I was just thinking about the lyrics of the Gaither song, “The King is Coming!” How absolutely encouraging it is! It causes me to think about the royalty of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
His Birth
When the magi searched for the newborn king who had been prophesied, they went to the palace of Herod and approached the king, saying, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matt. 2:2 NIV). When they found Jesus with his family, they showered Him with gifts befitting a king, but He looked like a normal, healthy baby boy.
His Splendor
Near the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus told the apostles that some there with Him would not taste death before they saw Him appearing in His kingdom. Six days later, Peter, James and John experienced precisely that at the transfiguration of Christ atop a mountain.
Jesus was not going to be a future king — he was already King, the Sovereign Lord of all. That trio of apostles saw Him in glorious royalty. It was much like Moses seeing the train of God’s glory from the cleft of the rock. “…His face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light” (Matt. 17:2). Immediately, the men wanted to do what the Magi wanted — worship the King. The Greek word for kingdom is “basileia.” It can be translated as realm, royalty or even splendor. Indeed, on that mountain, as Peter, James and John saw Christ transfigured, they saw the royal splendor of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
His Trial
Jesus verified His royalty before Pilate the night He was betrayed and brought to trial: “‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me’” (John 18:37 NIV).
Again, I remind you, Jesus did not say He would become a king. He already was a king!
His Triumph
The Revelation that John was later given tells us of Jesus one day returning and, when that occurs, He will be wearing many crowns, and His name is the Word of God. But added to that is this: “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16 NIV).
His Royalty
Unquestionably, Jesus is much more than we humans can comprehend this side of Heaven. But one thing we do know is that Jesus is the Sovereign over Heaven and Earth. He is the royal Son of God, and one day, every child of God will see the splendor of the King. Then, with Moses, the magi, Peter, James and John, we will bow and worship Him who has rescued us from the condemnation of sin.
