Is Jesus Your King?
July 30, 2007
Dear Friends,
Is Jesus a king now?
Depending on where you are and who you talk to, brethren will generally give you one of two answers. One answer is that Jesus fills the role of prophet, priest and king. He was a prophet at his first advent, is a priest now while in heaven and will be a king when he returns to the earth. The second answer that you will get in this discussion is that Jesus is both a priest and a king now.
We would like to examine the evidence that Jesus is a Priest King now.
A good place to start is with the idea of a Priest King. This concept is presented to us in Hebrews. In comparing the Aaronic priesthood to Melchizedekian priesthood, the writer makes the following comments:
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace. (Heb. 7:1-2)
The writer’s point is, of course, that this conjoining of the office of priest and king in Christ was foreshadowed by this man, Melchisedec. Melchisedec was not a priest and then a king, but a priest/king at the same time. In order for Jesus to fulfill the type, he too would need to be a priest/king, not a priest followed by being a king.
Another strong piece of evidence that Jesus is king now is given to us in Luke 19 in a parable of Christ. Jesus tells his disciples:
And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. (vvs. 11-14)
This parable is not difficult to understand. The certain nobleman is Christ. The “far country” he is going to is heaven after his resurrection. However, notice what happens while in heaven. Jesus receives a kingdom and THEN he returns. This parable does not say that he receives the Kingdom WHEN he returns, but while in heaven.
It is also interesting to note the response of his subjects. “We will not have this man to reign over us.” I would caution anyone against saying that Jesus is not their king. If Jesus is not a king now, he cannot be your King now. If he is not your King now, are you not, in effect, saying “We will not have this man to reign over us” for how can he reign over you if he is not a king?
There is more evidence that we will examine next week.
Have a great week,
Kyle Tucker
