Friday, October 9, 2009
Luke 1:31-32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.
IN HIS MAJESTY'S SERVICE
When eastern astronomers arrived in Jerusalem after the birth of the Savior, they said they were looking for the King of the Jews, and they went on to worship Him in Bethlehem.
When Jesus stood before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, he was asked incredulously: "Are you a king then?"
When He was nailed to the Cross, they mocked Him by nailing a sign over His bleeding head that read: The King of the Jews.
When He stood surrounded by His followers on a mountain top 40 days after His Resurrection, Jesus was not dressed in regal clothing. He did not wear on his fingers rings encrusted with jewels. There was no crown on His head, no scepter in His hand. Still, when Jesus Christ gathered His disciples to him to speak to them and to us before ascending to His native heaven, He said: "All authority [that is, all ruling power] has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
Perhaps anyone except that rag-tag group of fishermen and tax collectors would have looked around and asked: "Authority? Ruling Power? Do you claim to be a king?"
They did not question these words, and neither do you. It's not that you are wiser than most, for your faith seems foolish to human reason. It is a miracle of God's working that you trust in Jesus and believe that He is the King of Kings and has all power in heaven and earth. The fact that you believe this proves that the Kingdom has come to you and that Jesus reigns in your heart.
Those men went from there to tell others what God had accomplished through Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. When we look at his hands through the eyes of the Gospel writers we see the scars, the price paid to make atonement for all our sins. The gospel news turns our sorrow to joy and our silence to singing.
He who has all authority in heaven and earth and who has defeated death stands behind us! Therefore, we speak.
