Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Religious men are impressed with
fanfare, ceremony, and pomp, yet the Lord despises all such
and seeks men to worship Him in spirit and truth. That which
is of God is not put on display for all to easily see, even as
the Lord testified as to why He taught in parables. And He
said, unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom
of God, but to others in parables, that seeing they might not see,
and hearing they might not understand. The Lord often uses the things
that seem to men to be very insignificant in order to manifest the true
nature of His mediatorial kingdom. When the Lord Jesus came into
Jerusalem, He did not come sitting high in an ornate saddle upon
a valiant steed. Rather, He came rather meekly,
sitting upon the foal of an ass. When he carried out the most
important business of his sojourn here upon this earth, he did
not sit in a royal state garbed in purple robes and a golden
crown, but rather he ignominiously hung upon a Roman cross with
lash marks upon his back and a crown of thorns embedded in
his sacred brow as he poured out his life's blood for sinners.
Two thieves were crucified with him as he was numbered with the
transgressors. They both mocked him. But an amazing thing happened.
One of those thieves suddenly was made aware of his own just
condemnation and began to rebuke his compatriot. Both men had
the same vantage point from which they might look upon this man,
Jesus, as he hung on the cross just like them. Yet one of them
was given eyes to see that this man hanging in naked shame was
truly the King of Israel, while the other only saw a failed prophet.
Only the grace of God made a difference between them. The work of God
is hidden from the wise and prudent and revealed unto babes. That
which appears insignificant to the wisdom of the world is most
precious to those who are given eyes to see and ears to hear.
Paul wisely said, for the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the
power of God. For it is written, I will destroy
the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding
of the prudent. It seems logical to the natural
man to make much ado about the birth of one who is born a king.
Therefore, the greatest celebration of the year in nominal Christendom
is supposedly devoted to remembering the birth of Jesus Christ. Millions
make a show of remembering the little Christ child and woe be
to the man who questions the celebration. While we personally
have no vendetta against such celebrations, we are quite aware
that the focus and centrality of the kingship of Christ is
not displayed in his birth, but rather in his death and subsequent
resurrection, which validated the redemptive work which he
accomplished on Calvary's cross. We are never commanded to remember
His birth, which in the overall scheme of redemption is a mere
necessity in order to accomplish a greater purpose. Yet we are
specifically directed to remember His death in a very specific
manner until He comes again. It is the death of Christ that
is at the heart of the kingdom which He came to establish upon
this earth. We are not waiting for some future time when He
will manifest His kingdom in pomp and splendor. Rather, we
are rejoicing in Him who came into this world in the most humble
of places. walked among men as one despised and rejected by
the very nation into which he was born. We bow down to him
who came into Jerusalem meekly, riding upon a colt, the foal
of an ass. We weep as we see him give his back to the smiters
and is spat upon and defiled by the sons of men. We behold
his kingdom of power and glory revealed as he hangs upon the
cross of shame and gives himself as a sacrifice and substitute
for the subjects of his kingdom who he has loved with an everlasting
love. Has any king of this earth ever sat in more royal state
than this one who takes captivity captive and destroys the rule
of all kingdoms as he breathes his last breath and declares
it is finished? O tell me, you who seek for glory,
is there any glory which exceeds this triumphant victory? Has
there ever been any who have accomplished more or ever been
lifted higher? Oh yes, he rules and reigns over
death, hell, and the grave, and has not failed in one jot or
tittle to accomplish exactly what he came to do, though he
was a king born in a stable and crucified by wicked men. His
kingdom arises from an eternal kingship. He did not come into
the world in order to become a king, But he was born as a
king, even as Micah says of him, whose goings forth have been
from of old, from everlasting. His kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom. His kingdom is a mediatorial kingdom. At the center and heart
of his kingdom is his work of redemption, which he has performed
in the behalf of those whom he loved from before the foundation
of the world. Christ Jesus the Lord is alone
exalted in their redemption. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.