The King, The Cross, and the Empty Tomb

Apr 05, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Surprising Pairing of a King and a Cross

A king and a cross seem like a contradiction. Kings are associated with power, thrones, and victory, while crosses represent defeat, shame, and powerlessness. Yet, this is the very pairing that forever altered the course of history and eternity. It was not a mistake or a tragic end, but the divine climax of God's redemptive plan. In this collision, our understanding of everything was transformed. [49:54]

And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. So the leading priests objected. They said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.”
John 19:19-22 (NLT)

Reflection: Where in your own life do you struggle to reconcile God's power with His methods? How might the paradox of a crucified king reshape your understanding of where true strength is found?

Day 2: The King Who Went to the Cross on Purpose

This was not a plan gone wrong or a last-ditch effort. Long before the events of that Friday, Jesus set His face with determination toward Jerusalem and the cross that awaited Him. He went willingly, not as a victim of circumstance, but as a sovereign ruler executing a divine strategy. His journey to the cross was the ultimate display of a different kind of kingship, one defined by love and sacrifice, not self-preservation. [57:32]

As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
Luke 9:51 (NLT)

Reflection: What does Jesus’ deliberate choice to go to the cross reveal about His character and His heart for you? In what area of your life is God inviting you to move forward with that same kind of loving, resolute purpose?

Day 3: The King on the Cross Displaying His Reign

Even in His deepest suffering, Jesus was reigning. From the cross, He forgave His executioners, offered salvation to a criminal, and declared the completion of His mission. His actions were not those of a defeated man, but of a victorious king establishing His kingdom through self-giving love. The cross became His throne, where He displayed the true nature of His authority: the power to forgive, save, and finish the work of redemption. [01:01:55]

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And they gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
Luke 23:34 (NLT)

Reflection: When you face suffering or feel powerless, how can the truth that Jesus was reigning even on the cross bring you comfort and hope? How does His prayer of forgiveness challenge your own responses to those who wrong you?

Day 4: The King Over the Cross Conquering All

The empty tomb confirms that Jesus is not just a king who died for a cause, but the King who conquered death itself. His resurrection means He has authority over everything the cross represents: sin, shame, suffering, and death. Because He is the King over the cross, our past does not have the final say, our guilt is not the end of the story, and even death itself is defeated. His reign is eternal and all-encompassing. [01:08:22]

He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’
Luke 24:6-7 (NIV)

Reflection: What is one thing in your life—a sin, a fear, a past mistake, or a present struggle—that you need to remember does not have the final say because Jesus is King over it? How does His resurrection power change your perspective on that today?

Day 5: Our Response to the Crucified and Risen King

The story of the king and the cross is not just a historical event to observe; it is a personal invitation. The empty cross and the empty tomb lead to an occupied throne. This king, who gave His life for His enemies, now calls for our surrender. He invites us to bow to His loving authority, to yield to His reign, and to experience the real life that is found only in His kingdom. The only question that remains is how we will respond. [01:09:40]

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)

Reflection: What would it look like for you to bow to Jesus’ loving authority in a new or deeper way this week? Is there a specific part of your life you need to yield to His kingship today?

Sermon Summary

A king went to the cross and chose that path as the way to establish a reign unlike any other. The pairing of a king and a cross overturns expectations: instead of throne and fortress, the rulership appears in vulnerability and surrender. The king demonstrated authority long before the trial—teaching with power, stilling storms, healing disease, and even calling the dead from their graves—then set his face to Jerusalem knowing the cross awaited. On the cross, mockery accidentally proclaimed truth: a crown of thorns and an inscription named him king, and those gestures exposed the nature of his rule.

The king did not lose power at Calvary; he exercised it. He forgave those who nailed him, promised paradise to a condemned thief, and declared “it is finished” as a sovereign declaration, not a cry of defeat. The crown of thorns carried deep symbolism: the very sign of curse from Eden became the instrument by which judgment transferred from the guilty to the one who bore it. The cross functions not as a collapse of kingship but as its clearest demonstration—ruling through self-giving and substitution.

