Part Five: Jesus, King of all!
16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING
OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:16
We have looked at Christ our Priest, Christ the Prophet, and now
it is time to look at Christ our King. He is the sovereign God of
creation, manifested as a man that He may take the sins of the people
on the earth away. We tend to get most excited about Jesus being
our Priest the most, but I submit that there is even a glorious
manifestation of Christ as King.
A person who is a king has a kingdom. The king has the supreme authority
in the kingdom in which he rules. Look at what Solomon, who was
a king in Israel writes about a king:
2 I say, "Keep the king's commandment for the sake of your
oath to God. 3 Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take
your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him."
4 Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to
him, "What are you doing?" Ecclesiastes 8:2 – 4
Solomon understood the sovereignty of the king. He says that that
it is wise to keep the king’s commandment. Then Solomon goes
on to say that where the word of a king is, there is power. No one
can ask the king why he is doing what he is doing. No one can resist
the king’s command. Think about this though: where the word
of a king is, there is power. Solomon is speaking here about an
earthly king. There is great power with the word of the king: he
can put those to life, he can put to death, he can acquit, and he
can condemn. The words that he speaks become law. When you read
the scripture in the book of Proverbs: Death and life are in the
power of the tongue…, this is what Solomon is really referring
to: the power of death and life in the words of the king. People
have twisted this meaning and say silly and stupid things such as,
“do not speak death over my life”, or “those are
words of death”, applying some sort of mystical, metaphysical
meaning to a pretty straightforward scripture.
These people misunderstand who they really are. We
do not have creative powers in the words in which we speak. We do
not hold the same position in authority that God holds. If I say,
“oh, you poor thing,” this does not mean that this person
is somehow going to end up poor. This is one of the most ridiculous
teachings in the church today. Do not fall for it. It really bugs
me how people have cheapened and undermined the word and authority
of God.
Listen, in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
This demonstrated His authority and Lordship. The Bible does not
say in the beginning man created the heaven and the earth. Actually,
the creating ability is only referred to in context of the Creator.
When God spoke a word, there was power behind it and the world began
to have form. After the world was created, this is when God created
man. There is not one single scripture that refers to man creating
anything. In addition, there is no scripture that implies that God
transferred His creative power to humankind.
I brought this up because this colossal misunderstanding has caused
man to misunderstand who he really is. Man, thinking that he has
the same exact authority as God, has caused him not to want to submit
to God. This is a result of the original sin. The devil was able
to tempt the woman with the idea that she would be just like God.
This is one thing that did happen as a result of the fall. Instead
of submitting to the Lord, man now wants to be his own lord. This
is one of the reasons why many people will not come to Christ. Many
want to retain their own personal lordship. They want to control
their lives, go wherever they please in life, and do whatever pleases
them. They see themselves as their own personal king. Do you remember
what Solomon said? He said that the king “does whatever pleases
him”. The king does not have to run his decisions past anyone
because he is the one who holds all the authority. Therefore, when
God is not running a life, then this person can retain the preeminent
authority that he or she currently possesses or thinks that he or
she possesses.
What is a king? A king is one who rules and holds the preeminence.
He is the sovereign ruler of the king. There are many people who
ignore the sovereignty of God. They do as Solomon says they cannot
do: they ask the king, “What are you doing and why are you
doing this?” We in this society, since we are not in a monarchy,
often have this same type of attitude. We are conditioned to question
everything, be our own person, and do, in essence, whatever really
pleases us. Because of our humanistic views, it is hard for so many
people to truly become Christians because of what it requires: submission.
This is offensive to the American idea. We are the land of the free;
we should not have to submit to anyone! No one can take our rights
away. Christianity is just a religion that tries to control people’s
lives. We tend to despise authority. Christians have even shied
away from the fact that God does control a life because they want
to package the gospel in a way that sounds appealing to the hearers.
This is handling the gospel of God deceitfully. If you truly are
going to be a Christian, you will have to submit your life to lordship
of Jesus Christ. He will control your life.
Anyway, why would anyone not want to have one controlling his or
her life who knows the end from the beginning, who is all powerful,
and who is everywhere all the time? God knows us, knows what we
need, and every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Also, He is
Lord of all. This means that nothing, not even death, has more authority
in our lives than He does. Who would not want to serve this type
of God? He said that the thoughts He thinks of us are thoughts of
peace not of evil. Why would you not want to trust your life to
someone like this? Most of all, our King died for us? How can this
be? What king have you read about who died for his people? Sure,
there were kings who died in battle for the land that had been invaded,
or in self-defense. However, none of these kings would give their
lives to save the people the way that Jesus did.
Many people want a Savior, but most do not want a Lord. A lord is,
“one having power and authority over others.” We say,
as a child would say, “you’re not the boss of me”.
If God is not the boss of us, then we are truly none of His. So
what about this Jesus; is He truly Lord? Again, Jesus demonstrated
His power as Lord, and those who were around it recognized it. They
recognized Him as the Messiah because of the things that He did.
