Jesus has a Greater Kingdom
Sermon Audio
Sermon Notes
Intro:
Today we’re continuing our series on a book of the bible called Esther, and it’s all about God’s hidden work, in our imperfect world. Last week we talked about our desire to be kings and queens, and how Jesus is a greater King. Today we’re gonna talk about how it’s never a great kingdom when sinners sit on a throne...It’s never a great kingdom when sinners sit on a throne, and there’s a myth every generation chases in life. It’s the myth that if we can be our own kings and queens, do whatever we want and make our own rules, then we’d live a happy life in a happy kingdom. Every generation chases that myth. It’s an unspoken desire in our hearts, and it’s evident by the fact that we get angry when people don’t do what we want. We get angry when our spouse, kids, roommates, or even when God doesn’t do what we want.
Now the reason we get angry is because it’s challenging our kingship, our queenship, our authority to rule and reign. It’s challenging our ability to live the way we want, and so we respond with anger, frustration, possibly even separation from the relationship we’re in. This type of kingship and queenship leads to dysfunctional, unharmonious kingdoms, marriages, families, and relationships. It’s exactly the type of kingdom the Persian King is building in the book of Esther. It’s a dysfunctional, unharmonious kingdom built on fear and force, where the king’s willing to cut even his own wife off if she doesn’t do what he wants. But Jesus is a greater King with a greater Kingdom that’s not built on fear and force, it’s built on love, and that’s what we’re gonna talk about today. So let’s turn to Esther 1:10-22 and get into it. It’s Esther 1:10-22 located in the FRONT quarter part of your bible. The title of today’s message is Jesus Has A Greater Kingdom, and here’s the big idea. It’s never a great kingdom when sinners sit on a throne. But Jesus is a greater King with a greater Kingdom...It’s never a great kingdom when sinners sit on a throne. But Jesus is a greater King with a greater Kingdom.
Context:
Here’s your context. Last week we learned in vs. 1-9 that King Ahasuerus was the king of Persia between 486-465 B.C. and we know him better by the name Greek Historians have given him which is King Xerxes. Now as I mentioned last week the Persian Empire was the largest empire in human history, and at one point they ruled over 44% of the world’s population. During the time Esther was written, Xerxes was considered the wealthiest and most powerful king in the world. He was a very wealthy, powerful, greedy, narcissistic king who wanted to be worshiped as a god, except there’s one problem. His power proves powerless, over his own wife...In vs. 10-22 we’ll see his power proves powerless, over his own wife, Queen Vashti. Let’s check it out.
The Word:
Esther 1:10-22 states, “On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine...” He’s drunk...Xerxes is drunk...In vs. 1-9 we learn he throws a huge 6 month all inclusive party for thousands of his government officials and military. It’s an all you can eat and drink 6 month party. He’s about to go to war with the Greeks, and so he’s flexing to show he has the wealth and power to win the war. He then allows other Persians, including the poor, to party with him for 7 extra days, and on the 7th day he’s drunk. It’s not a sin to drink, but the bible’s wise in teaching us to not overconsume if we do drink, because it’ll affect our judgement. We make poor decisions when we’re drunk, just like Xerxes is about to make a poor decision while he’s drunk.
Again vs. 10, “On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus...” The text says they’re all eunuchs, meaning they’re all castrated. The Persians sometimes castrated men so they couldn’t have large families, rebel against the king, and create their own dynasties. But in this case, the men are castrated so they can serve the kings numerous wives and concubines without him fearing they’ll have sex with them. Xerxes had numerous wives and concubines, which were women he didn’t marry but he’d keep around for sex. Most of them hardly ever saw him, but he still didn’t want them messing around. So he had eunuchs serving them, and in vs. 11 he tells these eunuchs to...
Vs. 11, “...to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at.” This is where he makes a stupid drunk decision. He decides to trophy his wife before a bunch of drunk men. The text says he wants to show the other men Queen Vashti’s beauty. His wife’s just another treasure, another possession to him, and he’s treating her like a trophy wife. The royal crown he wants her to wear isn’t a metal crown, it’s a silk turban with jewels in it, and some scholars believe he’s asking her to come partially naked or fully naked wearing just that on her head. We’re not certain if that’s the case, but we’re certain he’s treating his wife like an objectified trophy, and wants to parade her around thousands of drunk men. There’s men who do this today, they’ll treat their wife, girlfriend, or other women like objectified trophies. But ladies you’re not an objectified trophy to be paraded around a bunch of men. Don’t degrade yourself like that...You’re worth so much more than that...Don’t degrade yourself to an objectified trophy by dressing down, being a sex object, or revealing yourself to a man who isn’t your husband, just to get a holler or somebody throwing dollars at you with their eyes. Men we need to help the ladies by bouncing our eyes, not throwing dollars with our eyes, not undressing them with our eyes. We need to encourage the ladies in our lives to not settle for being treated like an objectified trophy like Xerxes is doing with his wife. This is a very degrading moment for Queen Vashti. Let’s see how she responds.
