Jesus Our King

28th June 2021

First Samuel Chapter 15 describes one of those sad moments in the history of Israel. The people of Israel rejected God as their King and demanded an earthly king. God warned Israel that an earthly king will be selfish. An earthly king would amass wealth for himself, sacrificing the needs of his own subjects. He will be so self-centered, that his subjects would be just slaves serving the king and satisfying his needs. Yet Israel prevailed in their demand for a king and God granted their demand.

Almost 1000 years later, was born in the little town of Bethlehem, the “King of the Jews” Mat 2:2. But unlike the earthly kings, he was not born in a palace nor raised in a palace. In fact, when the time came for Him to be born, there was “no place in the inn” Luk 2:7 . His cradle was not made of gold, lined with soft mattress, but was an empty, rough, feeding trough, used for cattle. He grew up as the son of an insignificant carpenter (Is not this the carpenter’s son ? Mat 13:55) in an insignificant town called Nazareth (Can anything good come out of Nazareth ? Jn 1:46). From around the age of 30 He went around proclaiming the Kingdom of God. He did astounding miracles like healing people of their leprosy, giving sight to the blind, opening the ears of the deaf, healing the lame, and even raising people from the dead. People could not figure out who He was. Some said that He was one of the prophets of the Old Testament Mat 16:14. But many said  “He has a demon, and is insane” Jn 10:20 . In fact His own family said “He is out of His mind” Mar 3:21. But no one thought He was a King. The closest He came to be crowned as a King was when He had fed more than 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. But they wanted Him to be their King not because they considered Him as King but because they knew they can have free lunch every day. And the closest He came to be hailed as King was when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and the crowd waved palm leaves and shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” Jn 12:13.

He decided to have His last meal with His disciples in an upper room. But He saw that no one was willing to wash their feet. So He took of His outer garment and like a gentile salve stooped down and washed the mud caked feet of His disciples. For He had declared that “I have come not to be served but to serve” Mat 20:28 – so unlike a king. That very night He was arrested and brought before Pontius Pilate and the very same crowd that proclaimed “ Hosanna” now shouted “Crucify Him , Crucify Him.” Pilate took Him to his headquarters and asked Him “ Are you the king of the Jews” Jn 18:33. He answered “My kingdom is not of this world” Jn 18:36. Then Pilate took Him and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Jn 19:1-3.  He was crucified on a Cross between two criminals. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Jn 19:19. . Jesus , not just the King of the Jews but the King of Kings , King of all creation, was offered as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Third day He rose again from the dead and is at the right hand of God the Father “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” Eph 1:21 . Unlike the kings of the earth Jesus gave up His glory for the sake of His subjects. Unlike the earthly kings, Jesus became a slave so that His subjects can be free. Unlike the Kings of the earth Jesus sacrificed His own life so that His subjects should receive Life Eternal.. That Jesus is our King.

Crown Him with many crowns,
  The Lamb upon His throne;
Hark! how the heav’nly anthem drowns
  All music but its own!
  Awake, my soul, and sing
  Of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King
  Through all eternity.

Crown Him the Lord of years,
  The Potentate of time.
Creator of the rolling spheres,
  Ineffably sublime.
  All hail, Redeemer, hail!
  For Thou hast died for me;
Thy praise shall never, never fail
  Throughout eternity.

Matthew Bridges (1800-1894) Hymn: Crown Him with many crowns (hymnal.net)