22 November 2015 - king of kings

Jesus is King of kings! Today we celebrate his kingship. Does he reign in us? We often have issues with authority. We relegate Jesus to a merely ceremonial throne like the current royal family in England. We recognize how human kings have gone wrong in their use of authority. We are ready to impugn the motives of anyone who limits are freedom. A ceremonial king is all we can accept. Like Pilate, we try to relegate the kingship of Jesus to some area which does not have full claim on our lives and hearts, as if we say, "I am not a Jew, am I?"

But Jesus is not merely a king for ceremonies. He is not merely king of some things and not of others, some people and not others. He is the "ruler of the kings of the earth." Every eye will see him when he finally comes in glory upon the clouds. It isn't just those who elect him. It will not be possible to enjoy the royal reception and then go back to our own individual kingdoms.

the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

This is good news! We have a hard time celebrating the idea of a king because we've seen such bad human examples. But God's ways our not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts. We should welcome him because unlike human kings he speaks with the voice of truth. Nothing is merely in his self-interest. Instead, his kingship is built into and reflects the structure of the universe itself.

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.

For now, it is possible to belong to lies rather than the truth. But Jesus commands what he commands because that is how things are, not because it is any benefit to him. He makes himself available to us as King for our sakes. He empowers us to live in accord with reality. When we embrace the truth we are grateful for the authority of the one who is truth. He has the power to finally quell all rebellions against this truth, to quiet everyone who opposes it, and to put his enemies under his feet. But again, this is not selfish. He does it for the sake of everyone who is willing to choose the truth. There is no life in lies. They promise life, but it is not truth. The authority of the king of truth can deliver us from them.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

What king is there who so willingly shares his kingship? None but the LORD! Let us choose to belong to the truth today. Other options are illusions which can not be perpetuated forever. Only the kingdom of truth will not be destroyed.

And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.