Since Christ is King

Who is Jesus Christ to you?

Is he a figure of history that is interesting and inspiring?

Is he a character that you learned about in Sunday school, and he lives in those imaginative childhood memories?

Is He a comforting traditional thought?

Who is Jesus Christ to you? How you answer that question makes all the difference in your life. But we could shorten the question, because who Jesus Christ is to you does not actually change who Jesus is.

A couple of months ago, we studied that triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem in Matthew’s gospel. As the crowds gathered behind Jesus on that busy road heading into Passover week, why were they following Him?

What caused them to lay down their coats and cut those palm fronds, paving the road to Israel’s capital?

What caused them to say those most exalting words, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD?”

Clearly, to those people, Jesus Christ was more than a mere idea, or a comfort, or a tradition, or an imagination.

Yet, sometimes we are tempted to think of Him in those terms. Even some preachers and theologians would have us think of Him only in those terms.

Especially in the last century, there was a rise of many modern critics who sought to “demythologize” Christ. In other words, they wanted people to stop looking at him as a real figure in history who performed deeds of “mythological” scope, and rather look at Christ as a “concept” or an “event.”

Christ, then, might be no more than a happy stand-in for religious motivation. He might be no more than a hero of our preaching and doctrine, but not an actual, living Savior.

This might motivate us into some kind of moral action or reform, but does it change us? Is it still real?

One author, thinking about this viewpoint, puts it this way. If Christ is not a person, if He is just an “idea” or an “event,” then...

“There is no risen Saviour in control of the universe. There is no high priest to sympathize with us in our weaknesses. There is no comfort in bereavement because our dead are simply dead and we have no hope of ever seeing them again. There is no heaven, and all that talk about sharing the glory of Christ is mere whistling in the dark. And there is little purpose in prayer since God never interferes in the time-space continuum.”

Yes, if Christ is not a real, living, breathing, ruling Savior, then all of these hopes that we hope in are figments of imagination, just “religious” hopes, but not realities.

But those people on the first Day of Passover week shouted “hosanna” to a real person. And it was a real person who rode into Jerusalem and cleansed the temple. It was a real person who spoke to the Disciples, the Scribes and Pharisees. It was a real person who would carry a cross and die on Friday, and it is a real person who we will celebrate next Sunday, because of His very real resurrection.

Yes, Christ is a real, living Savior, and He is a real King.

On Palm Sunday, they shouted “Hosanna!” to the King. What does it mean that Christ is King, and what does knowing that do in us and for us?

I want to do something a bit different than normal for today. Let’s take some time together to do a bit of a scriptural survey on these questions. What does it mean that Christ is King, and what does it do for us and in us?

What Does It Mean?

1. He Was Prophesied

When we begin to think about what it means for Jesus to be King, we have to start with prophecy.

When an Israelite would think about a King, eventually his mind would end up thinking of David. David was not the first king in Israel, but he was the most well-known, well-loved, and one on whom God’s favor rested.

During David’s time, God made an unconditional covenant with David - a promise concerning His line.

1 Chronicles 17:11–14 ESV

When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’ ”

Do you hear the force of that promise? Forever, forever, forever. That was the emphasis of that covenant - a ruler from David’s house who will rule forever.

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

There, in Isaiah, is the promise of another Ruler. All “government” shall rest upon his shoulder. He would be a wonderful counselor, the mighty God, and everlasting.

Zechariah 9:9 ESV

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Another prophecy of a king, this time, however, not speaking so much of the length of his reign but the attributes of his reign. Notice the important emphases.

Righteous

Having Salvation

Humble

That will be Jerusalem’s ultimate King, he will come in riding on a Donkey which will picture his humility. The ultimate king, but the humble king.

And he will not be weak or sinful, but he will come with saving power, and come in righteousness.

2. He Fulfilled

We could go on and on in prophecy about this King, but we have to look at the counterpart - fulfillment.

Mark 11:1–10 ESV

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’ ” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

This, of course, is in direct fulfillment of that prophecy in Zechariah.

As we have been studying Matthew, we have seen that one of the major themes is fulfillment. Over and over again, we read “this was done in order to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet...”

