Is Jesus Your King? Part 2
August 6, 2007
Dear Friends,
Last week we began looking at the evidence that Jesus is a King now. Now, let’s look at some testimony of some of Jesus’ contemporaries.
When Jesus was born, the wise men said “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” (Matt. 2:2) Were the wise men right or wrong?
When Nathanael met Jesus, he made the following statement: “Nathanael answered and saith unto him, ‘Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.‘” (John 1:49) Was Nathanael right or wrong? He correctly understood that Jesus was the Son of God, did he make a mistake that he was also King? If he was wrong, why didn’t Jesus rebuke him as he did the rich, young ruler who simply called Jesus “good.”
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey just before he was crucified, Matthew suggests that he fulfilled a prophecy of Zechariah. Matthew wrote: “All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.” Was Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled or not?
In Mark 15:2, Pontus Pilate asks Jesus pointblank if he is a king or not. Mark records “Then Pilate asked Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered and said to him, ‘It is as you say.‘” (NKJV)
When Jesus was crucified, they put a sign over his head. It read “JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.” (John 19:19) Was this sign correct? Jesus’ enemies surely didn’t want this hanging over his head and tried to get it changed. Would you want it changed also?
The evidence seems to be overwhelming that Jesus is a King now in heaven. While in his earthly ministry, Jesus could execute judgment (John 5:27), forgive sins (Mark 2:10), had the power of God without measure (John 3:34) and speak with authority (Matt. 7:29). Although none of these things absolutely require that Jesus was a king, they all imply kingly authority and power and further add to the evidence.
At the end of the day, we need to make this a very personal question. Is Jesus your king? Does he reign in your life? May none of us be found guilty of those of whom Jesus speaks in Luke 19 when we have to stand before him.
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. (Luke 19:27)
Have a great week,
Comments»
I would agree with the comments of bro. Al Bryan on part one of this article. Christ is a king in prospect, like a prince. He has not assumed that role yet. To say that he is a king now is what the worldly churches say and we know that they are in error. The current role of Christ is our High Priest. In that role, he acts as our mediator to our Heavenly Father. After he returns to this earth, he will then assume his role of king. Right now the kingdoms of men rule this world as Yahweh shapes world events to bring about His plan. May our Lord Jesus Christ return soon to this earth to become it’s rightful King.
Bro. Bobby:
Thanks for offering a refutation for consideration.
I would question the logic that just because “worldly churches” say something it is necessarily wrong. If we follow that logic to its ultimate conclusion, that would preclude us from believing in the power of prayer, the Second Coming, the singing of hymns and forgiveness (just to name a few). I stand on the many verses that I quoted in the series, not on the logic that just because someone else does or does not believe it, it must be right or wrong.
May I echo your closing sentiments – “even so, come Lord Jesus.”
Kyle
Dear Bro. Kyle,
Thank you for allowing me to offer another viewpoint on whether Christ is presently a King now or not. It is kind of funny that I would use the same scriptures that you cited to show that Christ is not presently now serving in his office of King. I maintain that he is a king in prospect, not yet having received his kingdom. Christ is the nobleman that went to a “far country†to receive for himself in Luke 19:12. Christ told Pilate in John 18:36, “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.†It is said of him in Luke 1:32, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:†The throne of David is here on this earth and in Jerusalem, the future capitol of the world. He does not presently sit on the throne of David. I maintain that the current office of Christ in our Great High Priest and is clearly pointed out in the book of Hebrews. When he returns to this earth is when he will receive his Kingdom, assume the throne of his father David, and at that time he will take the third role of his offices as King of this earth.
Bobby
Jesus is my Lord and Master!
But I would not say he has ascended to his position of King yet.
You quoted Hebrews 7:1-2 as support for your position, but Paul does not say he is the King-Priest yet. Chapters 7-10 deal with his priesthood and Paul concludes the Melchisedec argument in chapter 10:12-13 speaking of his position at the right hand of the Father, not on any throne, until the time comes to reign. “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.†This echoes the words of chapter 1:3, where Paul says Jesus is on the right hand of the Majesty (Yahweh). It also is to be noted that Psalm 110 that Paul is quoting from clearly says Jesus is a “Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek†until he leaves the right hand of the father to become a King-Priest.
