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Journey: King of Kings
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Journey From The Cross:
King of Kings
Morning Meditation
Read 1 Timothy 6:12-16
1 Tim 6:12-16 NIV
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time-God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Be willing to fight the good fight of faith.
Take hold of your eternal life.
Our savior “made the good confession” even when he had to testify to Pontius Pilate.
In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, make the good confession of your love.
God is your Ruler, your King of Kings, your Lord of Lords. Worship Him.
To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Morning Prayer
Praise God for who he is.
Commit to letting him be your Lord of Lords regardless of the circumstances in your life.
Ask God to help you let his love be enough for you today.
Ask God to help you see and understand him in everything around you.
Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise him in everything.
Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you and the power to carry that out.
Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.
Morning Bible Study
Have you ever seen a crowd coming towards you joyfully shouting? Think about it. At best, it would be disconcerting. That was just what happened when Jesus was around. Read Luke 19:37-38. The crowds loved Jesus. Their enthusiasm bordered on mob behavior. Their emotions fed off of each other. They dramatically sang his praises in loud voices.
Luke 19:37-38 NIV
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
It is no wonder that the people were upset. Maybe they were trying to take an afternoon nap. Maybe their babies were asleep. It was frightening. Nor surprising, people called the police – or at least the Pharisees. Wouldn’t you? Jesus’ disciples were disturbing the peace. The Pharisees demanded, Please keep them quiet!”
Luke 19:39
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
NIV
Have you ever felt so excited, you could burst? The air around Jesus was filled with the electricity of the people’s emotions. They were caught up in the drama and the moment. Some were sincere. Others may have been carried away. Jesus dryly answered the Pharisees, “If they kept quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Luke 19:40 NIV
"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
Bigger crowds exhibited the same behavior. Read John 12:12-13. This crowd even waved palm branches and shouted “Hosanna!”
John 12:12-13 NIV
The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!"
Crowds followed this man who did miracles. They hoped he would be their king and help them take over the world. Their desires were self-directed. Surely, these miracles would translate into good things for them personally. Jesus wept for them. These people did not understand. The truth was hidden from their eyes. He knew the city of Jerusalem would ultimately reject him when they understood. He knew the violence and sadness that was at the end of the road of the choices they were going to make. Read his lamentation in Luke 19:41.
Luke 19:41-44 NIV
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace-but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
People today are eager for a God of miracles. They demand a God that entertains them, pleases them, and fills their earthly needs. When things go wrong, they crucify Jesus repeatedly. They fail to recognize “the time of God’s coming to them.” Their “enemies will dash them to the ground and their children within their walls”. Jesus weeps for us today.
This season of Lent, look for God’s coming to you. God’s character is described in the Bible. Look for it. Look for love instead of hatred. Look for what you can do for others instead of what they can do for you. Notice peace instead of war. See smiles instead of frowns. Focus on what you have instead of what you have not. Forget your worldly circumstances and focus on eternity. Do the hard spiritual work it takes to be a disciple of Jesus. Embrace our Risen Lord. Embrace our King of Kings.
Application
Bonnie’s life was a mess. Her marriage was in trouble. She and her husband fought continually and she blamed him for the difficulties. She was even unfaithful to her husband. She went to church seeking an answer.
The first church she visited suggested she confess her sins, turn her life over to Jesus, and change her behavior. They asked her to take responsibility for her past. They warned her that road would be long and difficult but that there was hope. That was too hard. Besides, everything was her husband’s fault.
She went to a second church, one that promised instant miracles. She walked the isle and told the counselor her difficulties. They took her into a dark candlelit room. They circled her, laid hands on her, chanted, and pronounced demons gone from her body. The event was loud, emotional, and dramatic. Bonnie shouted her praise for God. The people surrounding her shouted even louder. They sent her from the room, “cured.” They gave promises of restored “virginity” and “purity.” They warned that if her life was still difficulties, it would be because her of lack of faith.
She left that room delighted. She thought she had found “the way.” The “exorcism” of demons had evoked deep emotions. She arrived home that Sunday to the same angry husband. The same urges that drove her to sexual infidelity were still driving her. Nothing had changed. By the end of the week, she was even more guilt ridden then when she arrived at the church the Sunday before.
At first, she blamed herself for her lack of faith. She tried harder. She went to church every Sunday, danced in the aisles, and shouted hosanna. Eventually, she gave up. By the time I met Bonnie, she no longer believed in God or the church. What do you think happened to cause her lack of faith? Why didn’t the miracle work?
I believe Bonnie wanted someone else to do the work for her. She wanted an instant miracle and an easy road back. She found a church that promised this quick fix. She mistook their drama for spiritual depth. No one told her about confession, amends, and being strong in grace. No one suggested that she deal with a sexual addiction or look at the reasons she was unfaithful. Instead, they blamed her when she failed. It is no wonder Bonnie feels let down.
What kind of God are you seeking today? Does your God need to prove his worthiness to you by solving your problems? Do you barter your faith by wanting him to alter the way of the world and give you a life free from pain?
We do have a God of miracles. Sometimes, we get the quick fix we are seeking. More often, God works in slow and mysterious ways. He is always working, even when “it is hidden from our eyes.” Do you have enough faith to believe that? Are you willing to serve our God just because he is the “King of Kings?” Are you willing to let him be your Lord of Lords without placing restrictions on him?
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