[PC-USA] 2000-03-12 - Jesus as King

Passages about Jesus, Part 4

We continue our series, which looks at passages dealing with the different roles of Jesus. Today we will meditate on passages that portray Jesus as our King. There are compassionate kings and ruthless ones, powerful ones and impotent ones. Jesus is the ultimate, perfect King, to Whom we owe our obedience and even our very lives. His realm is not based on brute power. He doesn't force us to be subject to Him; He woos us into His Kingdom with love.

Jesus turned upside-down the expectations of what type of King He would be:

John 18:36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." (NIV)

His Kingship is perfectly righteous:

Heb. 1:8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." {See Psalm 45:6,7} (NIV)

Isa. 11:1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD- 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. (NIV)

Requirements for our citizenship in Jesus' Kingdom:

John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. {Or born from above; also in verse 7}" 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Seeking His Kingdom should be our primary mission in life:

Matt 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The ideal citizen of His Kingdom is known for a childlike spirit:

Matt 19:13 Then there were brought to him little children that he might lay his hands on them and pray; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and do not hinder them from coming to me; for the kingdom of the heavens is of such.

What His Kingdom is not like; what it is like:

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

One day, everyone will realize that Jesus is the King of Kings:

Rev. 19:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (NIV)

Jan

jan@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org