CHOOSING YOUR KING

JOHN 19:12–16

But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

(John 19:15)

“We have no king but Caesar!” What ominous and portentous words! The King of kings, the Messiah, the Promised One, the Salvation of Israel stood before them, and still the Jews rejected Him. Instead of adoring their King, they pledged their allegiance to another (however meager that allegiance was, for the Jews did not relish the rule of Caesar). But lake note of human folly: When man rejects Christ even the most cruel taskmaster is preferred. This is the case with all men; whatever they choose over Christ becomes an idol of destruction, a torment to their souls.

The Jewish people made their choice. They chose Caesar over Christ, and they would suffer greatly as a result. Not long after this mockery of justice, they would lose their place among the peoples and their nation. They would be scattered and oppressed—oppression and ridicule that continues even to this day.

This is what happens when people prefer something else to the kingship of Christ. In this case, it was a matter of rule. The people cried out for another king, and they got what they asked for: a cruel ruler who despised them and conquered them. And even today, many people in our own society reject the kingship of Christ to the preferment of another; most obvious is the State. Those who reject God as their King and Master will inevitably become the slaves of the State (or in the case before us, of an ungodly king).

Anything you put in the place of Christ will become odious and hateful to you. Do you put a relationship before Christ? That person will not bring the blessing expected. He or she will become a source of conflict and cursing that you could never have imagined. Do you put your own pleasures before Christ? They will be the source of your ruin and destruction, if not in this life then certainly in the next. Do you put yourself first, your own ideas and feelings, judging God by your standards? You will be left empty and shamed by the folly of your own imaginations.

Christ is the only King. Behold Him as your King. Embrace Him as your King. Worship Him as your King. Love and obey Him who is the King of kings. Only then will you find blessing.

CORAM DEO

Jeremiah 23–24

2 Timothy 2

The questions you must ask yourself today are, “Am I putting anything in my life before Christ?” “Is there anything else reigning as king?” “Does my life reflect the kingship of Christ?” “Am I subject to His laws?” “Do I adore and worship Him?” Thank God for making you a willing subject in His kingdom.

For further study: Judg. 9:7–21 • 1 Sam. 8 • Ps. 2 • Rev. 19:11–16

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