The empty tomb vindicates that kingship. Resurrection crowns the crucified one as the ruler over death, sin, and final judgment. Rising from the grave differentiates this return from other resuscitations; unlike those who died twice, the king’s rising secured an unbreakable reign. That reign changes moral and existential claims: sin and shame no longer hold the last word, and suffering and past failures no longer dictate ultimate destiny.

The theological thrust moves from declaration to invitation: recognition of who reigns should produce a response. Baptism and communion embody that response—public confession, remembrance of a broken body and spilled blood, and participation in the kingdom’s life. The cross and the crown together demand a decisive posture: either yield to a king who bore judgment and conquered death, or persist under rulerships that offer only transient protection. The empty cross invites a posture of surrender, the practices of a new allegiance, and the assurance that the throne now stands occupied.

Key Takeaways

1. The king chose the cross Jesus intentionally went to Jerusalem and embraced the cross as the arena to accomplish redemption. That choice reframes suffering: it becomes purposeful, strategic, and rooted in love rather than accidental defeat. The cross reveals a ruler who aims to restore rather than merely to preserve power. [52:07]
2. Kingship revealed through apparent weakness On the cross, apparent powerlessness becomes the means of rule: a forgiving voice, a promise of paradise, and the pronouncement “it is finished” display authority, not collapse. True authority shows itself in surrender that accomplishes salvation, not in self-preserving domination. The paradox teaches that divine rule often subverts worldly metrics of strength. [61:15]
3. Crown of thorns redeems the curse The thorns recall Eden’s curse, and the crowned suffering king literally bears the judgment that sin merited. That image reframes punishment: judgment falls on the one who takes responsibility, opening the way for reconciliation and restoration. The crown becomes a sign of substitutionary love, not mere humiliation. [63:42]
4. Resurrection secures the king's final authority The empty tomb confirms that death cannot undo the work accomplished on the cross, and it installs the crucified one as sovereign over life, sin, and destiny. Resurrection prevents the cross from being merely a tragic end and instead makes it the triumphant center of a reigning kingdom. The risen king gives believers confidence that sin and suffering do not have the last word. [65:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[47:49] - Easter Prayer and Praise
[48:47] - Historical Pairings and the King+Cross
[52:07] - The King Went to the Cross
[58:49] - Mockery Becomes Crowning Truth
[61:15] - Authority Displayed on the Cross
[63:42] - Crown of Thorns: Curse and Substitution
[65:28] - Resurrection: King Over the Cross
[70:00] - Invitation to Surrender and Prayer
[73:24] - Baptism and Communion Response

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Luke 23:33–43 (ESV)
And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Observation questions

What actions and statements did Jesus make from the cross that demonstrated authority rather than defeat?
How did the religious leaders, Roman soldiers, and the criminals crucified with Jesus respond to him?
What details in the passage highlight Jesus’ kingship even in his crucifixion?

Interpretation questions

Why would Jesus ask the Father to forgive those crucifying him, and what does this reveal about the nature of his kingdom?
How does Jesus’ promise to the criminal beside him redefine what it means to be saved by a king?
In what ways does the crown of thorns and the inscription “King of the Jews” serve as ironic but true proclamations of Jesus’ identity?

Application questions

Jesus chose the cross intentionally [52:07]. How does his purposeful surrender challenge your understanding of power and success in your own life?
On the cross, Jesus forgave those harming him [01:01:36]. Is there someone in your life you need to forgive, even when it feels costly or undeserved?
The crown of thorns symbolizes Jesus bearing the curse meant for us [01:03:42]. How does this truth reshape how you view your guilt, shame, or past failures?
Jesus’ resurrection means he has authority over sin, suffering, and death [01:08:22]. What area of your life feels out of control, and how can you actively trust his reign in that space?
Baptism and communion are responses to Jesus’ kingship [01:13:24]. How do these practices help you remember and surrender to his rule in your daily life?
If the cross displays a king who rules through self-giving love [01:03:08], how can you exercise authority in your relationships by serving rather than controlling?
The empty tomb means our suffering doesn’t get the final word [01:08:48]. How does this hope change the way you walk through seasons of pain or disappointment?

