June 10, 2019 -- John 19:12-16 -- Jesus the King

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”  So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha.  Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”  They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”  So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

John 19:12-16 ESV

Jesus is the King. Pilate spoke it half in admiration and half in mockery. The Jews rebelled and cried out damning words: “We have no king but Caesar.” By those words the mob was declaring allegiance with the earthly powers rather than submitting to the King of Splendour Who was laying down His life so that He would take upon Himself God’s punishment against their (and our) sin. It is painfully ironic: Jesus is prepared to act in love towards the very people who hated Him and revolted against Him.

We can be sure Jesus was the King then and is our King now:

Even while Pilate was preparing to judge Jesus, Jesus could have commanded legions of angels to conquer Pilate and the whole Roman empire.

Even while Pilate was mocking Jesus, Jesus asserted the fact that He had authority over Pilate and over the proceedings leading to His crucifixion. Why did Jesus go through with it? Jesus willingly laid down His life as the Servant-King pictured in Isaiah, Who dies so that the punishment against sin would not fall on His people, but fall squarely on Himself. After three days, He rises and after 40 days He ascended into heaven where He reigns.

Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the Right Hand of God. He is in the place of power ruling as King bringing all God’s people safely to salvation and conquering all enemies.

Jesus is King and one day every eye will see Him and every tongue will confess Him Lord to the glory of the Father. At Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, from the throne room of heaven, the Father and the Son gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to believers so that they would, despite themselves, be guarded and protected in the safety of Jesus’ kingdom.

Before King Jesus the Bride—all those who believe in Jesus as one people are called the Church and the Bride of the KIng—bows in worship and adoration.

By the authority and power of King Jesus the Church is governed.

In submission to and love for the King each believer seeks to conquer any passion or sinful action which would rebel against our King.

The promise of Isaiah 33:17 is this: our eyes will see the King in His beauty and we will see the full extent of His kingdom. What a day of glory that will be!

High King of Heaven, Jesus great and glorious, blessed are You! Worthy of adoration and praise. Rule in our hearts and by the presence of Your Spirit break down any opposition and resistance to Your reign still obstinately lingering in our hearts or minds. Spirit of Truth, make us to be fit and suitable, spotless as the Bride of the King. We long for the day when our eyes will see You, Jesus, the King in His beauty and we will fully understand the purposeful love of the Father and His steadfast, covenant faithfulness throughout history to bring in the full measure of people into the glorious kingdom of Light. Stubborn, rebellious and wicked though we were and are, Jesus You will not be thwarted in Your saving purpose. You will deliver us cleansed and perfected before the Majesty of Heaven, Your Father. Then we will begin to grasp in new and greater measure such amazing, dazzling, long-suffering love that has lifted us from being sinners dead in our tresspasses to those who are now made alive and ruled in love by the King in His beauty. Amen.