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Monday, August 22, 2011

He Became King for Us

1 Chronicles 14:2 reads, "David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel."

Allow me to rephrase this verse in light of the person and work of the Son of David, Jesus the Messiah: Jesus realized that his Father had established him as king over new, true Israel—i.e., the people composed of those of all ethnicities and cultures who have received God's promise of salvation through faith in the Messiah (see Rom. 9:6-8 through ch. 11; Gal. 4:21-31)—and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of that people.

Have you considered that Jesus is exalted as King for our sake, not just for his own?  We think frequently that he became human without ceasing to be God for our sake and that he died on the cross for our sake.  We also might mention that he rose from the dead for our sake.  But he also ascended into heaven for our sake, is establishing his reign for our sake, and will come again for our sake.

It is for our sake that Jesus has all supremacy and authority and you and I don't.  It is for our sake that he is vastly important and that any importance we might have is derived from him.  It is for our sake that he is in a position to command and that we are in a position to do nothing but obey.  This is all for us.

The lavish love of Jesus and the supreme dominion of Jesus are not in conflict.  They aren't even two sides of the same coin.  The uncompromising authority of Jesus is how he loves us.  It is out of his intense compassion for us that he took the throne.

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