Vs. 12, “But Queen Vashti refused to come...” She refused to come...and the truth is we don’t know the exact reason why she refuses to come. The author never tells us why, and it’s because Vashti’s not the main point. The main point the author’s making is Xerxes isn’t as powerful as he thinks he is, because his power is proved powerless, over his wife. Vs. 12-22 are meant to be read with a little satire like humor. I mean here we have the great, mighty, powerful King Xerxes at a party with all his boys, puffing out his chest, roaring like a lion. But Vashti’s refusal makes him meow like a kitten...Xerxes is trying to roar, but Vashti’s making him meow... It’s that awkward moment at a party where the record scratches, music stops, and everybody’s head turns. It’s a very awkward situation for Xerxes, because nobody’s ever stood up to him like this before. Yet here’s his wife saying no. She says no to the most powerful man in the world, and everybody sees it. It’s a huge deal because this entire party’s about Xerxes flexing his wealth and power to prove he has what it takes to defeat the Greeks. But if he can’t lead his wife, how can he lead his army to victory? Xerxes power is being proved powerless, over his own wife.
Again vs. 12, “But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.” Xerxes becomes enraged over her refusal, and historians say he was known for his violent temper. For example a year after this happens with Vashti, he marches his military from Turkey to Greece. But to get to Greece he needs to build a bridge for his armies to cross the strip of water that separates Turkey from Greece. Well a storm destroys the bridge before they can cross, Xerxes gets angry, and beheads his engineers for not building the bridge right. Greek historian Herodotus said he also sent soldiers in the water with whips to lash the ocean 300 times for not complying with his Greek invasion. He literally thought he was a god, so he’s punishing the water for not complying. Persian kings were known for having rage against those who didn’t comply. They’d even execute their advisors if they didn’t give them advice they wanted to hear. So they really didn’t want advice, they wanted compliance, and if you didn’t comply they’d either execute you or exile you. It’s not much different than our kingship and queenship, because we’ll execute or exile a relationship, if people don’t comply, if they don’t tell us what we want or do what we want. Our kingship and queenship isn’t much different than the Persian kings. We don’t like it when somebody doesn’t comply. Let’s see what angry Xerxes does about Vashti not complying.
Vs. 13, “Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king’s procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment, 14 the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom). 15 ‘According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?’” Okay so he seeks advice from some “wise men” on what to do about Vashti, except the problem is these guys are at the party too, meaning they’re most likely drunk too. It’s what happens when people get drunk. Somebody opens up about an issue they’re dealing with, and all of a sudden all the drunk people start thinking they’re counselors. Xerxes is meeting with some drunk wise men, and they’re about go give him some drunk advice.
Vs. 16, “Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, ‘Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen’s behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ 18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will say the same to all the king’s officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty.’” So they’re afraid a women’s liberation movement will breakout throughout the entire Persian Empire. They’re like, “If the Queen gets away with this, then all the women in Persia are gonna think they can get away with it.” So Memucan gives Xerxes some drunk advice.
Vs. 19, “If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.” You see why I consider this drunk advice? I mean Xerxes tells Vashti to come and parade around like a trophy, and she says “No! I don’t want to see him.” So the drunk wise men are like, “You need to put your foot down and show her who’s boss. You need to tell her she can’t ever see you again.” Vashti’s like “Great! That’s exactly what I wanted to begin with.” They think they’re punishing her, but it’s a win for Vashti. The drunk advice continues.
Vs. 20, “So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.” No they won’t... No they won’t honor their husbands because of a decree like this. You can’t genuinely win a woman’s heart by putting your foot down like a dictator. I’ve seen guys try to roar like a lion at parties like this before. They say something stupid about their lady, then all of a sudden women start coming from every room, and surround the guy like a bunch of raptors. All the other guys are like “I didn’t say it, Memcuan did...You’re on your own bro...” The other men scatter, the ladies raptor, and Memucan becomes Memucan’t...These guys are drunk idiots for thinking they can win a woman’s heart, get a woman to honor them by putting their foot down with a forced law. They’re not honorable men, they’re horrible men who care less about a woman’s heart. They want women to be their compliant subjects, and Xerxes is pleased with their drunk advice.
Vs. 21, “This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. 22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people.” Memucan’s advice “pleased the king,” and he issues the decree for Vashti to never see him again, and for every man to be “master” of his home. So the guy whose power proved powerless over his own wife, issues a decree for other men to be powerful over their wives. He’s telling them to do, what he’s powerless to do himself. Xerxes kingship, laws, and kingdom are sinful and flawed. He’s a horrible king, with horrible laws, and is building a horrible kingdom based on fear and force. But none of this is coincidence.
