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Scripture: John 18:33-37
33 Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said
to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered,
"Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you
about me?" 35 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation
and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have you
done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world;
if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I
might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from
the world." 37 Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?"
Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born,
and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the
truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice."
Old Testament Reading: Daniel 7:13-14
13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds
of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the
Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was
given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations,
and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting
dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that
shall not be destroyed.
Meditation: Do you recognize that the Lord Jesus
have been given all authority and power to reign over heaven and
earth? Jesus was crucified for his claim to be the Messiah King
(John 18:37) who would rule not only over his people Israel but
ultimately over all the nations as well (Daniel 7:13-14).
God is King and Ruler over all
What is the significance or meaning of Jesus' kingship for us?
Kingship today seems antiquated, especially in democratic
societies where everyone is treated equal and free. God at first
did not want to give his people Israel a king. Why? Because God
alone was their King and they needed no other. Nonetheless, God
relented and promised his people that through David's line he
would establish a Ruler and a Kingdom that would last for eternity
(Psalm 89:29).
The Jews understood that the Messiah ("Anointed One") would come
as God's anointed King to restore paradise and establish God's
reign of everlasting peace for them. They wanted a Messianic King
who would free them from strife and division and from foreign
oppression. Many had high hopes that Jesus would be the Messiah
and Ruler for Israel. Little did they understand what kind of
kingship Jesus claimed to possess.
Jesus' claim to kingship
Jesus came to deliver his people, and the whole world, from the
worst kind of tyranny possible - from bondage to sin, condemnation
and death, and to free us from Satan's kingdom of deception,
oppression, and destruction. Jesus came to conquer hearts and
souls for an unshakeable kingdom - a kingdom ruled not by force or
fear - but by the power of God's righteousness, peace, and joy in
the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
When Satan tempted Jesus during his forty day fast in the
wilderness, he offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world
(Matthew 4:8-9) Jesus knew that the world was in Satan's power.
And this was precisely why Jesus came - to overthrow Satan's power
and deception over the earth. Jesus knew that the way to victory
was through submission to his Father's will and strategy for
overcoming sin and Satan in the world. The Father sent his only
begotten Son into the world, not to condemn it, but to save it
through the atoning sacrifice which Jesus would make for us
through the shedding of his blood on the cross of Calvary.
As Jesus was dying on the cross, he was mocked for his claim to kingship. Nonetheless, he died not only as King of the Jews, but King of all the nations as well. His victory over the power of sin, Satan, and the world, was accomplished through his death on the cross and his rising from the tomb on the third day - never to die again. Jesus exchanged a throne of glory for a cross of shame to restore us from slavery to sin to glory with God as his adopted sons and daughters. In the Book of Revelations Jesus is called King of kings and Lord and lords (Revelations 19:16). Do you recognize Jesus Christ as your King and Lord?
Which ruler and kingdom will you serve?
The Scriptures tell us that there are ultimately only two kingdoms
in this world which are opposed to one another - the kingdom of
light and the kingdom of darkness. Each kingdom is ruled by one
lord or master - the Lord Jesus Christ who is the true
"Light of the World" - or the false messiah and ruler who is
called the "anti-Christ" and an "angel of light" who rules by lies
and deception.
If we follow the Lord Jesus Christ he will open our eyes to the
light of his truth and guide us on the course that leads to our
true homeland and security with God. If we follow the course which
is set by the world - a world which is opposed to Christ and
blinded by the Deceiver who is Satan - then we will discover that
sin, pride, and greed will lead us down a path of destruction,
division, and death rather than life, community, and freedom.
Which kingdom will you serve - today and for all eternity? The kingdom of this present world which passes away or God's kingdom which can never be broken or defeated and which endures forever? If we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and King we become citizens of an everlasting kingdom which is governed by God's righteousness, peace, and love. Is your life submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ who reigns now and forever in the glory of his eternal Father in heaven?
"Lord Jesus Christ, you are my King and there is no other. Be the
Lord and Master of my heart, mind, body, and soul. May I always
seek to do your will and to serve your kingdom above all else."
Psalm 93:1-5
1 The LORD is king, he is robed in
majesty; the LORD is robed, he is girded
with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be
moved;
2 your throne is established from of old; you are from
everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the
floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their
roaring.
4 More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic
than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is the LORD!
5 Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: My kingdom is not of the world, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Listen, everyone, Jews and Gentiles, circumcised and uncircumcised. Listen, all kings of the earth. I am no hindrance to your rule in this world, for 'my kingdom is not of this world.' Banish the groundless fear that filled Herod the Great on hearing that Christ was born. More cruel in his fear than in his anger, he put many children to death (Matthew 2:3,16), so that Christ would also die. But 'my kingdom is not of this world,' says Christ. What further reassurance do you seek? Come to the kingdom that is not of this world. Do not be enraged by fear, but come by faith. In a prophecy Christ also said, 'He,' that is, God the Father, 'has made me king on Zion his holy mountain' (Psalm 2:6). But that Zion and that mountain are not of this world.Scripture quotations from Common Bible:
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright
1973, and Ignatius Edition of the Revised Standard
Version of the Bible, copyright 2006, by the
Division of Christian Education of the National
Council of the Churches of Christ in the United
States of America. Used by permission. All rights
reserved. Citation references for quotes from
the writings of the early church fathers can be
found here.
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The Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations is in need of on-going development to expand resources and to reach people around the world. If you would like to contribute, you can make an online donation. |