Devotions: Crucified King - Mark 15:2

Mark 15:2       "Are you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate. "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

This week, millions of people around the world joined in celebrations that marked the 60^th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1952, she ascended to the British throne as a young woman after her father died from cancer. She has endeared herself to many people and commonwealth nations around the globe. She has successfully served as sovereign and when she passes, we will never see the likes of her again.

Queen Elizabeth is the monarch of Great Britain, but not Scotland. Her title in Scotland is ‘Queen of Scots’ which means that she reigns over the people, but not the land. This is a great freedom that Scots have jealously guarded and dearly possessed for centuries. There is a common belief that the land belongs to everyone, which is why it is difficult to prosecute anyone for trespass in Scotland. The ‘Freedom to Roam’ anywhere in the nation is often upheld under Scottish law, so long as no actual damage is made to the landowner’s property.

I find it intriguing that Pilate did not ask Jesus if He was the King of Judah, the Prince of Palestine, or the Emperor of Israel. He asked him precisely if Christ was the King of the Jews – not a land, but a people. Pilate must have seen something in Jesus that moved him to ask this question. When Jesus answered affirmatively, it astounded the Roman Governor. It also stayed with him because Pilate ordered a sign to be hung above Jesus on the Cross that read “King of the Jews.” Whether or not he did this to mock the Jewish people or to display what he believed to be the truth, we cannot say.

In the Old Testament, we can read on many occasions God saying to the Hebrews, “You are my people and I will be Your God.” When Christ positively answered Pilate’s question, He was following a long tradition and fulfilling many prophecies. Even today, Jesus is Sovereign of all His people – so that the terms ‘Christian nation,’ ‘Christian government,’ or ‘Christian society’ are actually redundant in Christ’s eyes. His people are His Church, not bound by national borders or political views. His people are His servants, not tied to geographical limits or even temporal ones. Christ is the King of Kings, the Lord of Life, and the Head of the Church which is made up of His people.

Question for personal reflection

How do I understand and serve Christ as my King?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, Your Kingdom is about people, not property. Your ministry is about nurturing, not nation building. Your mission is about salvation, not society. Help us to understand these important differences so that we may truly serve You as Your people and celebrate You as our Sovereign. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is John’s latest seascape called “Moonlight Bay.” It features a collection of yachts at midnight under the light of a silvery moon. If you would like to view a larger version, please click here: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/7350398012_9f29505928_b.jpg

4 Minute Daily Devotions: Oscar Month

John 6:15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

I love February because it’s Oscars month on Turner Classic movies. I get to record and watch the old movies with famous actors like Errol Flynn, Olivia de Haviland, Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, and Greer Garson.

For the past two night, I’ve been watching Laurence Olivier in Richard III. He plays one of the sleaziest, greediest, and wickedest villains on the screen. I love Shakespeare’s plays anyway, but Olivier’s acting is absolutely amazing.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, cheats, conspires, and kills his way into becoming the King of England. Along the way, he makes many enemies and at the end of the play, he is left destitute on the battlefield. That’s when Olivier utters the immortal lines: “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” Justice is served and the villainous king is cut down and killed by his rival.

When I read the Gospel passage this morning, I was reminded that the people wanted to make Jesus their king, just because He supplied them with fish and bread. They wanted Him to provide for them, to heal their sicknesses, to satisfy their hunger, and to make their lives pleasant.

But Jesus was on a mission from God, so He couldn’t be tempted by such an offer. He was serving God, not Himself. He was doing God’s will, not His own.

This also reminds me that our faith in Christ is purely meant to glorify and honor Him. If we seek Jesus to bless us all the time and to make our lives easier, then we’ve crowned the wrong kind of king in our hearts. If we place our lives into His hands and seek to serve His kingdom here on earth, then we’ve truly made Him the King of our lives.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to place You at the center of our lives and to honor You with our service to Your Kingdom. Enable us to keep You as the King of our hearts and Lord of our days. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.