Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:36-37)

I Am A King

The first men who came seeking Jesus were wise men from the east asking for the King of the Jews. They had traveled a great distance to worship the new king and to offer gifts. Arriving at a house in Bethlehem, the wise men found a young child with Mary his mother and fell down and worshiped Him. This was a fitting tribute to a newborn king although the occasion of the king’s birth was not like any other royalty. The king worshipped by the wise men had been born of poor people from an unimportant village of Nazareth. Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to take part in the Roman census and Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger. Shepherds from a field outside Bethlehem were the first ones to see the new king. Nearly two years later, the wise men arrived acknowledging the young child as a king.

Nathanael was one of the first disciples of Jesus to recognize the Lord as the Son of God, the king of the Jews. After the feeding of the five thousand, the people wanted to take Jesus and force Him to be their king. All they wanted from Jesus was a ruler to feed them and supply their carnal needs. The first disciples struggled with understanding the nature of the kingship of Jesus as they looked for a physical monarchy like Israel of old. Pilate asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews and the Lord said it was as Pilate said. When Jesus was crucified, the inscription of His accusation was written, “JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.” This offended the Jews when they read the title but Pilate refused to change it.

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter and the other apostles were gathered in Jerusalem to receive the power from on high. The Holy Spirit came upon the twelve and they began to preach to the multitudes gathered from every nation under heaven. Peter’s sermon was based on one eternal truth: God had made Jesus both Lord and Christ. The Jews had killed the Son of God but through the power of God’s divine will, Jesus of Nazareth would be the ruler who came out of Judah to reign over the kingdom of the Lord forever. When Jesus ascended to the Father, He took His place at the right hand with all authority in heaven and on earth. The Son of God is King Jesus and His rule is that of a Prince and Savior. As King, Jesus makes intercession for His people. All spiritual blessings are in Jesus because He sits at the right hand of the Father. The heart of a Christian is directed toward the throne of King Jesus. Everything in the life of the Christian is looking to the kingship of Jesus to guide them, protect them, and give them all the blessings of the Father. Obedience is demanded from the King of Kings as soldiers of the army of Christ.

The kingship of Jesus is based on truth. It is not a kingdom of the world where nations will rise against one another. The spiritual nature of the kingdom of Christ is for the salvation of souls. Disciples of Jesus become warriors in the fight against the forces of Satan. They fight at the will of the one and only King of King and Lord of Lords with complete devotion and love. Jesus died for all men to open the door of salvation to all who would serve Him. There is one law and that law comes from the King. His authority is the only authority. Contained in the law of King Jesus and His authority are the eternal blessings of heaven promised by the Father. Through the blood of King Jesus, all men can find redemption and hope. In the Revelation, John sees King Jesus riding upon a white horse and He is called Faithful and True and in righteousness, He judges and makes war. No power can stand against King Jesus. The victory over death, Hades, and Satan is made sure because of King Jesus. Let all the hearts of men know assuredly that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ: King of Kings.