Sermon Clips

57s

“So what does that mean for us? Is that if Jesus is the king over the cross, it means that your sin doesn't have the final say. It means that your guilt and shame doesn't have the final say. It means that your past doesn't have the final say. It means that your suffering doesn't have the final say. Even death doesn't get the final word. The king gets the final say because he is reigning over it all. Because the king went to the cross so that your sin could be paid for. The king is on the cross to show a watching world what kind of king and God he is. And he is the king over the cross so that nothing gets the final word but him.”

53s

“He shows the power to determine when things are finished because he is the one who utters from the cross, it is finished. The Romans weren't the ones who said it. The chief priests and the religious rulers were not the ones who determined when this was done. Jesus said, it is finished. He's not crying out like a victim, but rather this is the declaration of a victorious king. Because every other king in history takes life to a secure power. Every other king eliminates enemies and protects self at all costs. But this king gives his life, dies for his enemies, and absorbs the cost himself.”

51s

“Every king, every ruler, every leader, their story ends the same. Death, but not this king. The stone was rolled away. The body wasn't there. History proves this out, and it was never refuted then or now. But we'd be remiss if we think that Easter is only about Jesus rising from the dead. That would be amazing. It would be worthy of celebrating and honoring, but we've actually seen this before. Jesus himself has raised three people from the dead during his ministry. But do you know what happened to all three of the people he rose from the dead during his ministry? They died again.”

52s

“Because three days later, the stone wasn't rolled away just so that Jesus could get out. The stone was rolled away so that we could look in. So that like Peter on that first morning stooped and looked in, we could see what it says that he is not here. He has risen as he said. You know, every earthly king or leader's story has ended in death. Historically or famously or similarly in some ways, You got take John f Kennedy, for example, Abraham Lincoln, Alexander the Great. He conquered the world. He died. Caesar rose to power. He was assassinated.”

40s

“This idea is so ubiquitous that every Disney movie with a princess or a prince or a king or a queen is going to have a castle central to its story. Go to Disney World. What's at the middle of it? A castle. This is what kings do. But king Jesus, no castle. A cross. A cross, he chose. Luke chapter nine says, when the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”

49s

“Because rather than build a self protecting castle, what did he do? He forgave. Luke 23 says that Jesus said from the cross, father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Who forgives people that are actively killing them? Only a king who isn't losing control, but is accomplishing exactly what he set out to do. He shows what kind of king he is when he displays the authority to save other people when he says to the thief on the cross next to him, today, you will be with me in paradise. Do you wonder what the people listening thought?”

54s

“Easter isn't just about Jesus rising from the dead. It is the confirmation and coronation of Jesus as the king. Because if he could do this, if he could predict, I'm going to rise from the dead and complete this, if he could do and be everything he said and did, then he didn't just survive the cross. He he didn't just, like, do some incredible thing and then die. No. He is the king over the cross. And what do we know about kings? We know that they have authority wherever they reign. Whatever is under their kingship, they have the final say about. So what does that mean for us?”

45s

“If you look at the original meaning of the words for he set his face, it literally means to be determined and locked in. Jerusalem and awaiting cross was the plan. Not a backup plan, not a last ditch effort, not a resignation to some writing on the wall. This was the plan. He even told his followers explicitly that this is what was going to happen. What kind of king does this? The king went to the cross, but he didn't stop being the king once he got to the cross.”

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The King, The Cross, and the Empty Tomb

Devotional

Day 1: The Surprising Pairing of a King and a Cross

Day 2: The King Who Went to the Cross on Purpose

Day 3: The King on the Cross Displaying His Reign

Day 4: The King Over the Cross Conquering All

Day 5: Our Response to the Crucified and Risen King

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

The King, The Cross, and the Empty Tomb

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