Christ as King

As i was reflecting on Christ being our King this week, my wife and I went to Burger King. Hudson runs around and grabs each of us crowns, so we felt like royalty while eating. On the crowns was their motto, “you rule.” I thought to myself there is something to this. At burger king, I rule I am the authority over my meal. I get to choose what I want on it and how I want it. As a culture though, this is how we view our lives. We are the sole authority in our own lives. We do not submit to anyone, everyone must submit to me. Its either my way or the highway. I am king over my life.

We say things like Its my body, my choice. No one tells me that my music must be turned down. No one tells me what I can or cannot do with my own life. As children and teens, some of us may not like those who were placed in authority over us. We would argue with our parents, our teachers, others who were placed in authority over us. What was being seen then as teenagers and what is being seen now in our lives when we reject authority is a much bigger issue. It is a heart issue.

We reject authority, because we think that we are in control. We go on through different ways that we interact with day to day life, in a state of anarchy. Maybe not with human authority but we do not submit to the rule of God over our lives. I think it was Paul Tripp who said that we are Spiritual Anarchist. We do not submit to God’s rule in and over our lives, that is why we sin. We want to be in control. We set up boundaries that we allow God to be in control of, and we hold others closely not giving an inch to his authority. We treat ourselves as Kings and rulers of our lives.

Scripture makes it clear, through Jesus being the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that we are to submit to his rule. As we briefly think through what it means for Jesus to be King, I pray that as you see Jesus as King you would submit, you would love his authority and his kingship over your life. You would let him tear down your kingdom and replace it with his own.

hope your crock pots on low lets go

As we continue to think about Jesus as King and what that means for us the main thing I want us to see today is this

MP: Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, submit to his rule.

Please turn with me to Luke Luke 1:26-33

Luke 1:26–33 ESV

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 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.”

Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Here in Luke 1 the angel Gabriel speaks of the child that Mary will become pregnant with. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the most high, he will be given the throne of his Father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom will never end. God had planned for Jesus to come and reign over all the earth. He sent Gabriel to Mary so she would know these things concerning her son that would be born. God even in this moment was sovereign over the kingdom that was going to be established with Jesus being King. God was setting up a forever king in a forever kingdom.

The scriptures make it clear that all kings and kingdoms are the result of God’s sovereign power being orchestrated over his creation. Daniel while interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream said, Daniel 2:19-21 “Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings.

This orchestration of setting up and removal of kings has been happening from the beginning of time. God placed the Adam in the garden and God gave to Adam dominion over his creation. God placed man in control of his creation to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Adam was established in the rule of the earth by God. Adam’s rule and dominion was an extension of God’s universal kingship. However, because of sin, Adam’s rule and dominion was cut short. Sin began to rule and death thus had dominion upon the earth.

As man rebelled and rejected the Lordship and Kingship of God over him, sin rule and reign in the hearts of man. Humanity would take the just, righteous, mercy-filled and grace-filled reign of a Holy and righteous God and reject it to be like God themselves. Man’s dominion which originally began under the authority and rule of God, was rejected by man and mankind would then place themselves as kings and lords.

In the plan of redemption, God promised to send a better Adam, who would crush the head of the satan, defeat sin and death Further, From Abraham would come a king that would rule and bless all the nations. God would even give Israel instructions on who are kings and how they will rule in Deuteronomy 17:14-19 . However, the people of Israel were to be led by God as their king. The Lord would be the one to rule over them. Israel like Adam did not want to have God rule them as king rather they wanted a king to be placed over them. As Saul ruled sin still reigned in his heart. God chose David was lifted up to be king. However, David was likewise sinful. and the sin continued to Solomon. It seemed the kings that were raised up inherited the same sin nature as their fathers before them. Sin and death was still reigning.

Even in this God had a plan, to place one final king over all the earth, and give him a kingdom, dominion and rule for all time, now and forever. Jer 23:5–6 ““Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” and in Hos 3:5 “Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.”

There was a promised king that would come from the line of David that would rule in righteousness. After years of exile and destruction, Israel was waiting for the promised messiah, the promised king that would bring a forever kingdom upon the earth, the one who would have victory over sin and death and would reign forever.

The angel speaking to Mary would even speak of this kingdom. Luke 1:31-33 “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.””

Jesus was the fulfilment of the messianic promises, the Son of God’s incarnation issues in the messianic kingdom. The forever king would not come to live in riches and fame, being born into notoriety or in a huge palace. Rather, his incarnation was of humility, being born into a home of an poor unknown woman in a small town.

As Jesus began his ministry he would say, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

How would Jesus bring in this kingdom and his reign? Not by violence, nor with earthly power, but by obedience to God the Father. That he would serve his God perfectly, die the death that his people deserved. Jesus said in Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” Jesus would obey the father and redeem the dominion that Adam lost. He would defeat sin and death and be given a everlasting dominion and rule.