You should also have considered your quote from Luke 19:11-14 more fully. Verse 15 continues and states that the Master returns and calls his servants for judgment when he receives the Kingdom, not until. Note that the NJB states it thusly, “having received his appointment as king, he sent for those servants.†If he were a King now in the Parable, we would have been called long ago to account for our deeds. And in another parable Jesus was called “the heir†in his first advent, not the King (Matthew 21:38), for killing the “heir†the Kingdom is no more (21:43) until the marriage of the son (Matthew 22). Now John says the marriage has not yet happened (Revelation 19:7-8).
In regards to the citations from Matthew 2:2, John 1:49, Mark 15:2, and John 19:19, we feel Brother Bob Cox spoke well. Jesus answers himself perfectly well, “My Kingdom is not of this Kosmosâ€. That should be enough for all! Jesus said his Kingdom was not yet!
I would direct your attention to the Old Testament usage of the word “Prince†as well. Daniel 9:25 calls Jesus a Prince (Hebrew Nagiyd, King EXPECTANT) at the time of his ministry, not a King.
In your response to Brother Al you referenced Revelation 3:21. If the English text is correct we have a direct contradiction of Paul’s writings in Hebrews that expressly state that Jesus is on the right hand of the throne, not on the throne itself. The Greek word “En†does not mean exclusively in or on a throne, if it did, you would be forced to teach that just as Jesus is now on God’s throne with him, every saint will sit on Jesus’ actual throne as well. That would be a pretty big throne. It would also violate Jesus’ own promise that the 12 would have their own individual thrones when He, Jesus, sits on his throne (Matthew 19:28). Note that the Greek word “En†is translated as “by†in Matthew 5:34, and “under†in 7:6. Does not therefore “En†denote that Jesus is by the throne of God, just as Paul said in Hebrews 1:3?
The traditional, yea the scriptural Christadelphian position has always been that Jesus will be King when; 1) Israel rest from their enemies (2Sam 7:10-11); 2) When Jesus builds a house and sets a throne therein in Israel (2Sam 7:13); 3) When David is resurrected to witness all these events (2Sam 7:16). At least that’s what Brother Tony taught me in his living room in Norfolk, Va.
Dear Bro. Bobby:
The two verses you quoted seem to me to indicate that Christ is a king now. The Luke 19 passage refers to Jesus going to heaven (a far country) to receive a kingdom. Jesus is now in the “far country†and therefore, it seems logical, he has received the kingdom to which he referred. Likewise, the John 18 passage states that Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world (although we would both agree that his kingdom will one day be of this world), so if it is not of this world, it would have to be a heavenly kingdom. This again would imply Jesus as king of that kingdom as he says “my kingdom†indicating possession when he is in heaven.
The Luke 1 passage we have already alluded to. We have already quoted two verses in our response to Bro. Bryan that indicate that Jesus is sitting on a throne now. Since the Scriptures are silent on exactly when this “throne of David†prophecy is fulfilled, it seems to me that we cannot be dogmatic on it. However, he is on a throne and it could be this throne mentioned in Luke 1. We would both agree that it will ultimately be fulfilled when Jesus sits again in his earthly capital, Jerusalem.
We would both agree that one role he now fills is that of High Priest as referred to in Hebrews. However, the same Hebrews also refers to him as both a priest and a king (a priest king) as Melchisedec was a priest/king not a priest and then a king.
Thanks again for your perspective.
Kyle
Hi Kyle,
Thanks for your thoughts here. I just happened across some slides from a Bible talk that supports what you’re saying.
The slides are from a talk called “The enigma of the kingdom parables”, which is from a Bible school series called “The kingdom of heaven is in your midst”. All three of the talks in the series are available here in audio, along with their slides:
http://tinyurl.com/3ct7wu
A direct link to the slides that support what you’re saying is:
http://tinyurl.com/2neruh
It’s in pdf format.
Hope that interesting and useful. :-)
God bless, bro.