Last week, you read about Jesus’ “commissioning ceremony” as the beginning evidence of His eternal Kingship. It may have seemed abstractly written or a bit overstretching in connection, but I ask you to stick with my train of thought as you discover more of Jesus as King. Psalm 2 is titled, “Coronation of the Son” or “The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed,” (depending on your Bible’s version) and gives another glimpse of this thought.
“Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth take their stand,
and the rulers conspire together
against the Lord and his Anointed One:
‘Let’s tear off their chains
and throw their ropes off of us.’
The one enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord ridicules them.
Then he speaks to them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath:
‘I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.’
I will declare the Lord’s decree.
He said to me, ‘You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.
Ask of me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You will break them with an iron scepter;
you will shatter them like pottery.’
So now, kings, be wise;
receive instruction, you judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with reverential awe
and rejoice with trembling.
Pay homage to the Son or he will be angry
and you will perish in your rebellion,
for his anger may ignite at any moment.
All who take refuge in him are happy.”
Psalm 2
Jesus’ life on earth was to conquer sin, shame, and death, and offer everlasting life to those who put their faith in Him. But there was a process even for God Himself to follow, a royal order to put Jesus on the throne over heaven and earth. And thankfully, this plan graciously included humans.
The Israelites had the understanding that the Messiah was coming to conquer Rome and take over an everlasting physical kingdom here on earth, in the state it is in. But Jesus came with a very different message.
“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. You have heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me. On the contrary, so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do as the Father commanded me.” John 14:27-31
The Lord knew that the world was in turmoil and needed rescuing. There was another prince who ran the show, “the ruler of the world,” and his reign was about to end. But Jesus wasn’t going to do it with a military takeover with which you and I are familiar. No, He was going to do it by sacrificing Himself and bringing peace to all His followers. You see, the current “ruler of the world” only offered fear, shame, and despair, while Jesus offers peace, healing, and hope.
Jesus could easily conquer the enemy and spread His Good News throughout the whole world Himself, as it confirmed John 14:30 that, “the ruler of the world…has no power over [Christ]!” But to build strong followers, Jesus wanted to recruit others to share in the experience and victory with Him. So, before His assignment on earth was completed, He called together the first recruits of His seemingly upside-down army, to share His teaching and gifts with the world. This spiritually scrawny, weak army of twelve men would rise up in the King of Kings’ strength to overcome the “ruler of the world” in their own lives and taste the sweet victory Jesus was offering, so much so that their names will be inscribed on the foundation of the city of God’s new kingdom at the end of earth’s time. “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Revelation 21:14
This is building to be an exciting heroic story, but what does it mean for you?
This gift of salvation for which Jesus gave His life containing freedom, peace, hope, and healing is yours for the taking if you believe by faith that Jesus is the King of Kings.
Spoiler alert: Jesus did conquer the Ruler of the World. It doesn’t seem like it when you listen to the news or endure suffering, but here’s the good news Jesus asked His followers, the army that continues to grow throughout the earth, to share with you:
The reference above in Revelation 21 calls Jesus the Lamb. This is one of His names because He lived a perfect life without sin and willingly died an awful, unjust death He didn’t deserve because He did nothing wrong. Instead, He traded places with you and me. He took on the punishment of our sin and cleansed us from it gifting us His righteousness and blamelessness. He died on a cross as a “sacrificial lamb” for everyone making atonement for yours and my sin (yes, we do sin A LOT).
This went far beyond a human physical death. His death went to the depths of spiritual death as Jesus conquered Hell claiming victory for those who put their faith in Him; that they will never have to partake in spiritual death for all of eternity. Those who believe Jesus truly is God, lived perfectly as both fully God and Man, died for us all, then by His own power conquered sin and death, then rose Himself back to life, and is now seated on the throne ruling over heaven and earth, will live with Christ for all eternity, taking part in His gracious and abundant inheritance. This is the King I love and serve, and the One I hope you do too.
When you fix your eyes on Jesus Christ as Lord and King over you and this entire world, it helps you to keep the perspective of looking to the Creator of the world instead of its creation. It takes you off the controls and gives them to the One who is sovereign over all. No greater love has ever been found, nor will ever be found, in any other king because human love can never contain the depths of the love of God for us, for you.
So, I ask you this, dear reader – are you part of Jesus’ army? Are you fighting for the King of Kings? If not, join us because here’s another spoiler alert – It’s the side of eternal victory! Ponder that thought this week. God reigns always and forever. No one can ever take that from Him. Considering He knows all things, He knows every plot formulated to try and usurp His throne, and is already thousands of steps ahead to prevent that from happening. No one can come close to the infinite wisdom and knowledge of God. Oh, what assurance and “Godfidence” we can gain from that understanding! That’s the team I’m honoured to be a part of! How about you?