Daniel 7:13-14 ““I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

Jesus would refer to himself as the Son of Man in Mark and Matthew often. he was given a dominion, glory and a kingdom. In this kingdom all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His coronation into his kingdom was not by pomp and circumstance but by the pangs of death as he drew his last breath and muttered it is finished.

As Christ suffered and died as the better priest by offering himself as a sacrifice for sins, he conquered sin and death, and is now victorious. His victory secured him dominion. His death provided him glory and his Resurrection assured him a kingdom. Oh the wonderful news of this kingdom and this king.

His victory over sin and death, his dominion and kingdom that extends to the ends of the earth and to the ends of time, is now for our benefit.and in 1 Cor. 15:21-22 “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” As Jesus seemed to be defeated upon the cross, there was a benefit for all those who would believe in him, he would rescue his people from death and give them eternal life by God’s spirit.

For those of you here that may not know this king. When you reflect on those who govern over us and the sinful nature of their governance, dont you wish for a perfect ruler. Dont you wish for one who ruled justly and in righteousness. There is one who is this Jesus. He not only rules in perfection as we will see in a moment but he has entered into this earth to die for you and those in our governing offices. He has defeated your sin. He has defeated death, so that you may have salvation. Repent of your sins and turn to Christ. Submit yourself to his rule and authority. Do not fall into the temptation of your forefather Adam, who desired to rule over himself. Turn to the king of Kings who tears down kings and Kingdoms. Turn to Jesus. Bow to this king now before it is too late. Philippians 2 9-11 “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 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.” Confess today that Jesus is Lord, see him as your king today.

Christian, you have been redeemed by the King of Kings, there is no one more powerful than him, he is the only one to defeat sin and death by his perfect sacrifice. He is the one who controls all things upon this earth by his mighty hand. You now live in his kingdom. 1 Peter 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” We are aliens in this world, we are but sojourners living in a spiritual kingdom awaiting for the return of our king who is ruling and reigning now. so lets live like it.

Brother and Sister, stop trying to build your kingdom. stop living your life for your self and your ambitions. Live your life for the glory of King Jesus, proclaim his excellencies and follow his perfect rule. He will destroy your kingdom, because his kingdom has dominion and it will last forever. Submit to his rule. Let him reign in your life, this means for you, there is no place where his isnt reigning. He reigns, controls, and has dominion over your finances, over your marriage, over your parenting, over your job, over your business, over every aspect of your life. Stop acting like he doesn't. Stop playing king throughout the week, and submit to the king that is reigning.

if King Jesus is victorious then his is sufficient. William Mason says this, “Quickened souls see their sinfulness, know their poverty, feel thier misery and wretchedness, and groan… but here is there glory, joy and comfort, they are one with Christ his life is theirs, his death is theirs, his righteousness is theirs, his holiness is theirs, his fullness is theirs.” There is nothing else that we need than the King. King Jesus has overcome Satan by purchasing his people with his blood. We are no longer to live to sin because we were bought with a price. We have been delivered from the power of darkness and we are redeemed through his blood. therefore we should live unto righteousness. 1 Peter 2:24-25 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Brothers and Sisters, look to king Jesus and submit to his rule. for he is a good, faithful king.

I want to spend the final couple of minutes that we have together in Revelation 19 verses 11-16,

This king Jesus of which we submit our-self to is described here in Revelation 19. John is writing this letter to a number of different churches that are having a hard time living in the already but not yet Kingdom of Christ. They are still living physically under the rule of the Roman government who are corrupt. There is persecution that is happening to these brothers and sisters in Christ. Men and women dying for their faith, and in the midst of a vision that the apostle John is being given God is providing hope and endurance through this letter to them. In Revelation 19 there is a description concerning King Jesus that would be helpful for us to walk through, so that we can be encouraged concerning the king that we have.

Revelation 19: 11-16 “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Jesus enters on a white horse signifying his victory and purity.

The pure sinless one has won against the power of sin and has defeated satan. King Jesus’s victory gives us hope, against temptation, he has been tempted just as we are yet without sin as we learned last week. Col 2:13-15 “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Christ has won against Satan, Sin, Death and Evil. His sinlessness provided atonement for our sinfulness. His victory gives us hope in the midst of trials and tribulation. As one author writes, “(we) may now look on that enemy, however fearful it may appear, as condemned and killed in the death of Christ, We are to look to Christ hanging on the cross and there vanquishing and overcoming this archenemy- as a public person, representing the elect who died in him.. From hence, even while fighting the believer may account himself a conqueror, indeed more than a conqueror, through Him that loved him.” Our conquering King now, gives us power to overcome sin and death through his victory and purity.

