Worship Christ, the Risen King

What this episode covers

The resurrection is crucial to Christianity. Calling people to embrace Jesus, the risen King is the central topic of Apostolic preaching and writing. Last week, Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey to shouts of “Hosanna!” He was treated like a king. But by Thursday night he was being arrested, mocked, and beaten. By Friday morning the Romans were scourging and crucifying him. Easter or Resurrection Sunday transitions from Christ’s humiliation to exaltation. No longer the crucified King, Christ becomes the risen King. Everyone, everywhere, is always engaged in the act of worship because we are created in the image of God who is and always has been in the act of pouring himself out within the Trinity. The story of Easter reveals why worship is wasted whenever it is spent on anyone or anything other than God through Christ. Read Matthew 28:1-10 The Glory of the Risen King (1-3) This angel’s appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. Figurative language describes the angel in a way that is consistent with the descriptions of God himself. The angel of the Lord is dressed in the same “white” garments that the Ancient of Days wore in Daniel’s vision (Dan. 7:9). References to lightning and trembling may come from another vision of Daniel that is recorded in 10:6-7. The angel’s white garments represent purity. This is a heavenly creature who has never known sin. Our picture of angels is often distorted by what we have seen in the movies or tv shows or even toilet paper commercials. Angels are typically represented as cute and cuddly. In reality, almost every time an angel appears to a person, they are fearful, trembling, falling down. It was completely natural for the guards to react with fear. Now imagine the glory of this angel multiplied many times over surrounding the throne of the risen King and worshiping Him. All-day, every day these angels do the bidding of our Lord! All the glory and power that they represent is poured out upon Jesus and none of it is wasted. It is a beautiful glimpse into eternity. The resurrection was the first fruits of the glory of Jesus Christ. For many, who didn’t understand the full meaning of who Christ was, it was the resurrection that compelled them to believe. They understood Jesus to be a friend and a close companion. But many of them saw his radiant glory and power for the first time. The glory of Christ’s transcendence – His supremacy – should magnify the grace of his immanence. Some of you have an appreciation for the surpassing greatness of God. You find comfort when you reflect upon the fact that God is sovereign. I certainly am one of those people. Because we live in an uncertain world, I appreciate the knowledge that God is never uncertain or caught off guard by the circumstances in which I find myself. But it is equally important to acknowledge those who have an appreciation for the nearness of God. Your tendency is to be moved by the language of Christ’s compassion and tenderness that he shows to individuals. You need to hear the powerful truth that God will never leave you nor forsake you. The amazing truth is that Christ is both transcendent as well as immanent. He is gloriously above all things, but he is also lovingly near all who trust in Him. Both truths are incredibly powerful. Although each of us probably tends toward one or the other, we need to recognize that both are valid and true. And when you combine them, your faith is strengthened. Have you seen the Lion Whisperer video? It’s really a commercial for GoPro cameras, but the video is so powerful. A man has befriended an entire pride of lions. He rescued these cubs and raised them in the wild and you see them running up to him and giving him hugs and licking his face and head. The thing that makes the video so incredible is the fact that he is rolling around on the ground with full-grown lions. One swipe of the lion’s paw can take his life, but when t

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.