November 24, 2018

JESUS the KING: “Behold your King!” (Jn 19:14). When Pilate said these words, the mockery of the Lord Jesus’ claim to be king was almost complete. He wore a crown of long Judean thorns. A second-hand purple coat had been thrown over His bleeding back. A reed had been placed in His hand as a mocking scepter. His face had been anointed with the foul spittle of men. All that was left was to put His claim as the charge of a capital offense over His head, “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” But was He not a king? No claim could be more iron-clad. Of course He was the rightful King of Israel (Mt 27:42; Jn 1:49). And though rejected then, He will yet reign from Jerusalem over His people, the redeemed Jews. Then He will be declared to be the King of glory (Ps 24:10) and King over all other kings (Rev 17:14; 19:16). But He is also our King of righteousness and of peace (Heb 7:2). We delight to call Him our “King of saints” (Rev 15:3).