Day 20: Kiss The Son

Yesterday we finished with the statement that the title King of kings has been given to Jesus by the Father, because He deserved it, and He has fulfilled the conditions for it. This is also stated in 1st Timothy, chapter 6, verses 13 through 16, some wonderful and beautiful words. Paul is speaking to Timothy and this is what he says:

“In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, [the Messiah Jesus] who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, [was the faithful witness] I charge you to keep this commandment [his ministry] without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, [Now it's speaking about his appearing again in glory and power. Paul goes on to say:] 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 honour and might forever. Amen.” (NIV)

So it's God the Father who will bring about the appearing, the return in glory, of the Lord Jesus Christ and of God the Father it says, "He is the blessed and only Ruler." Another translation says potentate. It's a tremendously powerful word. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. It's interesting because in that particular passage there in the Greek, the language means the King of all who are kinging it and the Lord of all who are lording it, so no matter what men may claim to be, no matter what power they may abrogate to themselves, God the Father is the King of all who are kinging, the Lord of all who are lording and He is going to impart this authority to his chosen and well beloved and faithful son, the Lord Jesus. And so Jesus, out of the impartation of that authority will become the King of kings and Lord of lords.

That beautiful title applied to Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords, has a very specific meaning. Kings and lords are rulers. And what it means is this, that Jesus is the ruler of all rulers. He's the Governor over all governments, particularly under his authority are all earthly rulers and governments. He is directly over them and all must bow to Him. Hence, He wears on his head those many crowns. The Greek word is diadems. It's not the crowns that represent victory in the athletic contest, that's another word, but it's the royal word, the word diadem. He had many crowns because all kings find their authority and their right to rule from Him. And God has a special message to rulers concerning Jesus. I think sometimes we don't appreciate that God says some things which are specially to rulers and to leaders. It's found in Psalm 2. I'm going to read the whole Psalm, it's not very long:

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. [You remember, that's His Christ, His Messiah. Notice it's the kings and the rulers there] ‘Let us break their chains,’ they say, ‘and throw off their fetters.’ [They want to reject the Lordship of Jesus] But the one enthroned in heaven [that's God the Father] laughs at them; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, ‘I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.’ [My King, of course, is Jesus, so no matter what earth's rulers may say or decide, or attempt to do, Jesus, the Appointed King is already installed on the heavenly Zion. Then the son speaks of the Father's relationship to Him, He says:] I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: [The Lord, the Father] He said to me, ‘You are my Son, today I have become your Father. [That's the resurrection] Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. [You remember because He's the first born from the dead, He is the ruler of the kings of the earth] You will rule them with an iron sceptre, you will dash them to pieces like pottery.’ [Now, there's a message for the kings and rulers] Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (NIV)

That's a special message and I believe it's a timely one for today, a message to the rulers of Earth. Be reconciled with God through Jesus. Kiss the Son because if His anger flares up, He'll bring judgement on you that you cannot resist.

Let me say this in conclusion of our three-week journey: the establishment of the Kingdom of Jesus is the only solution to Earth's problems and the only hope for Earth's peoples. Thank God He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen. Lord Jesus, come quickly.