Jesus was betrayed, arrested, beaten, mocked, crucified and died for the sins of the world. His body was taken down… and placed in a grave.
- And in that moment, it looked like the end.
- But three days later— The grave is empty! Death was defeated! Jesus walked out!
- He is alive!
If you’re not careful you start to see Jesus as the greatest comeback and underdog story of all time.
- So today—let me tell you something clearly:
- Easter is not a comeback story. Jesus is not the underdog.
- He is King.
And that’s Easter.
- He was never out of control—even when it looked like chaos, He was still sovereign.
- He was never behind.
- He was never outmatched.
- He was never trying to pull off a miracle at the last second.
KING JESUS — ALWAYS IN CONTROL
And not just back then—there has never been a moment He lost control… even in your life.
- Even when it felt like everything was falling apart… He was still King.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish… but have eternal life.
- That means this isn’t just about your situation… It’s about your soul.
- You need a king not just for right now… but for your eternity.
Life without King Jesus = Separation from God for eternity.
Life with King Jesus = Life for eternity with God.
THE KING WITH ALL AUTHORITY
King describes Jesus’ nature.
- Omnipotent: He’s all powerful. He answers to no one.
There has never been a moment— not one— where Jesus was under anything.
- And this is where people get it wrong— they think He became powerful…
- that He earned authority…
- No— He’s always been. /// Before time—He was… /// Before anything—He was. ///
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The King stepped into the story.
- Not weak. Not defeated. In control.
- They arrested Him. They beat Him. They crucified Him.
- And it looked like it was over.
- But don’t mistake how it looked… for what was happening.
- From the beginning… to that moment… He was never losing.
This is where we can miss interpret our lives…
We think if God is good… life should feel good.
And if He’s in control… nothing should go wrong. But that’s not reality.
God doesn’t cause the pain… But He hasn’t lost control either.
It all comes back to this— Am I going to trust what I see… or trust who He is?
So what does that mean for you—practically?
- You don’t panic. You don’t rush.
- You don’t believe every thought that says it’s falling apart.
- You stay steady… because He’s still in control.
THE KING WHO WON THE BATTLE (The cross was victory, not defeat)
John 10:18 “No one takes my life from me… I lay it down.”
- That changes everything. They didn’t take His life. He chose to give it.
- This wasn’t something happening to Him… this was on purpose.
- And this wasn’t random—this was written hundreds of years before it happened.
Luke 23:46 “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
And the question is—why?/// Why would a King with all authority… choose a cross?
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Romans 5:8 God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The King who had all authority … used His authority…
NOT to avoid the cross— but to choose it.
He didn’t have to— He chose to. That’s love.
Colossians 2:15 “He disarmed the powers and authorities…”
The cross wasn’t weakness. It was warfare.
- Something was happening on that cross… not in the physical but in the spiritual…
- While they saw a man dying… Jesus was breaking the power behind it all…
- Nobody could see it… From the outside… it looked like loss…
We look at our lives— a setback… financial set back… a diagnosis… a closed door… a broken situation— and we say: “I think I’m losing.” ///
- But what if what you’re looking at… what feels like defeat… is actually where God is working the most?
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Though outwardly we are wasting away… inwardly we are being renewed day by day… For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all… So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen…
So it may look like you’re losing on the outside…
But God is doing something deeper… Stronger… Eternal… On the inside.
- That situation you don’t understand… it’s still under His authority. (build)
- So the battle is not up for debate— because the King has already won.
THE KING WHO STILL REIGNS
(Easter proves He’s ruling right now)
Now this is the moment everything shifts.
- It looked like He lost… It looked like it was over…
- But early Sunday morning…
Matthew 28:1-8 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
He is not here… He has risen!
Matthew 28:18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Revelation 19:16 “King of kings and Lord of lords”
He has all authority. He already won. And He is reigning right now.
This is why our first pillar is EXALT JESUS!
- Because He is King—always in control, holding all authority.
- He didn’t just win the battle then—He is reigning right now, above all, over all.
- And we will never be a church that forgets who sits on the throne—we lift His name higher than anything else.
- And Jesus didn’t become king on easter, He revealed it!
So the question is not— “Did Jesus win?”
The question is— “Who’s ruling your life?”
And the reason you’re tired… the reason you’re overwhelmed…
- the reason you feel like everything is on your shoulders…
- is because you’ve been trying to hold together something only a King can hold.
But here’s the good news—
- The King who rules everything… is the same King who laid down His life for you.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Rest is not just peace and quiet— it’s the confidence that you don’t have to live on edge.
- God told Joshua— he would have rest… meaning… no enemy would be able to stand against him… And through Jesus, that same truth carries over—
Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
- He’s inviting you… Out of the weight… Into rest…
- And into a glory that lasts forever.
He didn’t stay in the grave… He walked out of it… HE IS ALIVE!!
- And the same King who walked out of that grave… is coming back again.
- Not as a servant… not in silence… not in surrender… but as King.
- Every knee will bow… and every eye will see who He’s always been.
- Don’t wait make him King today!