Graham didn’t divert much from his series on 2 Timothy this morning neither did he ignore the glorious event that we remember this Palm Sunday.

2 Timothy 4:1 [ 31:10 ] Play in Popup | Download

Palm Sunday

2 Timothy 4:1

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

Intro

In the opening verses of 2 Timothy 3 Paul warned Timothy,

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

I have no idea what such people would think of today’s verse. One who has no confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit, who has a form of godliness but who denies its power, must have little excitement over his appearing and his kingdom rule.

1) Our Past

Jesus claimed to be the Messiah and his entry was a declaration of his kingly rule. The crowds understood his claim and cooperated in the drama by hailing him with the predicted greeting, waving palm branches, and putting their clothing under his feet.

We look back to this, but it is not only a past event. This triumphal entry is the beginning of something that carries in to the centuries following that date, and into the centuries ahead of us.

2) Our Present

(a) In our world.

That is why believers pray “Thy kingdom come.”

(b) In our lives.

What would you be saying if you put your clothing down for someone to walk over?

Each Palm Sunday Christians again invite Jesus to ride into their lives again as Lord, as King.

He does ride in and take residence. We live “in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus.”

See Revelation 3:20-21 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

John 1:10-13 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

3) Our Future

The rule of Jesus will finally be seen in completeness when he judges and when he appears.

(a) “in view of his appearing and his kingdom”

Does this refer to the future or to the rule of Jesus in Paul’s day and ours? The following scriptures might help us come to a conclusion.

1 Timothy 6:13-15 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time- God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

2 Timothy 1:9-11 who has saved us and called us to a holy life- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self- controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope- the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

(b) “in view of”

This means Paul knew he was living with the consciousness of this truth. It is a truth that should shape how we live, not just how we think.