Psalms 8:1, 16:1-2, and 6:1-4.

A few days ago, my Shepherd got me thinking about how Luke 3:1-2 reads like the cast of characters for a drama. All the key personalities who played a role in John the Baptist’s beheading and Christ’s crucifixion are named. It’s like, let’s meet Jesus, born of the virgin (Luke 2), and now let me introduce you to those who will have a part in His crucifixion (Luke 3:1). Only Judas is not mentioned here. And Annas is not mentioned again in Luke, but John tells us Jesus was taken from the Garden arrest to “Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year” (John 18:13). Otherwise, the entire cast appears in Luke’s account of Christ’s crucifixion (Luke 22-23).

This morning, my Shepherd drew my attention to this while reading Luke 23, where the Jews’ accusation was presented before Pilate: “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King” (23:1-2).

Pilate pressed Jesus on the central question of His indictment: “Art thou the King of the Jews?” He knew of the prophecy concerning the coming of Christ, the Messiah. And Jesus’ answer: “Thou sayest it!” (Luke 23:1-3).

It all came down to that: Is Jesus the Christ, the King of the Jews? From John we get some clarification on Jesus’ response to the question: He said to Pilate, “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” (John 18:37).

We know Herod had heard about the amazing things Jesus did (Luke 23:8). It is likely that Pilate also knew about His reputation (Matthew 27:19). It must have surprised Pilate to discover Jesus knew that he had said Jesus was a king.

Along the still waters, I reflected on these things. The entire world was divided over this question. Herod mocked the claim. Pilate at first dismissed it as being harmless to the nation, and sought to release Him, until the Jews threatened to spread the saying, “If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar” (John 19:12). These rulers of the Jews weaponized the government to serve their malicious “political” interests (John 11:49-53). The rulers of the Jews, and the people they influenced, and now the rulers of the Gentiles, were aligned against Him.

Jesus died and arose again, declaring “all power” was transferred to Him in Heaven and in Earth (Matthew 28:18). Now He is not only King of the Jews, He is “Prince of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:4). His servants are citizens of the Kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13) and made “kings and priests unto God” (Revelation 1:6). We are commissioned as “Ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20), and sent into all the world to give witness to every nation of this Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 24:14).

Some today are like Caesar, who was relatively dismissive of any claim to deity and apparently indifferent to the matter. Herod and Pilate openly scoffed: Herod mocked the claim that Jesus was King, and Pilate scoffed that accepting the claim that all who are of the truth will hear Jesus’ voice (John 18:38). Today, those who deny Christ is King also deny Truth. We have the religious crowd that hates any presentation of Jesus as a present King ruling over the kings of the Earth. We have those who hate Him because they are jealous of any power in the world greater than their own. The world divides over this question: Is Jesus Christ the King?

In the valley, I knelt in the shadow of His Cross and heard Him say, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). He made me a king, and bid me take up my cross and follow in His steps (Revelation 1:6; 1 Peter 2:21).

At the table,  He spoke to me soberly: they Crucified me over this issue then, and some do so today (Hebrews 6:6). Selah! He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy accompanied us as we walked together into His harvest.

Let’s gather to worship Christ, the KING!

Praying for revival! 🙏