Our King is Faithful and True.

He is dependable and trustworthy. He is authentic and the real thing. What he says then you can believe. There is no double speak with our king, there are no conspiracy theories with our king. He was faithful while upon the earth all that was set before him. Going to the cross and not wavering from the plan of God for the redemption of his people, he for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2) Our king is faithful to his promises. When our king says something we can trust it, he has proved himself over and over again, through his life and death. Therefore, let us trust these promises, that he will never leave us nor forsake us, that he is with us, that he cares for us, that he has loved us. When the days are dark, remember who your king is, rest in his faithfulness and truth.

Our king judges and makes war in righteousness

As our king has no vindictiveness about him, there is not a lust for conquest. He looks after those who are suffering from injustices. He makes war in his own righteousness, not out of sin but for his glory. He is unlike any king that the world has ever known, He perfectly obeyed the Father proving his righteousness to receive what Adam had lost.

Our king has eyes that are like a flame of fire

He is able to see all that goes on. He sees into the depths of our souls. He knows every thing we do, every thing we think and everything we feel. He knows our pain, our sorrow, our joy, our discouragement, our heartbreaks, our rejoicing, he knows us better than anyone knows us even ourselves. He knows our sins, our depravity and wickedness. Yet he still loves you and cares for you. Let us marvel in this, our King knows us deeply and intimately the good and the bad, still through his mercy and grace, is near when we need him.

Fourth, on his head there are many diadems

His diadems or crowns signify his rule, his sovereignty, his complete control over all dominions and situations and kingdoms. You cannot escape his rule, not in this life, not in death. You cannot outrun him to the east or the west. You can play like he is not in control, but he is. He has all dominion and rule. Just as the psalmist describes Psalm 139:1-12 “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.”

His not only has one or two crowns but he has many crowns. This characteristic of King Jesus would cause Matthew Bridges in 1852 to write this hymn. 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 though all eternity.

King Jesus has a name written that no one knows but himself

one commentator writes:

Exalting Jesus in Revelation His Appearance Will Be Glorious (19:11–13)

That he also has a secret name means that the human mind cannot grasp the depths of his being” (Ladd, Commentary, 254), which means for all of eternity we will grow in our knowledge and wonder of this great Redeemer King!

why not begin now to know our king more? learn of him, to love him more.

King Jesus is clothed in a robe dipped in blood

John penning this as he looked upon King Jesus may have had Isaiah 63:1-6 in mind. Even if he didnt, his royal robes are covered in his blood, his death paid for sins and has provided us forgiveness. His victory did not come in the shedding of blood of his enemies, nor those who have sinned against him, but by his own blood which is dawned by him upon his robe for all of eternity.

the name by which he is called is the Word of God

He is the perfect revelation of God. When you are looking at Jesus you are looking at God himself. When you are listening to Jesus you are listening to God himself. Oh if we would listen and obey our perfect king.

The armies of heaven follow King Jesus.

He is control even of the armies that are in heaven, the angels come behind him not carrying a weapon for battle but behind the victorious king who has defeated evil and death.

out of King Jesus’s mouth comes a sharp sword

His word is powerful, it is like a sharp sword that cuts deep, it is with his word all things were created, it is by his word that all things are sustained, it is by his word that he will destroy the nations, notice the armies of heaven doesnt even fight, but the Word speaks with a sharp sword. He rules the nations with an rod of iron showing his authority over them. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. He will judge the world with wrath from the almighty God because he is the Almighty God. There is no where his authority does not reign. Wrath will be poured out on all those who do not believe in his name. He has no equal, no competition, he contains in himself absolute power over all things. Matthew 28:16-20 “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

Do you see what this call is? This great commission? It is an edict by our King, to take this word that issues out of his mouth and take it to the nations to make disciples. We can do it because of his power, his authority. Because our king is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. and he alone reigns. He even has his name stitched upon his robe and tattooed on his thigh King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the almighty King Jesus,

Brothers and sisters, See your King in all his glory. He is the one who is faithful and true, he is the one who judges and makes war in righteousness, he is the one that has victory, and in him you can have victory. Instead of wearing a crown that says “you rule”, crown Lord Jesus with every crown, even with the crown that you wear upon your head. Give to him the glory and rule over your life. For he is King forever.

One day we will shed this mortal body that is full of sin, and we will be in the presence of our King who will wipe every tear from our eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

We will see our king sitting on the throne and he will say, It is done! I am the Alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and i will be his God and he will be my son. We will dwell in the city that has no need for sun or moon. The city that that is lite by the glory of Christ Jesus our king and we will dwell with him as he reigns forever and ever.