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In this series we're talking about the names and descriptive
phrases identifying Jesus. Thus far we've talked about Jesus
as God,
Lord,
Savior,
Christ,
Creator,
the Word,
the Son of
God, the life,
the Light,
the Lamb
of God, the Firstborn,
the head
of the church, our high
priest and King, (also see high
priest), an Author,
a Shepherd,
and the propitiation
for our sins.
In this article, we continue talking about Jesus as our
King.
Review
Two articles ago, we noticed that Jesus' priesthood is after
the order of Melchizedek, who like Jesus, was both king
and priest (Heb. 7:1).
Therefore, as Jeremiah prophesies, there would be another
covenant established by God, since one man could not hold
both offices under the Mosaic Law (Jer. 31:31-32).
Hence, God changed the law, and we live under the law
of Christ today (Heb. 7:12-14;1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2).
Then in the last article, we talked specifically about
Jesus as our priest. He's a great, merciful, and faithful
high priest who intercedes for us, pleading our case before
God.
Jesus Was a King While Upon Earth
Jesus was King at His birth, and worshiped by men as such.
- "'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?
For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship
Him'" (Matt. 2:2).
- "Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the
governor questioned Him, saying, 'Are You the King
of the Jews?' And Jesus said to him, 'It is as you say'"
(Matt. 27:11).
Jesus is King of Israel
As King, Jesus rules over Israel.
- "Nathanael answered Him, 'Rabbi, You are the Son
of God; You are the King of Israel'" (Jn. 1:49).
- "Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor
questioned Him, saying, 'Are You the King of the Jews?'
And Jesus said to him, 'It is as you say'" (Matt.
27:11).
Today, the church of Christ is Israel.
- The church is "the Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16).
- Christians are the Jews today. Jews aren't the people
who are physically circumcised, but those who have a circumcised
heart, and worship in the Spirit of God (Rom. 2:28-29;
Phil. 3:2-3).
- The church is the kingdom of Jesus Christ (Col. 1:13).
Since Jesus' kingdom is the church, He is King over the
church. (Note: a kingdom is the domain over which a king
rules.)
We are circumcised in heart when we are baptized, at which
time we become a child of God and a citizen of His nation,
Israel.
- "And in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision
made without hands, in the removal of the body of
the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried
with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised
up with Him through faith in the working of God,
who raised Him from the dead" (Col. 2:11-12).
- "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which
also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ"
(Phil. 3:20).
Jesus is King of Kings
Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, meaning He has
authority over the kings and governing authorities of the
world.
- ". . . He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the
King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Tim. 6:15).
- "'These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb
will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King
of kings . . .'" (Rev. 17:14).
- "And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written,
'KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS'" (Rev. 19:16).
Christians Reign with Jesus
Jesus made Christians into a kingdom.
- "and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests
to His God and Father . . ." (Rev. 1:6).
As a kingdom of Christ, we sit with Him upon His throne,
and reign with Him.
- "'You have made them to be a kingdom and priests
to our God; and they will reign upon the earth'"
(Rev. 5:10).
- "'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down
with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down
with My Father on His throne'" (Rev. 3:21).
- "Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the
first resurrection; over these the second death has
no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ
and will reign with Him for a thousand years" (Rev.
20:6).
- "And there will no longer be any night; and they will
not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of
the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and
they will reign forever and ever" (Rev. 22:5).
Choose Your King
In the book of Revelation, Jesus is presented as a King,
as we've seen throughout this study. But Satan (or one of
his angels) is also presented as a king.
- "They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss;
his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has
the name Apollyon" (Rev. 9:11).
Each person chooses whether to submit to Jesus or Satan.
As Christians we submit ourselves to Jesus, and reign
with Him forever.
But unbelievers submit themselves to Satan, and will be
punished with him in the lake of fire and brimstone forever,
unless they repent (Rev. 20:10, 11-15).
To be continued.
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