The Greater Jehu
Matthew 21:1-9
November 29, 2020 anno Domini
There are only two times in Scripture where a King walks on garments at his coronation. If you were in my catechesis class this would be a 5000 point bonus question. Everyone would know the one King Jesus, but do you know the other King? Here is a hint. When Elijah found himself seemingly alone after Queen Jezebel put a bounty on his head, the Lord, by His Word, promised Elijah help with three men. Hazael was to be anointed King of Syria. Elisha would be anointed assistant prophet. And there was one more king – Jehu the son of Nimshi would be anointed King of Israel. When Jehu was anointed King his men took their garments, put them on the ground in front of him, blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is King.”
Everything that happens in the Old Testament happens for Christ’s sake. The Old Testament preaches Christ. So what does Jehu teach us of Christ?
Jehu’s first work as King was the execution of God’s enemies. He killed the evil Kings of Israel and Judah. Then he went to Queen Jezebel and had her tossed out the window of her house so the dogs could eat her to fulfill the word of Elijah the prophet. If you’re bothered by all that blood and death you should be. Your sin makes a mess of this world. You’ve assassinated people with gossip and slander and hatred. The Bible isn’t any dirtier or deadlier than your sins.
Jesus enters Jerusalem humble and mounted on a donkey to fulfill the pprophecy of Zechariah, but He also comes to kill like Jehu the son of Nimshi. Who is He coming to kill? Why His enemies of course. He has come to kill you.
This is another unique characteristic of God’s kingdom. In the kingdoms of men someone else is always the enemy. It’s always someone else’s fault. The Republicans blame the Democrats. The socialists blame the capitalists. Small Business blames big business. Hospitals blame the insurance industry. The insurance industry blames the drug companies. Who do you blame? Jesus won’t let you blame anyone else. You and you alone are responsible for your sins. Not your parents, not your older sister, not your husband or wife, not your lousy job. You alone are to blame and because you sin you must die.
Is it any wonder there was such a difference between the crowd on Palm Sunday and Good Friday? Their cries went from “Hosanna, save us Jesus,” to “Give us Barabbas! Crucify Jesus!”
Why? Because we would rather have someone else take the blame than us. Our first reaction to our sin is self-justification. It’s not my fault. I didn’t mean to. I was tired. I didn’t have enough coffee. Work is stressful. I’m sick of COVID. I’m sick with COVID.
Stop it. Repent. Turn away from looking at everyone else’s faults and failures and look in the mirror of God’s law. Have you trusted and loved someone or something more than God? Have you used God’s name for prayer, praise, and thanksgiving or as an explicative of excrement? Have you honored your mother and father and other earthly authorities? Have you been content with your possessions? Have you loved your wife or husband as yourself or had eyes on someone else?
Entrance into the Kingdom of heaven comes by death and resurrection. Sinners don’t get in. Saints get in. The only way for you to get in is to die to sin and to be raise in righteousness. So the Christ comes humbled and riding on a donkey to die for you. He is the greater Jehu. He does death better than Jehu. The Son of God becomes the enemy of God to make the enemies God’s friends. The Son of God comes to be the sinner so the sinner can be righteous, a saint. Jesus takes Jezebel’s place and dies. He takes your place and dies.
There is another interesting connection between Jehu and Jesus. Do you know what normally happened to those who were crucified outside Jerusalem? Because they were considered criminals their bodies got no respect even in death. They were thrown down the hill into the garbage dump where wild dogs roamed and devoured the dead, just like Jezebel. Jesus did not end up in the dump with the dogs. He had some secret disciples in Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus his friend. They knew Jesus was no criminal so they took his body down from the cross, prepared it as best they could, and put it in a new tomb.
Instead of getting what Jezebel got, Jesus does Jehu and Jezebel better and provides a greater ending. He wasn’t devoured by the dogs, by death or by the Devil. Instead by His perfect sacrifice, death swallowed something it could not stomach. The Devil bit off more than he could chew. Once this sinless Son of God took the sin of the world onto Himself and paid for it with His flesh and blood, sin is taken away. No more sin means no more death. No more sin means the Devil has nothing on you. From His garden tomb Jesus descended into hell and proclaimed His victory there. He did not go in humility riding on a donkey. He went in all His glory with the full display of His righteousness to muzzle the Devil. Now that whimpering dog is all bark and no bite. You’re forgiven. When the devil pesters you with your sin, ask him, “I thought Jesus told you, ‘I’m forgiven.” Sin, death, and the Devil your three enemies are defeated.
Baptism was your Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter rolled up into one beautiful sacrament. There Christ came to you humble and riding on the water. There your old sinful self died with Christ in His death and a new man arose to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. You have died to sin and now live to Christ. You entered the Kingdom already by death and resurrection – by Christ on the cross and with Christ in your baptism.
Jehu was hailed King of Israel as he walked on garments on the ground. Jesus is the greater Jehu. He comes to kill and to make alive. He comes to die and be raised. He comes that you might die with Him to sin and be raised with Him to live forever in His Kingdom. Welcome your King who comes like Jehu, but greater than Jehu. In the name of Jesus. Amen.