John 18:33-40
Introduction
Jesus the King is the divinely ordained ruler of the earth to whom all mankind will answer. As the King, Jesus Christ fulfills the destiny of man to rule. Man was created to rule the earth on God’s behalf. Psalm 8:6 says, “You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;” and Psalm 115:16 tells us that, “the earth He has given to the sons of men.” However, the first Adam relinquished his God-given rule to Satan because of his sin. And the last Adam, who is Jesus Christ, came to fulfill the initial plan of God for man to rule (Rom 5:12-14). When God became a man, He was fulfilling the historic destiny that there would be an enduring King over Israel (2 Sam 7:13-17). Jesus was the fulfillment of that prophecy. Because of His claim to be King, Jesus was crucified. Pilate even had an inscription put above the cross that referenced Jesus as the King of the Jews (John 19:19). Jesus declared Himself to be a divine King and this claim led to His death.
Jesus rules over God’s kingdom – a kingdom from heaven that has to be executed on earth. When Jesus Christ came to earth to proclaim the good news, all authority was given to Him to rule on heaven and on earth. God’s rule had now entered history through Jesus the King – being both human and divine; He was to rule over all. It is critical for believers to understand the rule of Jesus Christ if they want to see His authority exercised in their lives (John 3:3). Jesus came to proclaim the good news of His own kingdom. This kingdom is not a democracy. Jesus is the dictator of His kingdom. Either in time or in eternity, every person will acknowledge Him as the King (Phil 2:10-11). In order for the believer to experience the benefits of His divine rule, we must honor Him as King and follow His commands.
The good news is that King Jesus offers free entrance into the Kingdom. In John 3:3, Nicodemus asked Jesus how to enter the Kingdom of heaven and Jesus said he would have to be born again for this to take place. Each individual must make the decision to accept Jesus Christ as Savior to be a part of the Kingdom over which He rules. For those born again through faith, Jesus Christ offers to share His authority with His kingdom disciples – people who are operating according to His governance and His guidelines. It is possible to enter the kingdom but not share in the authority of Jesus Christ. You must be living under His rule. One day Jesus will exercise all authority under His direct rule. He will clearly be known as the King (Rev 19:16) and will execute His rule upon His second coming. At that time, He will set up His kingdom on earth for His eternal reign. On that day, all will respond to Christ as King either voluntarily or mandatorily, and there will be universal recognition of the kingship of Jesus Christ. Today we model that rule as His church and, in doing so, we can receive the benefits of His authority working in our lives.
Getting Started
- If Jesus Christ as King gives authority to those that are kingdom minded, what do you think it means to live with a Kingdom mindset in day to day life?
- If Christ were to ask you today what you’ve done to advance His kingdom, what would you say?
Let’s Get Personal
- Are you actively prioritizing the kingdom of God in your own life? Do you live with a kingdom mindset? In what practical ways does Jesus Christ rule your life and your decisions? What hard decisions have you made in order to align your life with His divine rule?
- What barriers exist that keep you from living fully with this mindset? What is blocking you from prioritizing the kingdom?
Take the Next Step
- The concept of Jesus’ divine rule teaches believers that we are a part of something bigger than just “getting into heaven.” We are able to exercise His divine authority while living on earth. However in order to fully experience His power at work in our lives we need to walk in obedience and repent of anything that would block Jesus from being free to express His authority in our lives. We must seek Him first (Matt 6:6). In what areas of your life do you need to repent and ask for God’s forgiveness? What changes do you need to make in order to walk according to the rule of Christ so that you can experience His rule?
- Want to go deeper? Take a look at the following passages: Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 2:1-2; 3:2; 11:12; 22:41-46; 24:14; 27:37; 28:19-20; Luke 1:30-33; 12:32; 16:16; 22:29; John 3:3; 12:12-16; 18:33-40; Phil 2:5-11; Revelation 17:14; 19:14-22
Renew Your Mind
“at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” – Philippians 2:10