And fulfill Jesus did. He fulfilled the prophecies of his birth and coming, and he fulfilled the law and righteousness, and he also fulfills his kingly role.

Look at how the Apostles preached about Jesus’ Kingship.

Acts 2:29–31 ESV

“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

Yes, Christ was David’s true and better offspring, and his resurrection fulfilled the prophecies, even in the Psalms about the eternal reign of this Son of David.

3. He is Heir

We saw this in the last scripture, how that Christ was a descendent from David’s line. We could see that in the very first chapter of the New Testament, which recounts the lineage of Christ and proves him as the “Son of David, the Son of Abraham.”

He is a rightful heir from a human standpoint, but he is also heir from a Divine standpoint. He is a Son of David according to the flesh, but he is the true and eternal Son of god.

Hebrews 1:5 ESV

For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?

Hebrews 1:8 ESV

But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

Yes, the Eternal Son of God whose Divine Throne is forever and ever and ever.

But history has shown over and over again that the rightful heir is not always the worthy ruler. There have been plenty of bad kings in history, even in the history of the Bible. What about Christ?

4. He is Worthy

Matthew 12:18 ESV

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

Matthew 17:5 ESV

He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

Revelation 4:11 ESV

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Revelation 5:13 ESV

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Yes, Jesus is worthy because He is the faithful Servant. Jesus is worthy because He has the Father’s total approval and accolade. Jesus is worthy because He sits on a throne of righteousness, and we will stand before Him for all eternity and be overcome with his worthiness.

Can you imagine that? What is the climate like around our national leaders in this day? Our airwaves and media outlets are filled with one political side or another waxing eloquent about how our leaders are so unworthy, so inept, so unrighteous.

But we will stand, forever and ever, and proclaim from a true heart of adoration how Christ, the King, is worthy in all of his ways.

What does it Do?

1. The King’s Side is the Winning Side

Let us start with some encouragement. Many valiant leaders have attracted loyal followers throughout history, but have come to be defeated and disappointed.

Many bets have been hedged on the ability of a ruler or a deliverer, but when push came to shove, that ruler failed.

Colonel Custer, Battle of the LIttle Bighorn 1876, Montana Territory, Lacota Sioux

A Valiant Leader

Boisterous and Brave

Grave disappointment

But what of our King? Will we be ultimately disappointed? It is a big ask to commit our entire lives and livelihoods to this King. And that is what we are asked for. We are called to give life, soul, and eternity to this King. On the final day, will we be disappointed?

Revelation 17:14 ESV

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.”

Revelation 20:7–10 ESV

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Yes, not only is Christ a faithful King and ruler, but He will be ultimately victorious.

You can stake everything on his claims and promises. And this means so much for our lives.

Everything that comes from Christ will be vindicated. Every battle fought for Christ will be vindicated. Every temptation that we face and overcome will be worth it, because Christ will be ultimately victorious.

Every attack from the Devil, every scoff and sneer from the world. Every persecution and seeming loss will be worth it, because the King’s Side is the victorious side.

What battle are you facing in life right now, where allegiance to Christ seems to come at such a cost? What is the cost? Is it your pride? Your dignity? A friendship? Recognition? Will that cost be worth it? Yes, yes it will.

2. We are Under Unique Sovereignty

1 Timothy 6:13–16 ESV

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

This charge from Paul to young Timothy is filled with valour and a call to action, and it is all based on the glorious kingship of Christ. We will see the next several lessons from this passage.

First, we are under unique sovereignty.

Paul says that Christ is the “Blessed and Only Sovereign.”

Monos Dunasteis.

We get the word “Dynasty” from that Greek root.

It speaks of rulership, kingly power, sovereignty.

That title alone can be applied to many, but Paul modifies it with one word that changes everything.

“monos”

That is translated as “only.” the blessed and “only sovereign.”

What does that mean? Does it mean that he is the only ruler, the only power? Well, no - it can’t mean that because that word can be used of any earthly king or power.

But the word “monos” can also mean “unique.”

He is the “unique soverign.” That is, He is “sovereign” in a way that no other sovereign is.

What is a good way to think about that?

