Vicar's Voice, 20 October 2019

The inauguration of a president or the crowning of a king or queen is a spectacular event. Amongst all human activities, to be present at such an event would be about the greatest experience and a rare honour.

In the Old Testament there are two remarkable coronations that reach the level of momentous. These are the making of Saul, the first king of Israel and then, his successor David who basically had to fight for his crown. Saul loved being in charge and didn’t want David to inherit the kingship, he preferred his son Jonathan.

To become a head of state requires a lot of hard work and strategy. Perhaps it is the election process which is very tedious with campaigning etc or maybe it’s just the burden of politicking and contesting with others. There is always a price to pay. It might be a loss of popularity at some levels or losing out on family and private time at the expense of the campaign and later, the work of ruling a country. Early in our missionary career we lived through a number of coups d’états and they all were achieved at great cost, sometimes many lives were lost for the sake of making another new despot.

There’s one other coronation that I believe exceeds all others for splendour, majesty and glory (Philippians 2:9-11). When Jesus ascended, I am sure there was a mighty celebration party amongst the ‘heavenly hosts’ which is still raging. As the Son of God took his seat at the right hand of God the Father, the chorus of praise would have been something like the description written in Revelation 7:9-12, esp. v.11-12 “And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.””

We are reminded in Scripture that God is Sovereign over all creation. It is to him that we all submit as he has placed every head of state on their throne (Romans 13:1-7). When we obey the laws and even pay taxes to our worldly government, we are honouring God because he instituted their authority over the country that we live in.

The day will come though, when every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But Jesus’ Lordship is not odious or burdensome when we submit to his authority in our lives. As we accept his kingship over us, we literally become the ‘apple of his eye’ or his treasured possession. As such, he cares for us and blesses us. He protects us and provides for us in ways that no earthly king could ever dream of achieving. It is such a wonderful joy to live in Jesus’ kingdom.

 What does Jesus’ kingship mean to you?

 In His love,

Alan