Friday, March 25, 2016
Good Friday
John 18:33, 36 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" ... Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world."
A BETTER KIND OF KING
Jesus was trying to tell Pontius Pilate about a better kind of king. The kind of king Pilate needed. The kind of king we need. The kind of king Jesus is. We need a king whose "kingdom is not of this world." That is, a king whose rule is not just a matter of the things of this world and this life. This world is not "all there is," and thankfully so. This world is damaged goods because of sin. Human sin. God is preparing a new home for His believing children. That's why Jesus stood before Pilate and was nailed to that Roman cross, and there paid for the sin of us all, the sin that separates human beings from their loving Creator.
Certainly our King is concerned about all of our needs, including our physical needs here in this world. We need never doubt that, as our Merciful and Almighty King, He will and can provide for everything we need for our bodily welfare.
But Jesus was born to be a better king, the King of our hearts, so that through His rule, His Gospel rule in our hearts, we might be God's dear children now and forever. He came to rescue us from sin and all of sin's awful results, including death, death that threatens us here and without Christ's forgiveness would become an eternal death, an eternal separation from God. But, as our King promises, where there is forgiveness of sins there is life and salvation.
Praise God for the grace to sing on this Good Friday:
Crown him the Lord of love--behold his hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his wond'ring eye at mysteries so bright.
(Christian Worship, 341:2)
Yes, Jesus is just the kind of king we need!
