Christ Reigns
To reign means to be the King, the highest in authority, the uncontested leader of a kingdom. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus has established His kingdom on earth, which is called the church.
Two things to note here. A King has a throne, and He will also have a scepter.
A throne is a symbol of power, serving as the seat of a ruler.
A scepter is a staff or rod carried by a ruler as a symbol of sovereignty.
Hebrews 1:8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
This quote was taken from the Psalmist, who prophesied many generations earlier regarding the Messiah.
Psalm 45:6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
Jesus came as a man and kept the law perfectly. Being born of a virgin, He was without sin, just as Adam was without sin before the fall. However, unlike the first Adam, who disobeyed, Jesus obeyed His Father perfectly; thus, He is also referred to as the last Adam.
Hebrews 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore, God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
Jesus loved His relationship with the Father more than He loved having His own way according to the flesh. Thus, even though He was tempted in all the ways we are tempted, He never sinned.
Hebrews 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
In other words, Jesus understands us better than we understand ourselves, and He has compassion for us. The way that Jesus rules His kingdom is by righteousness. In other words, Jesus rules His kingdom through relationship.
Jesus remained faithful to the Father and was obedient, even to the point of death on a cross, where He paid in full for our sins, past, present, and future. As one who would become King, He placed a high value on us and the idea of having a relationship with us. He desired to go through what we go through to identify with us and then make a way for us.
There is a warmth to His rule and reign, not a coldness of separation and abuse. It would be beneficial for us all to recall what the Psalmist wrote.
Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Jesus rules and reigns not as an abusive King, but rather as a gracious and loving King who enjoys knowing and being in relationship with those who are in His kingdom. More than that, He also desires that we be in relationship with His Father with the same warmth of affection, compassion, and grace. Let's give Him the praise He is due because Christ reigns!
