CHRIST, THE KING
As we celebrate this season, we shall reflect on the theme, Jesus Christ, the king of Jews [Matt.27:29b, 37b; Luke 23:38; John 19:19]. All the synoptic gospels had this charge recorded because, it was critical to the Jews and their customs, that he who called himself the son of God and the king of Jews was crucified on the cross of shame. The gospel of Matthew 27: 37 records, “Above his head, they placed the written charge against him: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” The gospel of John 19:19 reads, “Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Before then, Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged; a crown of thorns put on his head, cloth him in purple cloth and had soldiers struck him on the face. The question I often ask: Is this how a King should have been treated? Would they have treated a worldly king that way? But Jesus stood out as the only King who died for his subjects.
As you ponder on human reactions, you begin to wonder why we behave the way we do. To the chief priest and elders, Jesus called himself the Lord of Sabbath after healing on that day and they did not attempt to kill him. On his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the great crowd followed him a day after he had raised Lazarus from death. They shouted at him, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the King of Israel [John 12:13]. Some of the Pharisees asked Jesus to rebuke the crowd and answered, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out” [Luke 19:40]. When He healed the man who was born blind and then was 40 years old, they call him, a demon. Under their very nose, at his arrest Simon Peter drew a knife and cut the ear of the High Priest’s servant –Malchus but Jesus put it back and rebuke Peter saying, “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me” [John 18:10-11]. Jesus also said to the Chief Priests, Temple guards and the elders who came to arrest him, “Every day I was with you in the temple court and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour – when darkness reigns.” Unknown to these actors, they were just fulfilling ancient prophesies and God’s plan for man’s salvation.
In our world today with its multiplicity of religion and cultural gods, we seem to suppress the fact of Christ, the King and the Lord of all earth. Patricia Livingston contributing to Living Faith [Daily Catholic Devotion, Oct.-Dec, 2011] wrote, “Our world culture today seems far from the reign of Christ, obsessed with high–profile, glamorous power people.” But I also see, in ways that take my breath away, people led by the power of the king on the cross: people drinking the cup of self-sacrifice, laying down their lives in love with astonishing generosity for their families, their communities, the poor and doing it all with humor and hope.”
Apostle Paul reminded the Philippians and all Christians the nature of Christ to be like-minded with Christ, having the same love, being one in Spirit and purpose. He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Being found in human form, he humbled himself and become obedient unto death, even the death on a cross [Philippians 2:7-8]. Rev. Fr. Larry Richards in his book, “BE A MAN,” said, “Jesus Christ the King of kings became a slave to you. How could you not want to become a slave to Him?” It was for this reason that Jesus taught his disciples saying, “For whoever would save his life would loose it and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it [Mathew 16:25]. This same Jesus after the evening meal washed his disciples’ feet. He charged them, “You call me Teacher and Lord….have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you [John 13:12-15]. He reassured them…….no servant is greater than his master nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him [vs. 16].
We live in the world where people answer Christians and are not like-minded with Christ. Some have Jesus as a Savior but He’s not their Lord and King. We have leaders and lords who are neither representing their subject nor serving them. They sit in their palaces and rule the people into serving them; they go to war to defend their kings and queens. Their citizens are subject to task duties and pay high taxes, battling with high cost of living and gas to quicken their movement. In some cities and countries, they make living frustrating to the poor masses: under mind building rail roads to ease transportation; cut social amenities and reduce work force but increase taxes. They make laws that inhibit the success and progress of the common people. Even when the job market is strained, they cut benefits and keep the rich, richer and the poor, poorer.
Is Jesus Christ your Lord and King? Are you fully surrendered to Him? On a daily basis would you depend on Him and the Holy Spirit to lead and sustain you? If Jesus laid down his life for us, are we ready to lay our lives to Him by loving those He loves? “We love God as much as the person we like the least” – Dorothy Day. The love of God is not simple. We must loose our grip and let God; become slaves to God by serving those He has put on our ways. To love is to open our lives to some people who we know shall hurt us, anywhere. [Read John 15:12-13,17].
The worldly kings exhibit power, wealth, ego and ruler ship. But Jesus the King lived wisdom by being a servant to others. “The world always wants to know who has the power while God wants to know who has the servants.” Every kingdom whose purpose is not to serve the people shall be extinct. Every leader whose goal is not servant-hood is nothing. Jesus, the King died for his subjects. He became a servant to make us kings. “All that is not given is lost.” Join today to lift up Jesus Christ, the King of kings.
Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill @weefreeministries.org or P.O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.