August 27, 2021
Prophet, Priest, AND KING!!! Jesus, in great humility, came the first time as a baby born among animals…the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29) He cared for people, ministering through healing, teaching, preaching . . . His example for growing the kingdom of heaven was practical in every respect . . . and still is. Behind every lesson in things tangible is a spiritual lesson for all who have ears to hear (Matthew 11:15). Even though the material riches of the entire universe are His, He was unencumbered with material possessions as He went about doing good (Acts 10:38). We may safely assume that He was homeless. He said:
“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Matthew 8:20 and Luke 9:58
Truly the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), sweet Jesus was both humble and mindful of His role as King. In conversation with Pilate just before His crucifixion,
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to Him, “You are a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.” John 18:36-38
There are many in the world who believe they are eternally secure because they find no fault in Jesus. This conversation between Jesus and Pilate bears many haunting similarities to the watered-down thinking in the world of today. The great question “What is truth?” is asked, but Pilate leaves without pursuing, or even waiting for, the answer. Impatience, willful ignorance, or laziness can all be behind coming very near the kingdom of God yet failing to enter. At the end of a conversation with a scribe:
Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Mark 12:34
Remember the rich young ruler. Jesus put His finger on the pulse of the young man’s priorities. But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Mark 10:22
Paul announced, “He is not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:27b
Jesus, who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6) desires to be known through a loving, intimate relationship with Him. This relationship, fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit, provides discernment of the difference between being near the kingdom and being in the kingdom. The five foolish virgins of Matthew 25 show us it is possible to be close (they believed in Jesus) without entering into the kingdom. The five wise virgins believed Jesus and received a steady supply of fuel from the Holy Spirit who guides into all truth (John 16:13).
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 1 Timothy 6:12a,13-15
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him. Revelation 1:7