King Jesus Reigns
By the time you read this, you may well know who has won the 2020 presidential election. At the time of writing, both candidates are claiming to be on course to win, and at least one is threatening legal action if he loses! It’s an ugly and bitter battle. I’m also thoroughly confused by the American electoral system, which seems needlessly complex at best and somewhat unfair at worst. The election is not a great advert for democracy. We may find ourselves agreeing with Winston Churchill who said that “democracy is the worst form of government, except all the others!” It’s not great, but who would want any form of authoritarian rule? It is often said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, history would suggest this to be true.
And yet we rejoice in the absolute rule and reign of Christ Jesus. He will be subject to no votes, his term of office will never come to an end, and this is good news! Why?
Firstly, because he is the King who knows and loves his people. Not just in a general way. But he knows us personally and individually and loves us so much that he died for us, he died a brutal death, for our wrongdoing.
Secondly, because he conquered death, for his people;
“3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve. 6After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living..”
1 Corinthians 15:3-6
Possibly the most vivid picture we have of Christ as conqueror is in Revelation 19:
“11Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses. 15And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron sceptre. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Following successful campaigns Roman generals would return home seated on a white horse. Here, then, is Jesus preparing to return to earth triumphant and victorious. All of his enemies- and the enemies of his people (satan, sin and death) have been defeated.
This great Triumphant King owns some names and titles:
- He is called ‘Faithful and True’ (v11)- no false promises through lack of integrity or lack of ability. No ‘fake news’ has ever, or will ever, fall from his lips! He is truth itself! (John 14:6) He is forever faithful to his people and his promises.
- He has another name that only he knows (v12)- presumably too glorious for us to grasp. There is always an element of mystery associated with majesty.
- He is ‘The Word of God’ both in that The Lord Jesus is the one who spoke the world into existence (John 1:10) and He is the perfect revelation of God (Hebrews 1:1-3).
- He is the ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords’. There He is high above all other rulers and authorities. One of the jobs of a King in the ancient world was to judge. Our King will come to judge. And he will judge justly, his eyes like blazing fire see all things. Nothing is hidden from his sight, deeds done in darkness, words whispered in secret all laid bare before him.
It is a fearful picture, and yet we need not be afraid (how often Jesus told his followers not to fear!) because we know that in Christ we are safe, there we are with Him dressed in fine white linen.
“In Royal robes I don’t deserve, I live to serve your majesty.”
Whatever happens in the presidential election, with Brexit, in relation to the global pandemic, King Jesus reigns- He is on the throne, He is in control, and so we need not fear.
“2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:2-3