See God is actually working out a plan to eventually appoint Esther as the new Queen so the Jews will be saved from Xerxes genocide. Then many years later Xerxes would be removed, and Jesus would come to save us as our greater King, with a greater Kingdom. When Jesus came he was rejected as our King and his Kingship was challenged by the Jews and Romans. At one point his friend Peter cuts a soldier’s ear for trying to arrest Jesus, but Jesus says this in Matthew 26:52-53, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” Another time Jesus is standing before the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate who questions his authority as King saying in Mark 15:2, “And Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ And Jesus answered him, ‘You have said so.’” But Jesus, unlike Xerxes, doesn’t try to defend his authority or send an army to destroy his enemies. He doesn’t respond with anger, execution, or exile. Instead he responds by laying his life down on the cross for his enemies, even crying out “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!” He’s not like Xerxes, us, or anyone else in history. He’s a much greater King with a much greater Kingdom.
Xerxes offered a kingdom where he sat on a throne to feed his own sin. But Jesus offers us a kingdom where he came off his throne to give us the forgiveness of sin.
Xerxes offered a kingdom where women like our moms, sisters, daughters, and wives were treated and degraded as disposable objectified trophies. But Jesus offers us a kingdom where he commands us to honor women, and to love one another as he loved us.
Xerxes offered a kingdom that was limited in power and proved fragile when Vashti said no to him. But Jesus offers us a kingdom that’s limitless in power and that powers proven when we say yes to him.
Xerxes offered a kingdom where people were executed if they didn’t comply. But Jesus offers us a kingdom where he was executed for the sins of those who didn’t comply.
Xerxes offered a kingdom where his people would be exiled from his presence if they didn’t comply. But Jesus offers us a kingdom where he’ll never exile his people from his presence, and we can always go to him for mercy and grace, even when we don’t comply.
Xerxes offered a kingdom of fear and force. Jesus offers us a kingdom of love and grace.
Xerxes offered a kingdom that lacked the hope and power to raise people from the dead. Jesus offers us a Kingdom that has endless hope and power to raise us from the dead, just as he rose from the dead.
Xerxes offered a kingdom that ended with death. Jesus offers a kingdom that never ends.
Jesus is a greater king with a greater kingdom. The question is which king and kingdom
do you prefer to live in?..Which king and kingdom is your life helping to build?..Is it a kingdom like Xerxes, or a kingdom like Jesus?..It’s never a great kingdom when sinners sit on a throne.
The Big Idea:
Let’s get to the big idea of the message, here’s the big idea. It’s never a great kingdom when sinners sit on a throne. But Jesus is a greater King with a greater Kingdom...Jesus is a greater King with a greater Kingdom, and like I said last week, everybody has a little Xerxes in their hearts...Everybody has a little Xerxes in their hearts and believes the myth, “If I could just be my own king or queen, do whatever I want, make my own rules, have everybody follow my rules...then I’d have a happy life in a happy kingdom.” But just like Xerxes, we’re not great kings and queens with great, happy, harmonious kingdoms. We’re sinful kings and queens with mini, fragile, non-harmonious kingdoms that fall apart with a simple no, or when the storms of life come and collapse our joy bridges beyond our control. It’s never a great kingdom when sinners sit on a throne. So let’s not build our own kingdoms like Xerxes. Instead let’s turn to Jesus, worship Jesus, and help to build Jesus’ Kingdom over our own, because Jesus is our greater King with a greater Kingdom...He’s our greater King, with a greater Kingdom.
At this time let’s have those serving Communion start passing the plates...Communion is something Jesus told us to do in remembrance of him, in remembrance of who he is and what he did for us on the cross. So as the plates are being passed, use this time to repent of your sins and thank King Jesus for living, dying, and rising again for the forgiveness of your sins. If you want somebody to pray for you, or if you want to know how to have relationship with Jesus, some of our team will be standing in the back left corner of the room to pray with you. Feel free to go back there any time now or during the last song. But let’s take a few minutes to repent for having hearts like Xerxes, ask King Jesus to make our hearts like his heart instead of like Xerxes, and thank our King Jesus for dying for our sins. Let’s pray.
On the night Jesus was betrayed he was having a meal with his friends. He took some bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it saying “This is my body which is to be broken for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. As often as you eat it, do so in remembrance of me, in remembrance of who I am and what I’ve done for you.” When supper was ended he took the cup, blessed it, gave thanks for it, and said“This cup is a symbol of my blood which is to be shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. As often as you drink of it, do so in remembrance of me, in remembrance of who I am and what I’ve done for you.” City Awakening let’s eat, drink, and worship Jesus for being our great King, who’s invited us to be a part of his greater Kingdom.