THE CURRENT REIGN OF JESUS -- Tomorrow:
(1 Corinthians 15:25)
As Christ's appointed time to die drew near, talk of Him being a king began to pick up. Pontius Pilate himself knew what was being said, so asked Jesus if He really was a king. Pilate's conduct confirmed his interest was not genuine. However, his question served to provide an opportunity for Jesus to confess to the truth, and for the record of it to written by the inspiration of the Holy spirit.
"Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. TO THIS END WAS I BORN, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice" (John 18:37).
The nature of our Lord's Kingship is seen in this word. To this very day, many followers of Christ continue to think of His reign in relation to an earthly throne, military exploits, and fleshly triumphs. All such notions are not only wrong, they are foolish, betraying a serious lack of spiritual understanding.
Jesus declared He was "BORN" to be King, not that He would return to be King! That kingship, therefore, cannot be earthly in nature, for He already had dominion over the earth, which He made. Prior to being born, when He was in "the form of God" (Phil 2:6), He scattered the a remarkably unified government in the plains of Shinar (Gen 11). Heaven has never had any difficulty ruling the earth. The mighty Lord casts down great rulers, and raises up beggars to sit on thrones (Psa 75:7; 113:7-8). He can dispense with the entire army of Pharaoh, decimate the hosts of Sennacherib, and raise up and cast down mighty Nebuchadnazzar. There was no need for Jesus to be "born" in order to become a king in that sense.
Because Jesus' kingdom is "not of this world" (John 18:36), His Kingship is not of the worldly order. Those who anticipate a glorified Christ sitting on an earthly throne surrounded by flesh and blood servants betray an abysmal ignorance of Christ, salvation, and the nature of His reign.
Here Jesus speaks of His Kingship is a remarkable way. Pilate was unable to relate to sovereignty that does not depend upon military power or political superiority. Earlier in this confrontation, Pilate asked Jesus if He was the "King of the Jews" (v 33). After asking Pilate if this was his "own idea" (v 35, NIV), Jesus revealed that His kingdom was "not of this world" (v 36). If it were, He declared, His servants would "fight." In such a case, the "fight" would not have lasted long, and Rome would not have won. Candidly, the rule of Rome would have been brought to an abrupt conclusion, never to be seen or heard of again. But that is not the nature of Christ's Kingdom, and He was is a Ruler after the order of Pilate, Herod, or Caesar.
Jesus related His reign to truth, not earthly power or majesty: "for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto THE TRUTH." The witness of the truth to which He referred required that He enter into the world -- not as an angel, or in Divine glory, but as a man, stripped of the prerogatives of Deity. He had to become like the people He was going to save (Heb 2:10-16). In order to save these people He had to be tempted in all of the points in which they were tempted (Heb 4:15). All of this was in order that He might be "touched with the feeling of their infirmities," and minister needed grace to them. He had to lead them as "the MAN Christ Jesus" (1 Tim 2:5). For that, He had to be born.
Jesus relates all of that to being King. His Kingship is primarily associated with salvation, and secondarily with earthly kings and powers, over which He rules. He truly is King of kings -- but He did not have to be "born" to be that! Now He reigns in order to "bring us to God" (1 Pet 3:18). In order to do that, He had to be born, bear their sins, endue the curse of God in death, conquer death by raising from the dead, and return to heaven to "make intercession for the transgressors" (Isa 53:12).
His Kingship involves communicating the truth to His people. As it is written, "But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus" (Eph 4:20-21). To put it another way, "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20). According to the word of God, He had to be "BORN" to do this. He had to be made like the ones He is bringing to glory.
It takes a King to save us. A King that can break through the darkness of this world, neutralize the forces of evil, and lift up the fallen. It takes a King to give repentance, open hearts, wash defiled souls, and make them heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. It takes a King who has power with God, to effectively intercede for those in this world. Moses could intercede for men and influence God to hold back His wrath. But we required infinitely more than this. We needed to be eternally delivered from God's wrath, and it takes a King to do that! We need to have eternal life given to us, and it takes a King to do that! We need to be made righteous, and it takes a King to do that!
Jesus was BORN to be King. He became identified with us so that He could lead us as "the Captain of our salvation" (Heb 2:10). He became identified with us so that He could expound God to us (Matt 11:27), open the truth to us (Eph 4:21), and fellowship with us (1 Cor 1:9). That is the kind of King we need, and that is the kind we have!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for a King that can change my nature, give me eternal life, and bring me safely to glory.