” “broken-heartedness,” “bondage” and “blindness.”

In a sense Jesus says, “He was anointed to set those in the bondage of sin free and give spiritual eye sight to those who were blinded to the light of the gospel.”

The “Salvation” (soteria) that Paul is referring to here is deliverance from the bondage of sin and its penalty of death and eternal damnation.

God’s “Messiah” the “Christ” is the salvation of all men but only enjoyed by those who have Godly sorrow, people who are sorry because they have sinned against the Lord, not sorrowful over suffering the consequences of sin.

Jesus Christ, God’s anointed, purchased for Christians first, a once-for-all experience of salvation.

This free gift is initiated when a person bound by sin recognizes his standing with God, acknowledges the separation, then trusts in Christ as Savior and Lord.

This not only brings deliverance from sin but the assurance that Christians will not be separated from God’s presence now and in eternity.

In Luke we read of another time when Jesus received a personal anointing.

It was when Jesus was having dinner at a Pharisee’s house.

While having dinner an unnamed woman, deep in humiliation for her sins comes and wets His feet with her tears.

She wipes them with her hair, kisses His feet and pours perfume on them.

It is very possible she had become convicted of her past sins while Jesus taught somewhere and at this time she longed to be in His presence to show the Lord her affection.

Jesus said she loved much and He told Simon, “…her many sins have been forgiven… ” Jesus told the woman, “…your sins are forgiven.”

(Luke 7:47) He also told her “Your faith has saved you, go in peace.”

(Luke 7:50)

As we read the Biblical account of the sinful woman anointing Jesus, we see a repentant sinner entirely devoting this task to the Lord’s honor owning Him to be the “Messiah,” “the Christ,” “the Anointed.”

Thus showing us the truly repentant have a dear love for Christ and personally anoint Him as their Prophet, Priest and King.

Jesus Christ, God’s anointed, purchased for Christians secondly a salvation that is a continued work of “Sanctification.”

A repentant sinner is placed in a new covenant of grace involving the process of being made holy.

The Apostle Paul writes about the results of this new covenant under the blood of Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

This is an awesome passage of Scripture.

Paul had been talking about a veil being over the spiritual heart.

When the repentant sinner receives Jesus Christ into his heart and life by faith, that veil is taken away.

Even as Christians the veil of sin can make its way back, but when sin is confessed Christians look upon the Lordship of Christ with great expectation of living a life of righteousness.

They are literally being transformed, changed by the power of the Holy Spirit who anointed Christ in His earthly ministry.

This salvation found in Christ enables the children of God to behold Him.

Dr. H.A. Ironside told the true story about an old Scot who lay suffering and actually heading into the shadows of physical death.

He had been told by a doctor who was a real friend that “his moments on this earth are but few.”

Another friend came by and said, “They tell me you will not be with us long.

I hope you get a glimpse of the Savior’s blessed face as you enter the shadows of physical death.”

The physically dying man gathered his strength and said, “I will not be satisfied with just a glimpse, I want to behold the Christ of whom I have been being made like over these last forty years.”

Salvation found in Christ enables the child of God to enjoy a continual sanctification and causes them to behold Him.

“Beholding” (katoptrizo) means grasping the glory of the Lord as reflected in the Word of God.

This is in great contrast to those who want to hang onto their unbelief just as the Jews did in Paul’s day of preaching the Gospel.

He writes about them in 2 Corinthians 3:14-15, “But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read.

It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.

Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.”

The Holy Spirit writing through Paul sets the direction for having the veil of not understanding taken away.

Paul writes in verse 16, “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”

The veil was certainly taken way from Mary’s heart.

She was able to behold Jesus Christ as she personally anointed Him in Bethany during a dinner that was given to honor Christ.

Our key text today says, “Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair.

And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”