Articles
The King Crucified
After hearing the word politics, the words Democrat, Republican, and Independent are probably some of the first ones that come to mind. What about the words Jesus and sin? During Jesus’ time there was a power struggle between Jesus’ Heavenly kingdom and the worldly fixated kingdoms of the Romans and Jews. Two thousand and twenty years ago Jesus willingly was put to death on a cross to establish a Heavenly kingdom. A kingdom that frees mankind from the division of sin by putting sin to death and allowing all people to eternally live with God in righteousness. Do you want your kingdom to be from this fleeting world, or from the eternal greatness that comes with Christ’s sacrifice? (John 18:36-37)
If greatness is found in sacrifice, then Christ sacrificing himself as the Son of God means that eternal greatness is found. The divine plan being fulfilled is indicative of the difference in authority between God and man. To that end, the fact that Jesus was never distracted before and during His time on the cross only further proves His divine power. The definition of the word flogged means to have one’s skin torn off from the body. Jesus was flogged, beaten, mocked, spat on, pierced by a crown of thorns, pierced by nails, stabbed by a spear, given gall to drink, and hung on the cross for six hours. It’s inconceivable to think any human would experience that from start to finish willingly and without fighting back. Christ went above and beyond human capacity as well by speaking only Godliness, not using divine authority to end it, and forgiving all the people doing it to Him (Luke 23:34).
An amazing aspect of Jesus is that He is just as sovereign today as He was during His crucifixion. Your trials are known to Heaven because of this trial that Jesus went through for you. Focusing on God aided Christ through His excruciating trial and focusing on God will also help you through your trials. But allowing God to help you requires that Jesus is seen as the King with a Heavenly crown. A person can say they follow The King, but ultimately it is that person’s actions that clearly demonstrates their allegiance. Is your allegiance to a Caesar, to a President, or to The King?
Inspired by: Philippians 2:1-11; John 10:36-37; John 18 and 19; Hebrews 2:9-10; Isaiah:50:6; Isaiah 53; Ephesians 5:1-2; Revelation 5
