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 kingship that would last for
eternity (Psalm 89:29). The Jews understood that the Messiah would come as king
to establish God's reign for them. They wanted a king who would free them from
tyranny and from foreign domination. Many had high hopes that Jesus would be
the Messiah king. Little did they understand what kind of kingship Jesus
claimed to have. Jesus came to conquer hearts and souls for an imperishable
kingdom, rather than to conquer perishable lands and entitlements. 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 rulership over the earth. Jesus knew that the way to victory was
through submission to his Father's will and through the sacrificial offering of
his life upon the cross for the sins of the world. 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 as King of 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 resurrection. 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 we recognize Jesus Christ as our
King and Lord?
The scriptures present us with the choice
between two kingdoms – the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. The
choice is ours to make voluntarily. Which kingdom do you serve - the world that
passes away or God's kingdom which endures for all time? God's kingdom remains
forever because it is built on the foundation of God's eternal love and
justice. To accept Jesus as Lord and King is to become a citizen of an
everlasting kingdom which is governed by righteousness, peace, truth, and love.
Many thanks to all those involved in the
concert last Friday evening. I will write about it next week.
Fr. Phil
