This week on The Rebellion,
We are in the midst of our series the children of God. This is part four, Jesus the King of kings. So far we have established the infinite father, and we've looked at two of the roles of Jesus Christ as Savior and high priest. Last week we really drove home the idea of Him living eternally to intercede for us, as the second main role.
This will be the final roll of Jesus that we look at in this series. I understand the Jesus Christ has more than three roles in the Christian's walk but we're just going over fundamentals. We're trying to build a foundation so that as we progress past these things there are a few basic truths that we agree on. Because if we don't then it's just going to get worse from here. That being said let's get to it!
So at the beginning, I in jest said spoiler alert but in all reality that is what this role of Christ is. It gives us the ending up front. For a long-time, this was a difficult subject for me, The kingship of Christ. Maybe it's a little difficult for you.
See I have a deep-rooted, in the womb issue with authority. I don't like it. I do not like being told what to do. Not one bit, not an iota of any of my cells, and quickest way to get me to not do what you want me to do is to tell me to do it. As a red-blooded American, a patriot, a veteran, I hold my freedom and my democracy close to my heart. I don't know if anyone knows this, but 200 some-odd years ago around 1776 as a people, we put our stake in the ground we don't like kings.
As westerners, in general, it's a difficult idea to embrace because we are the literal antithesis of a monarchy. We don't like them. We don't think centralized power is a good thing. It has never worked out before!
And yet, before all of that, I am a Christian.
As a Christian, I am called to be submissive. I'm called to submit to all my authorities. Above and beyond all, I'm called to submit to the authority of Christ. Now you may be saying to yourself, man I am the best Christian ever. Last week when you were talking about struggling, I didn't even raise my hand. Maybe you are, and if that's the case I'm glad that you do not struggle.
Let me ask you a question though, have you ever broken the speed limit? Of course, I've broken the speed limit, but God never said anything about speed limits. No, but He did say obey the laws of the land. Therefore, you have usurped the authority of Christ.
Oh I know I know that's too harsh.
Did you ever speak back to your parents? Then you have usurped the authority of your parents whom Christ said to submit to.
Have you ever not done your homework? You are assigned your homework. Your teacher who is placed over you and authority over your education expected you to do your homework and you didn't do it. Usurping their Authority.
Are things are starting to come into Focus?
Looks like we all have a little bit of a rebellious tendency in our hearts.
So is how is that coupled with this Divine Freedom that I spoke of? How is that coupled with the verse about Jesus setting people free? If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed correct? What does that have to do with being a child of God? Well, let's back up real quick and talk about Kings.
The reason why is Americans we don't like kings is that we don't like someone being able to have total and complete Authority. In general, most monarchs in our day and age don't command the power and authority that monarchs held in the first century and for thousands of years prior that, and even up to the Middle Ages.
The king in the sense of Biblical times, which is how we should view it because that's when it was written, had absolute power and authority over his people. He could tax them whatever you wanted. Which is where we get the United States of America. He could execute whomever he wanted. He did not negotiate. There was no representation. There was no council. A true 100% King was the sole Authority.
We've seen how that works when humans take up that role because it was never intended for us. It's one of the curses of sin, we no longer retain the ability to rule justly, righteously, and perfectly. We talked about David last week and his mess ups, the greatest king Israel ever had, as far as humans went, was messed up. God adored him, his people adored him, but he was not perfect. Why then should we be happy about Christ's kingship? Why then do we care? Is this a role that pertains to us as children of God?
Philippians 2:9-11
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The King always wins!
Going back to the idea of human flawed, bad kings, there were dire consequences that those things created. If we look at the person of Jesus Christ and the perfection that lies within him, why wouldn't we want him to have all authority? How much grander is his goodness, than the evil that is found in man? Infinitely grander, infinitely better, and infinitely more for us. So, we need not fear his kingship, we not even understand his kingship because we can understand that he's good. We can understand that he loves us.
If you back up a few verses it says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who being the very nature of God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. But made himself nothing (not made himself a little, not made himself not so great, but made himself nothing) taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man. He humbled himself and became obedient to death. Even death on the cross. "
And that's where it picks up and God exalted him. So we know that he's good. We know how much you sacrifice for us. Of course, we should embrace his authority as king. Getting back to the original text I want to look at this every knee bowing in heaven, on Earth, and under the Earth.
Brothers and sisters, do you understand what this means for us as his followers? It means, the spoiler alert is true, the war is won. Yes, we still have to battle. Yes, This life is going to throw trials at you. Yes, things are going to be hard you will feel pain. But do not fret! Have no fear! Because your king lives!
That's what's so climactic about the cross because not only does it save, but three days later there's an empty tomb that says he won. He lives! He rules! He reigns! The Ascension isn't great because it's some miraculous thing about a guy floating up into the air. It's Miraculous Because He Lives! He Reigns as God!
