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The King of Kings, Lord of Lords (1)
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over His kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:6-7
What is the heart of Christianity? Is it the person who stands alone while others mock him/her? Is it the parent who refuses to allow their child to wear indecent attire? Is it the young person who says “NO” to an offer of methamphetamine? Is it the preacher who is fired because he stands for truth and will not compromise the gospel?
The heart of Christianity is JESUS!!! Isaiah 9:6-7 says Jesus is the child born, a child whose “government...there shall be no end, upon the throne...to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even forever.” Philippians 2:6-11 describes Him as having a name exalted above every name. It is to Him every knee will bow and confess He is the Lord. This makes Jesus not a, any, or another king. He is THE King. Those to whom He is the king are His followers in His kingdom. They will be the only ones who have the privilege to call Him King of kings and Lord of lords.
As King, Jesus rules and governs over the physical world and His spiritual kingdom. It is the citizens of the kingdom over which He rules which of most importance. Those citizens voluntarily become members of His kingdom and desire to be ruled by Him and please Him always. This makes His lordship personal to each citizen. Each one surrenders to Him the right for Him to lord over them.
It does not matter if the citizens of His kingdom move, He is still their King. The laws in a new land may change, but the laws of THE LORD never change, no matter where we live. Jesus’ lordship is ruled neither by time nor distance. This thought was well expressed by the angel who told Mary in Luke 1:32-33, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High...and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” The same greatness of His kingdom is found in Matthew 16:18: “...Upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” This Lord’s majesty was prophesied in Daniel 7:13-14: “...There came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
The amazing greatness of the King of kings was a threat and intimidation to world leaders. Pilate had Jesus brought before him to examine the words of the multitude. He asked Him, “‘Art thou the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others say it thee concerning me?’” At that moment, Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence” (John 18:33-36). Jesus never denied being THE King. The kingdom, however, was not one which would overthrow Pilate or any other worldly leader. Jesus’ kingdom would bring citizens of His kingdom into every man-made government and make it better.
Having Jesus as King of His kingdom would provide the world people like those described in Luke 4:16-21. There would be deliverance for captives, sight for the blind, and liberty to those who were bruised. The greatness of Jesus as the Lord and the King is changing hearts toward having courage, faith, and hope in the midst of a world dominated by sin, doubt, and fear.
In ancient times, people could comprehend the imagery of a conquering king who takes possession of and sovereignty over a new nation or land after a war. Ancient conquerors would slay the leaders of the defeated nation as an example to his new subjects and the conqueror would appoint his trusted subordinates to fill the governmental positions needed to administer his new domain. Such a transition would be made on a battlefield all over the region and with the conquering king and his army splattered in freshly-spilled blood. Obedience and submission would be demanded of the new subjects. Those who submitted lived. Those who refused died. Today, modern wars end at diplomatic conferences where maps are redrawn, concessions made, and life goes on. Few modern wars end in unconditional surrender as occurred at the end of World War II.
While there are many who believe Jesus Christ will return to the earth and have exclusive servants bowing and obeying in a new world, scriptures say He has already conquered. He is the King now. He has a kingdom. He has servants who obey. They know what is expected. His servants understand His rule over their lives does not take them to oppression and cruelty. This King, this Lord, leads them to eternal life in the eternal kingdom where God the Father rules froever. Although some believe it is a “sect” Jesus leads, Jesus declares He is the way to life and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:14; John 14:6).
What did Jesus conquer? What or whom did He overcome to be placed as King? How did He do it? What was His strategy? More next time...
