See Jesus for Who He Truly Is!

Last Sunday of End Time, Christ the King, 11/22/15
John 18:33-37


See Jesus for Who He Truly Is!
I. A unique King
II. Ruling a unique kingdom



Sometimes it’s difficult to realize what you have standing right in front of you. For instance, for years notorious mobster Whitey Bulger lived a quiet, law-abiding life in CA. His neighbors saw him frequently and thought nothing of it. Until the FBI stepped in and revealed who he truly was.

It goes the other way as well. It happens over and over again that a man or woman living a very modest lifestyle in a very average home driving vehicles with 100,000 miles on them have left huge sums of money to charitable organizations. And the response of the people who knew them casually? “We never would have guessed that they had that kind of money.”

There was a case of that very thing going on in the event described in this morning’s text—Jesus on trial before Pontius Pilate. Pilate didn’t know who it was that was standing before him. And I realize that this is just a possibility and we can’t know for sure, but I don’t think this is the first time Pilate had heard of Jesus. Pilate was the governor of Judea. It was his business to know what was going on in the Roman territory he ruled. The news about Jesus over the last three years had spread far and wide. Jesus had even performed a miracle on behalf of a Roman army official. It’s hard to imagine Pilate not hearing something about this Jesus of Nazareth. But he just didn’t see Jesus for who he was, tragically so.

I’m going to assume that because you’re here this morning, you haven’t done and aren’t doing the same thing. In fact, it’s because you know who Jesus truly is that you are here to worship him and to listen to his word. This is Christ the King Sunday and you’re thrilled to know Jesus as your King. But isn’t it also true that at times you have problems with that truth just as I do? Are there areas of your life that you’re reluctant to let him rule? And how can that be, when the only thing Jesus wants to do is to bless you eternally? His rule over you is for your eternal good.

Those tensions in your life get resolved when you see Jesus for who he truly is. We have that blessed opportunity once again this morning. Let’s grab it, and may the Holy Spirit enlighten us regarding Jesus, our King!


Part I.

I can’t remember with whom I was talking. It might have been one of you. We were discussing the gridlock in our country’s government—its failure to act quickly and decisively to meet the needs of US citizens. And that’s when the other person said, “In many respects, a benevolent monarchy is really the best form of government.” In a way, that idea appeals to us, doesn’t it? With a benevolent monarch, it’s not all about the power he wields for himself; it’s about using that power for the good of the people he rules.

But that thought also frightens us a little, doesn’t it? And that’s because we know that the same sinful nature that resides in us, resides in every sinful monarch. I’m not the first to tell you that absolute power corrupts absolutely. And we certainly don’t want to have to endure such abuse of power for an entire dynasty. We want the ability to choose who will rule us.

The Jewish leaders of Jesus day also felt threatened by Jesus, but for another reason. They were afraid a majority of the common people would vow their allegiance to Jesus, in deference to the Roman Emperor. The result would be that these Jewish leaders would lose their positions. Even worse, the Romans would certainly destroy their nation. Jesus was a threat to them and he needed to be eliminated.

They failed to see Jesus for who he truly was.

And as we said a moment ago, so did Pilate, although Pilate didn’t feel threatened by Jesus. He simply couldn’t believe the charge against Jesus. His accusers said that he claimed to be a king which would be the crime of treason. But, like Jesu said, Pilate saw no one fighting for Jesus as would have been expected. In fact, there was no one there that day to defend him even verbally. There was nothing royal about Jesus that morning. Actually, he was pathetic.

But Jesus truly was and is a King, but not like any other. Jesus is a King of grace. That means he doesn’t rule over you by force. He doesn’t make you bow to him. Instead, he shares with you the news of his underserved favor. He gives us forgiveness for our sins and eternal life with him, solely because of who he is and not because of who we are or the good things we’ve done to deserve it. In fact, he doesn’t give us the punishment our sins deserve.