The same guy who is the savior of sinners, the same guy who is the high priest of Heaven, is also the King of Kings and the Lord of lords! He has full authority, full supremacy, full sovereignty, everything is under his authority and under his control. Nothing comes into your life by accident. No suffering is without notice. In the end, you win because he already won!
It's obvious that our Patriarchs, Peter, Paul, James, John, all these guys who are nobodies really, kind of like Jesus. A poor laborer from the backwoods of Galilee and yet all of history is wrapped around this guy. The way that we date things. Phrases that people use. Whole resistances for 2000 years have tried to tear down his church and it continues to grow. Normally in the worst places, suffering great persecution. Why do you think that is?
Do you think it occurs because some random Jewish dude died 2000 years ago and some cult started around him? Or maybe just maybe the empty tomb was really empty. The guy really lives. The guy really was God. The guy really reigns on his throne in heaven and nothing is outside his purview, authority, or power. So, he commands you go forth without fear. Have peace that passes all understanding, and walk in the power of God dwelling inside of your fibers and being. He is carrying you from point A, of sin and death, to glory and eternal life in him and in his work because your victory is already won!
My friends, I would not dare say to you that you will not suffer. Which is the exact reason why Jesus suffered so much. He didn't have to suffer! He didn't have to come down here. But if we just look at his life we can see, he didn't have to suffer. And yet he did. Why? So we could identify with you. So that he could encourage you.
So that he could say, "the same way that I got up out of the Grave I give to you my spirit. I will dwell with you. I will never leave you or forsake you. I will be with you always. In fact, I've already won! Not only have I already won but I care about everything that occurs in your life. The things that you think are going to destroy you. The things that make you come to the end of you, are the things that I will work for beauty. The things that I will work for the good of those who love me."
Why is it do you think that Paul could sing hymns beaten and in jail? Because he knew he won! Because the reality of the Risen Christ appearing to him on the road to Damascus was enough to change the entire trajectory of his life. It was enough to endure all kinds of suffering. It was enough to be stoned. It was enough to be beaten, put in chains, and eventually beheaded. Because he knew, spoiler alert, the King Reigns!
Therefore, no matter what I suffer in this short brief vapor of life I can have joy. I can have peace.
I still feel pain, but my circumstances don't dictate the goodness of my God! As dark as the night looks, there has been one man to get up out of the grave. There has been one man every skeptic has tried to disprove and failed. His name was Jesus Christ and he rose from the dead and he rains in heaven and he is my savior and he is my high priest and he is my king!
So, yes I will struggle and I will fall and I will cry and I will break down and I will feel abandoned. But my feelings, my circumstances, my critics, my sins, my homelessness, my disease, my lack of money, whatever it is, there is not a thing that changes the fact that Jesus lives and reigns! Therefore as long as there is breath in my lungs, as long as this heart continues to beat, and Jesus says that he wants my service he will have it! Because he has the name above all names and his authority does not end in this life.
Every knee, in every dimension, in every world, and every universe, for his infinite as his creation goes, and is so far beyond my understanding. His authority, power, and sovereignty goes further!
So, Christian be encouraged you are a child of the Most High and your King says, "eventually, one day, you will win! It may not be in this life. You may be persecuted. In fact, you're probably going to suffer, but I promise you the same way that I suffered on the cross and was raised up to Glory. There is glory for you, in me. There's a crown for you, in me, for all eternity. Believe me. Submit to me and live!"
So let me close with this, the reason why Jesus is worth all the praise and all the glory is that he's done all the work. Because he's the Jesus that saves you. He's the Jesus that intercedes for you. He's the Jesus that reigns for you.
Don't you see, that's where your freedom comes from. That's where your freedom is found. Run towards it, run towards him. He doesn't say you can't struggle. He doesn't say you can't fail, in fact, he says go ahead fail. Fail spectacularly because I have covered that too. The faster you run towards me, the faster you will find what you have been looking for!
I hope you're encouraged and as you go forward in this week you walk in the reality, no matter what comes against you, no matter how frustrated you are, no matter how dire the circumstances may seem, God is for you! Jesus lives and reigns and one day every knee will bow, on this Earth, not just in heaven, but also in hell. Every knee, there will not be one, that does not bow. And all will confess his Supremacy.
Be encouraged have no fear, have peace. It may be painful but he knows your pain. And he's promised to wipe every tear from your eyes when your faith is your sight.In the meantime, he is with you in it right now. He is not afraid of your suffering. He is not afraid of your pain. He rules it. He will use it for your good. It may not feel like it, it may not look like it, but I promise you he will. Should be blessed you're a child of the king. A prince and a princess, you hold greater value than you could ever imagine. Tell yourself that every day. The only King to have ever beat Death claims you!
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