KING OF ISRAEL! SON OF GOD!

Matthew’s account of the crucifixion points out two key charges against Jesus that put Him on the cross. These reasons were key to the Roman and Jewish leaders. Those reasons – “Son of God” and “King of Israel.” Interestingly enough, these are some of the same reasons that our Lord God put His son on the cross. The key difference is how they regarded these claims – true or false.

KING OF ISRAEL!

Let’s begin by looking at Jesus as King of Israel. Some form of the phrase appears 4 times in Matthew 27.

Matthew 27:11 (ESV)

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so."

Matthew 27:27-31 (ESV)

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. [28] And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, [29] and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" [30] And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. [31] And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

Matthew 27:37 (ESV)

And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."

Matthew 27:41-42 (ESV)

So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, [42] "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.

This is the charge that the Jewish leaders used to get the Romans to crucify Him. Jesus was being portrayed as a rebel and threat to Rome.

Of course it is clear they though that the charge was true, but it had no basis in fact.

Look at how they mocked him. A crown of thorns on his head. The mockery on the cross while He was dying to save a people for Himself.

But the charge against Jesus is true, because it is based on the facts. The Jews and Romans did not understand the nature of the kingdom of this king.

John 18:36 (ESV)

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."

Jesus purpose was not to be a political king over a geographic kingdom. Jesus purpose was to be King over all of God’s chosen people regardless of geography or ethnicity. King of True Spiritual Israel forever.

The one who died on our behalf reigns even now over His people. His death allowed Him to take His throne.

Matthew 26:64 (ESV)

Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Ephes. 1:20 (ESV)

that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

Rev. 5:7 (ESV)

And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.

Jesus Christ right now reigns over His people and over His church.

SON OF GOD

Jesus also died because He was and is the Son of God.

This was a blasphemous claim, if it is not true. Three times some form of this phrase appears in Matthew 27

Matthew 27:40 (ESV)

and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

Matthew 27:43 (ESV)

He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.' "

Matthew 27:54 (ESV)

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

While the authorities view this claim as doubtful, we would hear the clear testimony of Scripture know otherwise.

Jesus was in fact crucified because He is the Son of God. It was a necessity. Only one who was God Himself could make such a sufficient and efficient sacrifice. One one who was infinitely holy, perfectly obedient, and yet in the flesh of man could make the sacrifice required.

Son of Man. Surely He was! Surely He is!

The Son of God making us sons of God.

Galatians 3:26 (ESV)

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Galatians 4:4-6 (ESV)

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. [6] And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

Hebrews 2:10 (ESV)

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

We have much privilege because of Christ' death on our behalf. We are made sons of God. We are made citizens of the Kingdom of God. But more importantly, we are made clean, forgiven, and right with God because the Son of God, King of Israel took the wrath of God on our behalf.

Of course this is not the end. If Christ is only crucified there is much left undone. But as Paul Harvey would say "That is the rest of the story." The story to be told and celebrated on Easter Sunday.