Well, there are many competing powers and wills in the universe, and many “sovereigns” in the world. But where one “soverign” comes up against the sovereignty of Christ, Christ always wins.

Where our “freedom” comes up against Christ, Christ always wins.

This is expressed in another way, when we read that Christ is “King of Kings.”

Yes, King over all other Kings, King above all other Kings. The one king to whom other kinds will bow. And if the kings will bow, will we bow?

3. We are In the Possessor of Life

Going on in that very passage, we read that he “alone has immortality.”

Immortality here is the state of not dying. It is eternality. And like sovereignty, Jesus is not the only one who this can be said about. Because even we, as his heirs and children, are given this gift of eternal life. So how can it be said that only Christ has it?

Well, that is just it. Only Christ “possesses” it. Meaning, when it comes to “ownership” and authority, it is His to posses, and his to control.

He is the true possessor of life. There is no other fountainhead, no other source to run to. Christ alone gives life.

After a hard teaching in John 6, many who had been following Jesus turned away. He looked at his disciples, and asked, will you also go away? To which Peter replied,

John 6:68 ESV

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

Yes, Christ alone - the author, possessor, and giver of life.

4. We are Acquainted with Inaccessible Greatness

Going on in 1 Timothy 6, we read that Christ “dwells in unapproachable light.”

This is such a picture of holiness and awe. That phrase is one that we instantly try to imagine and visualize, yet we can’t because we can only imagine light that we have been able to see, and gaze upon, and approach. But christ dwells in “unapproachable light.”

Yes, his Holiness and truth, his goodness and knowledge is inaccessible humanly speaking.

No other being even comes close to radiating or possessing this kind of light.

But what is amazing, is though this is true, Christ allows us to become acquainted with Him. In his Holiness, in his “otherness,” in His separation and wonder, we can come to Him.

He is so transcendent that we cannot imagine or comprehend his wonder, yet he makes himself approachable and bids us “come to me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden.”

5. Christ’s Kingship is His Lordship

Christ is “King of Kings” and He is “Lord of Lords.”

We read that in 1 Timothy 6, we read it in Revelation 17. Let us look, as we close, at Philippians 2.

Philippians 2:9–11 ESV

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.

Name above all names, every knee bow, every tongue confess.

His “Kingship” is His Lordship. In other words, when it comes to the practical, daily aspect of our life, Christ’s “Kingship” is most vividly seen in his Lordship over our lives.

If we see Christ as a glorious and beautiful ruler, who will deliver and conquer, but we do not see Him as the one who has authority over us, and one to whom we bow now, then our view of his Kingship is incomplete.

Christ is not King at a distance, He is King up close.

Christ is not King for eternity, He is king right now.

Christ is not King just when we need a savior, he is King when we need a ruler.

Christ is not King when we need visions of glory, Christ is king when we need a Wonderful Counselor.

Yes, Christ’s Kingship is His Lordship.

Today, we shout Hosanna and exalt the blessed one who Comes in the Name of the Lord! But do we exalt his Lordship and say, “whatever your will, Jesus, I want to do that?”

Consider these three things today.

There is Nobody Greater, so why look further?

Only Sovereign

Possessor of Life

The King who other kings bow to

If we all will bow one day, why not bow today?

When will you admit, both practically and spiritually, that Christ is Lord of All?

When will you see that the best thing you could ever do with your life is to come to this Lord, bow before Him, receive the life that only he can give, and live as if He is everything?

If your lips will one day say “Jesus is Lord,” will you say that today?

In the context of the first century, it became a requirement for people to regularly confess before a Roman official, “Kaiser Kurios.” Caeser is Lord.

One day, it will become a requirement for all creation to say “Iesu Kurios - Jesus is Lord.

All will confess it one day in fear, but the remarkable thing is that if we come to Christ now in faith and repentance, we can confess this not in fear, but in joy.

Psalm 47:1–2 ESV

Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.

Dear one, will you say today, with great joy, that Jesus is a great King? That He is Lord? Confess this joyfully with praise and glory to His name. There is nobody higher, nobody greater, nobody else. Jesus is King, and this means so much for us.