FINAL PRESENTATION & REJECTION OF THE KING

 

                                Matthew 21-23

MATTHEW RECORDS THE LAST CALL TO HIS OWN

AS JESUS THE KING CLAIMS MOUNT ZION HIS THRONE
RIDING A COLT AMIDST SHOUTS FROM THE CROWD
“HOSANNAH! SON OF DAVID!” IN HONOR THEY BOWED.

HISTORY AND PROPHECY CONVERGE NOW IN TIME
FULFILLING THE WORDS OF ZACHARIAH 9:9
“SEE, YOUR KING COMES ON THE FOAL OF AN ASS!”
TRIUMPH AND VICTORY WOULD SOON COME TO PASS!

BUT SAD IS THE STORY WHEN VISION IS BLURRED
AND CRIES FOR A CROSS BEGIN TO BE HEARD
THE FIG TREE NOW WITHERED PRODUCES NO FRUIT
LIKE ISRAEL REJECTED, DESTROYED AT ITS ROOT.

THE TEMPLE THAT ONCE HELD THE GLORY OF GOD
WAS BUSY WITH MERCHANTS CORRUPTING ITS SOD
BY FILLING THE COURTYARD WITH LIVESTOCK AND DOVES
HIS HOUSE WAS NOW PRAYERLESS AND EMPTY OF LOVE.

AFTER HE CHASED ALL THE MERCHANTS AWAY
THE PHARISEES ASKED WHY HE DID IT THIS WAY.
HIS STORIES EXPOSED THE SINS THEY HAD DONE
LIKE LEASING A VINEYARD AND KILLING THE SON.

THE STONE THAT THE BUILDERS REJECTED WAS CHRIST
AS RULERS TOOK COUNCIL TO SHORTEN HIS LIFE
THE STORY HE TOLD OF A KING'S WEDDING FEAST
WAS MEANT TO CONDEMN EVERY SCRIBE, EVERY PRIEST.

SOME QUESTIONS WERE GIVEN TO TRAP HIM ONE DAY
LIKE MARRIAGE IN HEAVEN OR TAXES TO PAY
HE ANSWERED DISCRETELY FROM GOD'S WRITTEN WORD
EXPOSING THEIR MOTIVES HE CLEARLY OPPOSED.

JESUS THEN ASKED WHO MESSIAH WOULD BE?

“THE SON OF KING DAVID THE PROPHET'S DECREE!”

SO WHY DID THE KING CALL MESSIAH HIS LORD?
SINCE THAT'S WHAT THE PSALM MAKES SO CLEAR IN THE WORD?

THE RULERS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS CLAIM
THAT HE WAS MESSIAH, EMANUEL WHO CAME
THEIR HEARTS BECAME HARDENED, REFUSING TO SEE
THAT HE WAS BOTH MAN AND SUPREME DEITY.

THE PHARISEES TAUGHT ALL THE LAW MOSES WROTE
YET FAILED TO APPLY WHAT GOD SAID WHEN THEY SPOKE
THEY GREEDILY SOUGHT APPROVAL AND FAME
BUT ALL OF THEIR DEEDS SHOWED DECEPTION AND SHAME.

THE KING THEN PRONOUNCED SEVEN WOES THEY DESERVED
CONDEMNING THEIR ACTIONS AND WORKS HE EXPOSED
YET FULL OF COMPASSION HE PLEADS ONE LAST TIME
THAT ISRAEL AGAIN LIKE A BEACON WOULD SHINE.
---B. PENT

INSTRUCTIONS OF THE KING

         

                                   MATTHEW 16-20

THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM THAT OPEN THE DOOR

TO THE HIDDEN MYSTERY NOT SHOWN THEM BEFORE
BEGAN WITH A QUESTION TO THE CROWD STANDING BY
“WHOM DO MEN SAY IS THE ONE FROM ON HIGH?”

MANY OPINIONS WERE GIVEN THAT DAY

“JEREMIAH, ELIJAH OR JOHN” SOME WOULD SAY
BUT PETER CONFESSED IN A VOICE LOUD AND CLEAR
“YOU ARE THE CHRIST, YAHWEH'S SON WHO CAME NEAR!”

JESUS THEN TURNED IN RESPONSE TO THAT “NAME.”

“YOU ARE A STONE! I'M THE ROCK THAT YOU CLAIM!”
THEN HE ANNOUNCED THAT THE CHURCH WOULD BE BORN
OUT OF HIS DEATH LIVING STONES HE WOULD FORM.

ONCE THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH HAS BEEN LAID

DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING MUST THEN BE MAINTAINED
DENYING ONE'S SELF AND BY BEARING HIS CROSS
VICTORY IS PROMISED, ALL ELSE IS BUT LOSS.

AS GROUNDWORK FOR THE CHURCH'S FOUNDATION

HE SPOKE OF HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
REVEALING PROOF HE WAS THE ONE
THE PROPHETS SAID WAS YAHWEH'S SON.

UNTIL THEN, HIS GLORY WAS HIDDEN FROM THEM

HIS OUTWARD APPEARANCE LIKE ALL OTHER MEN.
THEN AT THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN ONE DAY
HE WAS TRANSFIGURED IN BRILLIAN ARRAY.

ELIJAH AND MOSES APPEARED WITH HIM THERE

AS JESUS' CLOSE FRIENDS CONTINUED TO STARE
PETER SUGGESTED THREE BOOTHS TO BE MADE
BUT GOD SAID: “MY SON IS TO BE OBEYED.”

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS WERE SHARED WITH HIS MEN

CONCERNING THE CHURCH WHO ON HIM WOULD DEPEND
ISSUES OF SERVICE, FORGIVENESS, DIVORCE
DEALING WITH FACTIONS THAT STEER ONE OFF COURSE.

AFTER SOME CHILDREN WERE BROUGHT TO BE BLESSED

JESUS MADE CLEAR THAT THE ROAD TO SUCCESS
WAS NOT BUILT WITH GOLD OR PRESTIGE ON EARTH'S SOD
BUT FAITH AS A CHILD FORMS THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

THE MASTER THEN LIKENED OUR SERVICE FOR HIM

AS GRAPES FROM A VINE WITH A HARVEST TO WIN
SOME PLANT OR WATER THE SEED THAT IS SOWN
GOD GIVES THE INCREASE FOR HIS PRAISE ALONE.
--B. Pent