“YOU ARE A KING, THEN?”
By Pastor Donald Parker
As we approach Easter, many have heard the events that took place around the crucifixion. How the Jews begin to put into motion their plan to have Jesus executed. They had Jesus arrested and falsely accused by the high priest and teachers of the law and the elders. So, they tied him up and led him to Pilate, who was the governor. As Jesus faced Pilate, he asked Jesus this question in John 18:37 “You are a King, then?”
That question caught my attention; because yes Jesus is a King, and oh what a King He is! The sad thing is, Pilate and many people then, and many people today, have no idea what a King Jesus really is.
We see in Scripture that from his birth, Jesus was called “King of the Jews.” Matthew 2:1-2 says, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” From the very beginning of His birth He was titled King.
Then as you read through Matthew and you get near the end, we notice just hours before Jesus’ death a sign had been nailed to the cross just above His head which read: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS (Matthew 27:37).
Few people that day actually understood the signs real meaning, but actually the sign was very powerful, because it spoke to one of the criminals that hung next to Jesus, and he realized that indeed Jesus was the Savior and a King, and he asked Jesus to save him.
We also see in Scripture that Jesus is King over all the earth. David declared God’s sovereign authority over the whole earth in Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Then in Psalm 47:7 the psalmist wrote, “For God is the King of all the earth.” He is not simply God and King of Israel; He is “King over all the earth.” God is over all, because He created all.
Then we see that Jesus is King of glory. David wrote in Psalm 24:7-10 “Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – he is the King of glory.”
In David’s time this referred to the carrying of the ark into Jerusalem. The ark represented the King of glory or the obvious presence of God. From within the city walls; possibly from the guard at the city gate, the question was asked, “Who is he, this King of glory?” Then from the outside the gate, the one’s carrying the ark replied, “The Lord Almighty – he is the King of glory.”
In Revelation 19:16 we read, “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Jesus Christ’s most important name is “King of kings and Lord of lords.” It is His victorious name. The one question that Revelation answers is “Who is the King?” – Jesus Christ! And everybody will acknowledge it and confess it without any doubt!
Philippians 2:9-11 tells us so. “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
One day Jesus will return and everyone, and I mean everyone, even Pilate and the Roman soldiers that nailed Jesus to the cross will see Him return and everyone will see “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” and “every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
A King – more appropriately The King – The Creator of Heaven and Earth – stepped out of heaven to come to the world for the sole purpose; to save you from your sins. Oh what a King – Oh what a Savior – Oh what a Heavenly Father – all because He loves you and you matter to Him!
You see the cross is all about King Jesus dying for your sins, but the story doesn’t end there, because my friend “Sunday” is coming! If you are like Pilate and wonder if Jesus is a king, the answer is without a doubt yes and oh what a King.
We invite you to join us Easter Sunday @ 11am, as we celebrate our risen King – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! First Baptist Church Van Horn; A Place to Belong!