One brief thing about history that you have to be
aware of is that the Jews believed that when the Messiah came, then
He would restore the kingdom of Israel on the earth. They believed
they would enjoy the same rule that they had in the days of David.
The misunderstood the prophecies about the Christ being a descendant
of David to mean that He was going to restore Israel and deliver
them from the oppression of the Roman government. Therefore, when
Jesus came and did the manifold miracles, people saw His authority
and even wanted to make Him king on the spot.
45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him
of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote--Jesus of
Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 And Nathanael said to him,
"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said
to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming
toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed,
in whom is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to Him, "How
do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before
Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
John 1:45 – 48
Philip had just been summoned by Jesus to follow Him. After this,
Philip found Nathanael and basically told him that he had found
Him whom Moses and the prophets prophesied would come. However,
Nathanael wondered if anything good could ever come out of Nazareth.
Philip told him to come see Jesus. As Nathanael approached Jesus,
Jesus demonstrated that he already knew Nathanael. At this point,
Nathanael was a little confused, how did this man know him whom
he had never met? Jesus said that before Philip called him, he saw
him under the fig tree. There is a beautiful truth that you can
miss here if you are not looking closely. Jesus saw Nathanael and
knew him before he ever approached Jesus. Jesus knew us before we
ever knew Him. He knew our character and saw the things we did.
That was just a side note; and that one was free!
After this, Nathanael recognizes something, and he says:
49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the
Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered
and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the
fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these."
51 And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter
you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending
upon the Son of Man." John 1:49 – 51
At this point, Nathanael perceived that Jesus was the Son of God
and the King of Israel. This impressed Jesus. All it took for Nathanael
to believe was for Jesus to reveal something that Nathanael had
did earlier that day. Jesus promised him if he believed just from
that, that he would see much greater works than this. His authority
as God would be demonstrated through the things that He did. Take
a look at this:
14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said,
"This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and
take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain
by Himself alone. John 6:14 – 15
Jesus had just fed five thousand people with two fish and five loaves
of bread. After the people saw sign, they knew that Jesus had to
be that Prophet who is come into the world. They then wanted to
make Jesus king. However, they wanted him to destroy the Roman government
and set Himself as king over it. One thing they missed is that Jesus’
kingdom is not of this world; it is far greater than that!
2 Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"
He answered and said to him, "It is as you say." Mark
15:2
While Jesus was on trial, He affirmed that He is King. In John,
we receive a fuller explanation though.
36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My
kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should
not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?"
Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this
cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world,
that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the
truth hears My voice." John 18:36 – 37
A king has a kingdom. However, Jesus confessed that His kingdom
was not of this world. He was in no disillusion to who He was. He
had already affirmed to the Sanhedrin:
61 But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest
asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the
Blessed?" 62 Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son
of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the
clouds of heaven." Mark 14:61 -62
Jesus did not deny who He was. He clearly stated that He is the
Christ, the Son of the Blessed. He said the proof of this would
be when He would come with judgment. This is what this phrase, “coming
with the clouds of heaven” means. This was an idiom used to
signify judgment. When Jesus came in His authority to judge the
earth, they would know without a doubt that Jesus is King. The New
Testament writers understood this; namely, Paul and John. Paul says,
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone
is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17
15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed
and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who
alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no
man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power.
Amen. 1 Timothy 6:15 – 16
A potentate is one who holds the authority. John writes this:
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him,
even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will
mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and
the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who
is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation
1:7 - 8
14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome
them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are
with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." Revelation 17:14
Jesus holds the authority. He is far above rule, principality, and
authority. This is why J
esus can declare that all power has been given to Him.
If Jesus is King, then that means that He has the power to deliver,
acquit, make alive, and pronounce peace, joy, and health. Jesus
can declare whatever He wants because His word has power. There
are many things that He declared and promised. Of the greatest of
these promises, we find that Jesus promised that He would come back
and get us. Jesus will come back one day and rescue His church out
of the world and when this happens this corruptible will put on
incorruptible. Then we will be able to serve our King in gladness
forevermore!
The thing about the kings in the Old Testament is that
they were never allowed to be priests because none
of them came from the tribe of Levi. This is where Saul and Uzziah
got into trouble: they began to operate in an office they were never
ordained to operate in. The kings of old could never really speak
on behalf of God because there were prophets who God had ordained
to do this.
The kings of old had only the authority that God had
limited to them. However, the kings of old did not have the power
to mediate or speak in the same manner as the prophets. In the same
way, the priests and prophets had a limited authority, because they
were not ordained to be king. Kings could put the prophets and priests
to death as it pleased them. There were times that the kings executed
on this ability. However, when Christ came, He was the fulfillment
of all three of these offices: Prophet, Priest, and King. He has
all authority, He mediates for us, and the words He speaks are the
very words of God. What we have in Christ is more than words can
express. I pray that this series has blessed you as much to read
them as they have for me to write them! Be blessed!
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