We Have No King - John 19:15

John 19:15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. (NIV)

            It was the ultimate act of betrayal. The chief priests in Jerusalem were the highest officers and leaders in the Jewish community. They represented centuries of their faith and all of the people. They were meant to be living examples of how to serve God and follow Him faithfully. They were supposed to be the upholders of the Law of Moses and all of their religious traditions. But in one hate-filled answer, they betrayed all that was dear to them and denied God’s authority over them.

            What was this act of betrayal? The answer that they gave to Pilate: “We have no king but Caesar.” God was their King and He was their Sovereign. The whole of Jewish history was built upon having no other god or ruler before God. Sure, there had been kings in the past who tried to rule the people as God’s chosen servants, but there was always a struggle between being ruled by God and governed by local kings. In the Book of Judges, the great warrior Gideon refused to be made king with these words: ‘I will not rule over you…the LORD rules over you.’ (Judges 8:22-23).

            When the chief priests said to Pilate that only Caesar was their king, they were betraying all of their beliefs in God and trading them in for a foreign despot to rule over them. Their hatred for Jesus was so intense that they were willing to displace God with a Roman Emperor. It was a scandalous act of betrayal and one which doomed Jerusalem. Forty years after this event, the Roman Emperor crushed the priests in Jerusalem and destroyed most of the great city. Allying their faith with a tyrant brought this upon themselves; putting their faith in a political figurehead created a situation where eventually their religion and nation lost God’s protection and wrought calamity on themselves.

            As Christians, we are supposed to remind ourselves each day that Jesus is our Savior, Lord, and King. Our allegiance belongs to Him and we are meant to serve His ways by applying His teaching in our daily lives. His words and ways are specifically meant to overrule any notions or ideas that go against God’s Will. Christ is our only King on Earth and in Heaven. If we displace Him with any other being, then just as the chief priests sadly did long ago, we betray Him.

Point to ponder

How often do I let Jesus shape my ideas, opinions, and choices? Am I guilty of rejecting Him in order to follow other people and other ways?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are our King and there is no other power or person who can take Your place. We call ourselves Christians, but we can only prove this to be true by how we embrace and apply Your words. Keep us from displacing Your authority and help us to truly serve You. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org. If you would like to send John a question or a message, please email him at Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s church banner designs called ‘Christ is King.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: King.

Walk in Love - 2 John 1:6

2 John 1:6        And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. (NIV)

            Like most people, I’ll be glad when this Presidential Election is well and truly over. It seems to have brought out the worst in most of us and, unfortunately, has not been a good civil exercise in community building. I’m as guilty as anyone else, so quite recently I stopped making political comments on Facebook and other places in order to maintain both my sanity and friendships with other folks. It is my fervent hope and prayer that after this is all over, we can live and work together as free people, who love their liberties and cherish their relationships.

            Looking at today’s highlighted verse, it seems to me that as Christians, we have a greater responsibility to walk in love and grow that peace. If we get too caught up in party politics and partisan divisiveness then we’ve forgotten the higher road, as well as the greater standard, that we are supposed to follow. In the Christian Church, loving one another is not just a personal elective or individual choice; it’s a command that came straight from Christ’s lips to those who would be His followers and disciples.

            So perhaps the best way to walk in Christ’s love is to begin it today and not to wait for the Election to end. If we treat each other respectfully, faithfully, and lovingly, then we won’t get caught up in the frantic turmoil that usually occurs in the last days before voting ends.

Questions for personal reflection

How has my witness as a Christian been displayed during this campaign? Am I willing to follow Christ’s command to love one another, especially those who support a different candidate?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we pray for our nation like never before. We confess to being polarized by politics and characterized by our candidates. Help us to take a higher path and walk throughout this time in Your love, in order to display Your grace and peace. In Your Holy Name, we humbly confess and sincerely pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is this week’s bulletin cover art for the Church, based on a timely Bible verse from 2 Thessalonians. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Bulletin.