Who Is Our King? John 19:15-17
At the very center of this passage of scripture is the pivotal and fundamental question of who is our king. Jesus is our king, of course, unless his teachings make no sense in our situation; then, Caesar is our king because he’s more realistic. Jesus is our king, of course, until our lives or livelihoods are in danger; then, for a while, Caesar will be our king. He has the power that counts in this world. All that is too wordy for a chant, so it is boiled down to, “We have no king but the emperor” (v 15b). The slogan is printed on our hearts and held high by our actions and decisions.
One king: we know this is the only way to peace. One king: who controls power rather than is controlled by power. We know the right-ness of this. But we find ourselves in the mob-mentality throng shouting, “Crucify him.” We don’t want to say it, but our lives shout it. “We have no king but the emperor.” We don’t want to say it, but our actions shout it in times of crisis.
Yet, love will not allow Jesus to avoid the cross. He will die for us, not for himself or for trivial reasons. He is not a hero; he is more than that. He is the Savior.
Caesar is Our King
Crucify him!
Shall I crucify your king?
Away with this man,
For Caesar is our king.
Away with this man,
Whom it pleases us to hate.
Away with this man,
For Caesar is our king.
Away with this man,
For Caesar is our king.
Away with this man,
For his teachings make no sense.
Away with him; Caesar is our king.
Away with this man,
For Caesar is our king.
Away with this man,
For his claims amount to treason:
Away with this man, can there be more damning reason?
Away with him; Caesar is our king.
So Pilate delivered him,
And Jesus bore His cross to the Place of the Skull.
Lord, be our King, now and forever more.
A word about the series
The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives. This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you. The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross. The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010. They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus. In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online. The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University. Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.
Pray, read, think and return to God.
All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.
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