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| Volume 24 Number 11 November 2022 |
Page 11 |
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| Volume 24 Number 11 November 2022 |
Page 11 |
George McNulty
The Kingship of Christ is central to the Gospel message. Jesus was the legitimate King of the Jews. Throughout His life, He is portrayed in the gospel records as the King that came to save the people. From Bethlehem to Calvary, He was the rightful sovereign. Even at the cross, a sign was hung above Him in three languages. Recorded in the Gospel account of John are the following words.
Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, I am the King of the Jews.’” (John 19:19-21 NKJV)
Notice how Pilate ignored their pleas; they had wanted the sign to declare Jesus had said this without a legitimate claim to the throne. Pilate did not grant them this and placed the sign above the man in which he had found no fault. Notice that when their supporters had a choice between Christ and Barabbas, when “…Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your King?” they declared, “…We have no king but Caesar” (John19:15).
This was treason against the King of the Old Testament prophecies, from their reasoning. If Jesus was not the true Son of David, then He was not the rightful King, and therefore, their consciences would be soothed. There’s just one very big problem. Jesus was no false prophet, and His claim to kingship is legitimate. The promise God made to David that his line would reign forever was not dependent upon the goodness of David’s dynasty. God promised David an eternal dynasty in 2 Samuel 7:16. He told David, “Your throne shall be established forever.” In 1 Kings 9:5, Solomon received the same assurance: “…I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised to David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man upon the throne of Israel.’”
The Scriptures plainly declare that Jesus, our blessed Redeemer, reigns eternally at the right hand of the Father! Hebrews 10:11-14 makes it clear that our Lord is ruling now and into the future. With the eternal throne established, the Davidic promise kept, and the authority of His kingship set apart from earthly rulers, Jesus is “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16).
Throughout the Bible, the legitimacy of Christ’s claim is key to our salvation. Paul told of God’s fulfilment of the promise of salvation through and in Christ. “…the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14). The legitimacy of Jesus, rightful heir of the house of David, supports His role as the Messiah King! His followers are inhabitants of a single kingdom. The law of Christ supersedes all others, and its constitution is the spirit-breathed Word of God! Its territory is worldwide, and all who rule on earth are accountable to Him. Paul wrote that all things are subject to our Lord (1 Corinthians 15:28)!
No other ruler has ever received such rightful praise. Even the multitudes of Heaven declare of Him, “…Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12). It is no wonder that Scripture reveals of our King’s majesty, “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And unto the Lamb for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13). God’s anointed King is reigning now! Make sure you are in the kingdom and not in the fire (Revelation 20:15)!
Hit Me Again
Denny Petrillo
Bodily pain has an important function. It is a warning that something is wrong and that steps should be taken to correct the difficulty. A leper may grab hold of a hot coal and, if he is not alert, burn part of his hand away because no warning messages of pain come through the nerves of his hand. Pain is beneficent when it brings about correction of what is wrong.
Human suffering can likewise have corrective value. It can be a warning to him who is following a wrong path – a warning that comes soon enough for him to change his ways. Much is said in Proverbs about willingness to accept reproof from one’s fellows. He is a wise man who does not resent a rebuke (Proverbs 15:10). He profits by it. However, in Proverbs 3:11, the writer thought of a rebuke administered by the Lord. “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction.” Suffering may be God’s way of awakening a man to his wrongdoing. If the man regards this chastening as the act of a loving father trying to correct his son, he will extract the full value from his pain.
While much of what Job’s friend Elihu said was incorrect, he was right on this point (Job 5:17-18). The inspired writer of the epistle of Hebrews quoted Elihu and validated the point that the Lord does discipline those whom He loves (Hebrews 12:5-11).
Sometimes we foolishly think that our devotion to the Lord should reap health and material benefits. Life should be great, painless and trouble free. Yet things often sidetrack us from what is most important (Matthew 16:24). When we are distracted or heading in the wrong direction, divine corrective measures may be necessary. Use life’s bumps, twists and turns as a time to do some serious soul-searching. The wise man Solomon confirmed this when he said, “In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other…” (Ecclesiastes 7:14).
When all is not well, consider. It may be the discipline of the Lord trying to wake us up to the direction we are traveling.