Sunday Leftovers (1/6/08)

The triumphal entry of Christ prior to His crucifixion testifies to His Messiahship and Kingship, and prefigures His victory at the cross. What is not understood by the massive crowds and even the disciples that day was the significance of the triumphant Christ.

He came as Messiah. He came as the One appointed by God in eternity past to rectify man's problem. Not man's problems, but man's problem. He did not come to solve economic depression, social ills, moral failures, physical infirmities, or social injustices (though in His grace He did on occasion minister to people in those ways). He did come to demonstrate His victorious sovereignty over sin. He came as the triumphant victor over sin. William Hendriksen delineated a number of ways in which Christ demonstrated His authority and victory:

• He was victorious over Satan in the wilderness of temptation
• He was victorious in binding the power of Satan
• He was victorious in repeatedly casting demons from people
• He was victorious in preventing Satan from carrying out his plan until it became God's time
• He was victorious by taking away Satan's right to accuse believers
• He was victorious by sealing Satan's fate of death and stripping his power

The effect of this work by Christ is that the believer can hear the words "fear not" and be confident that God has provided everything he needs not to fear. In fact, more than 100 times in Scripture God commands His followers to "fear not." And the reasons why this is possible are rooted in the triumph of Christ — and a host of other reasons:

• We will not die apart from God’s gracious decree for his children.
• Curses and divination do not hold sway against God's people.
• The plans of terrorists and hostile nations do not succeed apart from our gracious God.
• Man cannot harm us beyond God’s gracious will for us.
• God promises to protect His own from all that is not finally good for them.
• God promises to give us all we need to obey, enjoy, and honor him forever.
• God is never taken off guard.
• God will be with us, help us, and uphold us in trouble.
• Terrors will come, some of us will die, but not a hair of our heads will perish.
• Nothing befalls God's own but in its appointed hour.
• When God Almighty is your helper, none can harm you beyond what he decrees.
• God’s faithfulness is based on the firm value of his name, not the fickle measure of our obedience.
• The Lord, our protector, is great and awesome.

Christ is victor. Do not fear.