King of the Jews

Before time began, God desired to make for himself a people, a kingdom over which he could rule as a wise, loving, and good king. He made a world, a land, and hand-crafted the people who would live there. He blessed them and gave them good things, walked with them and opened his ears and heart to them.

But his people turned away from him. His people rebelled. Rather than follow his rule, they wanted to see what it felt like to follow their own, and once they had a taste of that, they could never get enough. To rule their own lives always seemed preferable to being ruled by God.

Still their king pursued them with his grace.

God yet desired to have a people of his own. He had a plan, and it began with a family. He chose an old man and his wife, and from them spawned a nation of millions. He led them out of captivity, through sea and wilderness and war and gave them a home, and with his power and righteousness ruled them.

Still they turned from him.

“Give us a king,” they said to one of God’s servants, the prophet Samuel. “Give us a king from among us. We want our king to be one of us. Raise up a man that we can follow.”

A man? When you have God as your king? And God warned them, “No human king will be good like I am. A human king will not treat you with kindness and grace, as I do.”

But they insisted.

One by one, their kings failed, in ways big and small. Finally, God allowed their kings to be dragged away in chains and handed them over to a foreign king who would not love them.

Still, their true king pursued them. He had a plan. He would come down himself, and at great personal cost would reclaim his place as their rightful king.

Now we come to the day when Jesus, God in the flesh, stands before an earthly ruler, and is named for who he really is.

“You are a king then?” Pilate asked.

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“Here is your king,” Pilate said.

“This is Jesus, the King of the Jews,” Pilate wrote.

“We have no king but Caesar,” shouted the people. But how wrong they were.

Because here is Jesus, the true king. The King of kings, named king by a human ruler. Here is Jesus, fighting for the hearts of his people. Here is Jesus, finishing the plan set in motion so long ago. Here is Jesus, giving himself to reclaim his people. If only they could see clearly.

The prophet said, “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Here comes Jesus, riding into Jerusalem on a young donkey, while the people sing his praises.

The prophet said, “The scepter will not depart from Judah.” See Jesus, a stick put into his hands as a mockery. “They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.”

The prophet said, “You made him a little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honor.” See Jesus, crowned with thorns. “They twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head.”

The prophet said, “Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.” See Jesus, a robe draped over his beaten body, standing before the people that have rejected him. “Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him, dressing him in an elegant robe.”

The prophet said, “This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.” See Jesus on the cross, taking all the punishment of sin, pouring out his righteous blood to cover over the rebellion of his people and clothe them with righteousness. “When they had crucified him… above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

The prophet said, “See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.” See Jesus, raised up on a throne made of wood in the shape of a cross. “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Then one of the criminals said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”

The prophet said, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever.” See Jesus, the King of the Jews, and so much more. The King of all people. The King of all creation. The King who wins his people back by fighting sin, death, and the devil for them. The King who reigns forever, crushing his enemies by the power of the cross. “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’”