Our King
Our King
The older I get the more moved I am when reading of the stately, regal presence of kings. Where does this innate, at times emotional, honor come from? Why am I so drawn to Aslan as the rightful King of Narnia? To Aragorn, King of Gondor, as he steps down from his throne to honor Frodo, Pippen, and Merry? To prince Kardia as he rids the realm of the evil sorcerer Hocoino? When I think of kings I do not think of evil kings, though there have been far more evil kings than beneficent kings in the history of the world! Why do really good kings reside primarily in the minds of men longing for the reign of a righteous ruler? Perhaps because we have a “heart image” of the perfect King in Christ Jesus.
This perfect King was promised by God to come from King David’s lineage (you can read about it in II Samuel 7) For several hundred years the kings of Israel proved that they were incapable of fulfilling the hope of the people that “this might be the one!”
The prophet Isaiah wrote his 66 chapters with this king theme as a primary focus and gave us this amazing truth:
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.” Is. 9:2,6,7
Some 700+ years later this prophecy was fulfilled!
“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Lk. 1:31-33
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Mt.2:1,2
The narrative of Jesus birth is filled with O.T. references to this future king who would fulfill the promise of God to have a righteous King on the throne of David. None of the kings in Israel’s history proved to be the picture promised by God – while there were a handful of good kings who “…did what was right in the eyes of the Lord…” even these often reverted to sinful, selfish leadership.
Ultimately, the ministry of Jesus provoked the religious and civil authorities to see him as a rival king and have him crucified. Even in this mock trial and his subsequent crucifixion his real identity surfaces.
Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” Mt 27:11
And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Mt. 27:37
And so, the only truly sinless King offered himself as a sacrifice for man’s sin. As a righteous, compassionate, and gracious King he “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord!” Completely!!
Just as the prophetic literature was fulfilled in Jesus first coming it speaks clearly about his second coming. He will return, not as the lamb of God, but as the Lion of Judah to restore his creation and subjugate all the rebellion and evil against him.
And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:5
“They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” Rev. 17:14 “On his robe and on his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Rev. 19:16
Those who serve other kings and refuse to honor him will ultimately be confronted with the Truth “so 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.” Phil. 2:10,11
Yes, we should get goose bumps and choke back tears as we envision the rule of our future righteous King. He comes to conquer evil, to establish justice, and to fully restore his creation. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!