THE CURRENT REIGN OF JESUS -- Tomorrow:
(1 Corinthians 15:25)
Jesus said to Pilate, "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 18:37, NKJV). In these words, Christ unveils something of the nature of His reign -- His Kingdom and His Kingship.
Christ being a King was owing to a "CAUSE" -- a purpose appointed by the God of heaven: "For this CAUSE I was born," our Savior declared. This is why He humbled Himself, assuming the form of a servant, and becoming obedient unto death. He also stated that He came into the world to "testify to the truth" (NIV). That means that Christ's Sovereignty, or Kingship, is related to the witness of the truth.
Ponder the world into which Jesus entered. It was dominated by the prince of this world, who is a "liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). Successfully, he has deceived the whole world" (Rev 12:9), even blinding the minds of those who do not believe the Gospel, "lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Cor 4:4). That is indeed a challenging environment in which to testify of the truth!
The sound of the truth must penetrate through the thick darkness that dominated the world for four thousand years. Moses was faithful in all of his house, but he did not get the job done. The holy Prophets declared the truth, with it often causing their own martyrdom, but still the darkness dominated. It was not until the Son of God entered into the world that "The people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up" (Matt 4:16). That is because it took a King, one with authority, to declare the truth with power and saving efficacy.
When Jesus spoke, He clarified the Father, defined Divine intent, and declared the source of all moral and spiritual difficulty. The Law became more clear as He magnified it and made it honorable (Isa 42:21). Those who gave ear to Him gained a proper perspective of Scripture, and of the circumstances in which they were found. When people heard Him speak, they concluded, "He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matt 7:29). It takes a King to declare the truth with such power.
Truth is the dominating power in Christ's kingdom. He came into the world as a King; that is why He was "born." His mission is to disseminate the truth; the truth about God, and His "great salvation" Heb 2:3). This "truth" includes the proclamation of Satan's destruction (Heb 2:14), the reconciliation of the world (2 Cor 5:18-20), and the forgiveness of sin (Eph 1:7; Col 1:14). Because of the King who declares it, and its exact portrayal of the mind of God, the truth liberates enslaved souls. Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Then, tracing the truth back to Himself, our Lord affirmed, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:32,36).
Jesus frees men with the truth -- the truth that He testifies. What is more, He declared, "Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." These are people who have "received the love of the truth," that they "might be saved" (2 Thess 2:10). Truth does not offend them. They have an appetite for it, and "hate and abhor lying" (Psa 119:163). Everyone who is on the side of truth, belonging to it, "listens" to the voice of Jesus. They will not let His words pass them by, for through them Divine power, liberty, and satisfaction are realized.
Because truth makes free, Christ's kingdom is one of freedom--freedom from sin and delusion. Where the truth is not known, freedom from sin and death cannot be experienced. Where the truth is sparse, liberty is scarce. The forfeiture of truth equates to the forfeiture of all Divine blessing. Since so much depends upon the truth, thank God for King Jesus, who is charged with declaring it.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for a Savior who delivers the truth with great power. Through Him I also thank You for the love of the truth, which You Yourself so graciously give.