That’s called “salvation” and Jesus is the King of that, too. Jesus wasn’t standing before Pilate as a King who wanted to see what he could get others to do for him. He was standing before Pilate so that he could do the work he had come to this earth to accomplish—to die on the cross as the punishment for the sins of all people and then to rise again three days later to assure us that he had, indeed, finished the work. Because he did all that, heaven is ours.

But as meek and beaten as he appeared before Pilate that day, he was also a King of power, almighty power. He had displayed it countless times with the miracles he performed. He displayed it the night before when, with a word, he knocked down all of his enemies. He would display it in his glorious resurrection from the dead.

Without a doubt the world had never seen a King like this before. It hasn’t seen one like him since and it never will. See Jesus for who he truly is—a unique King.

What a King! Why wouldn’t we want him to rule over us? He only wants to bless us. But just as I said when we began, we struggle with letting Jesus rule over us. Would you like an example or two? We’d rather make our own priorities in life rather than have Jesus set them for us, and sometimes Jesus even gets squeezed out. We’re OK with him telling us what his will is for us in this part of our lives, but not over here in that part of our lives. We’re willing to follow what he says, as long as it doesn’t become too painful or cost us too much. What’s more, we’d like to see him use his power a little more often in our lives to help us. And because there are times we don’t, we have trouble trusting that he will in fact do as he has promised. We’re not quite ready to let go and let God. Sound familiar? Then it’s a good thing Jesus is a King of grace so that we can count on him forgiving us for us sinful records as his less than loyal subjects. Then it’s a good thing Jesus is the King of salvation so that we can live each day with the confidence that heaven is ours in spite of our sins because Jesus has won eternal life for us. Now that’s the kind of King you can love and adore. See Jesus for who he truly is—a unique King.

Part II.

No candidate for a government office ever declared, “I don’t care what you want! I’m going to do what’s best for you.” Instead, candidates gain the office and remain in it by catering to the people who elect them.

But not Jesus. Jesus wouldn’t give the Jewish people what they wanted, which was a glorious kingdom on earth in which the Jews would once again be a world power. They hated Roman rule and wanted Jesus to lead them in throwing off the Roman yoke around their necks. They despised sending their tax shekels to the heathen Romans. If Jesus would have used his power to establish a kingdom like they wanted, he would have had every Jewish knee bowing before him.

But he refused. Instead, he gave them what they needed. What they needed—what all of us need—is rescue from Satan’s kingdom. Being a member of Satan’s kingdom is like high blood pressure—you don’t even realize it exists. But that’s what God’s word reveals to us. Because of sin and without faith in Jesus, we belong to Satan’s kingdom. We need to be rescued.

And into our lives comes the great Rescuer—our King Jesus. By living perfectly for us and by dying on the cross as the punishment for our sins, Jesus has rescued every sinner. By faith in Jesus as your Savior, you have that rescue. You’ve been brought into his kingdom, under his saving influence.

He did that so that he could bless you eternally. Again, Jesus isn’t your King so that he can take something from you. He’s your King so that he can give something to you—life, eternal life with him. A life where there is no death, or mourning or crying or pain. A life filled with bliss and glory. A life living in the presence of the Savior who loved you enough to sacrifice himself for you. That’s life in his kingdom forever. As one who trusts in him as your Savior, you have life in his kingdom now.

See Jesus for who he truly is—a unique King ruling a unique kingdom.

You’ve probably noticed that as a child of God you live in two kingdoms—an earthly kingdom and a kingdom that “is not of this world” as Jesus stated—a heavenly kingdom. And that poses some difficulty for us. Too often we’re far too concerned about the one kingdom to the detriment of the other. When our attention, focus and energy is disproportionately on our life in this world, we tend not to spend time with the One we need most of all—our King Jesus. And our place in Jesus’ kingdom begins to weaken. But our King doesn’t abandon us. He continues to invite you to immerse yourself in his saving word, to partake of his body and blood in the Lord’s Supper, to solidify your life with him, a life in his kingdom. He simply wants what’s eternally best for you. See Jesus for who he truly is! Amen.