Jesus is the King

There are not many Kings (if any) around now a days. usually when we think about Kings, we think of power hungry, childish, over greedy, uncontrollable, war mongering, and cruel men.

But when we look at the Christian view of Jesus Christ, the promised messiah and savior. He claimed to be the King of the Universe in his lifetime, yet acted and lived quite contrary to the contemporary picture of the King we may think of. Maybe even this idea of a King is not always the case even for human ones. Anyway, I thought to bring up some areas in the bible, where Jesus talk about himself as the king. Look through these verses as the lens of what you think a natural King deserves or should be in (a nice throne room... with jewels...) and compare that with this picture of Jesus.

The Workers Are Few
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”



Jesus before Pilate
28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.
29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?"

30They answered and said to him, "If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you."

31So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death,"

32 to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.

33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"

34 Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?"

35 Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?"

36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."

37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no guilt in Him.

39"But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?"

40So they cried out again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas was a robber.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.


He spoke of this kingdom in heaven a lot with his time on the earth. A country with a King to it. He spoke of this kingdom, He spoke of its significance, he denounced improper ways to enter it or think of it, he wanted people to want to be in it, he wanted people to come to this kingdom, and know this kingdom. He died for it in the end, he died for the people he created.

What is the most beautiful experience in life?

I was reading a short article by Albert Einstein and came to an interesting topic he was discussing. Here it is. I will comment on it afterward.

Albert Einstein was considering experiences that were beautiful. Obviously we dont call them beautiful as much. Maybe wondrous or awesome. Considering the reality of existence and the mysteries that compose it. Here He goes.

"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed. It was the experience of mystery -- even if mixed with fear -- that engendered religion. A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, our perceptions of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty, which only in their most primitive forms are accessible to our minds: it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute true religiosity. In this sense, and only this sense, I am a deeply religious man... I am satisfied with the mystery of life's eternity and with a knowledge, a sense, of the marvelous structure of existence -- as well as the humble attempt to understand even a tiny portion of the Reason that manifests itself in nature."

First comment I could think of is his initial idea of how we ought to approach this. You cannot look at existence as say, "wow this is dull and boring, I am a lot better than this stuff". Albert calls such a person dull and "as good as dead". Strong words. There should be an excitement and wonder as we consider the outer realities around us. Physics, gravity, elements and their reactions, they are above us, we cant alter them in an absolute sense.

If you notice how he begins, the experience of the emotion to know the mysterious of existence is not founded in and of ourself, for without the outer reality of existence, how could we even think and ponder upon it? Even in light of the outer existence, without our various instruments of the personal body (eyes, brain, ears, taste) that percieve it are quite dependent on their existence themselves. Without our eyes, brain, ears, taste we had no ability to percieve reality.

So the question becomes, why are we so intrigued and pushed to awe and the existence of things around us? Although there is a clear sense of corruption, destruction, and chaos in this existence; there is also however a percieved beauty, wonder, and eternality. This experience pushes in my mind the human being to awe and what Christians call, worship, lifting something above ourselves in our view of value, purpose, and direction. Despite whether we call it a deity or not. It is obviously above us, in power, beauty, and size. Thus pushing us to such an inclination.

Paul speaks about this same reality, in a different perspective.

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles."

This mysterious yet joyful experience, Paul states ought to push us to see, search, and finally find that there was a Eternal designer and creator that made these wonderful and mysterious realities around us that we cannot comprehend fully and if we did, would invite claims of pride.

Albert, a very intelligent man; definitely smarter than me, knew from his position how incapable he was to understand the realities around him. Even stating the approach of his "humble attempt" to pursue understanding things around him. Even calling himself religious. Not in the established church belief, but the joy that comes from the knowledge of something greater than self.

So let us consider how, the evidences around us of existence in general, do not broadly display obviously that there is a creator, but clearly clues us to his existence and current involvement in the life and reality of his creation.

And if he does exist, should push us to a "humble approach" towards knowing this creator, for if we can recieve some form of happiness from the things he made around us and be in wonder of them for years, how much more will the creator who made them make us happy and create in us an awe and wonder at his person.

We are these two different yet similiar sons.

The Prodigal Son

11And He said, "A man had two sons.
12"The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me (E)the share of the estate that falls to me ' So he divided his (F)wealth between them.

13"And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

14"Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.

15"So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16"And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.

17"But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!

18'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;

19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."'

20"So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and (G)embraced him and kissed him.

21"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

22"But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out (H)the best robe and put it on him, and (I)put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;

23and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;

24for this son of mine was (J)dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.

25"Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

26"And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.

27"And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.'

28"But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.

29"But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;

30but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your (K)wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'

31"And he said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.

32'But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was (L)dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'"

Knowing and Beholding the Treasure of Jesus. The best remedy.

Hello everyone,

We began this semester reading through the book of Galatians. Boy do I recommend diving deep into it. It has been very reviving and deeply convicting to my heart and how I see the gospel. There really is no other precious sentence, paragraph, or idea to think of other than the gospel of the eternal God.

Jesus, the eternal one. Who made us, who is unchangingly perfect. With no begining, he came and took the wrath of God for me? Wow! Thank you precious Jesus! I wish to more and more, and even with a flawed and forgetting heart now, wish to think more lovely at the one who bled and died for my evil that I loved more than anything. This is an idea that will revolutionary change us. Man, I wish I could explain it.

I was reading through some commentary concerning Galatians and this was an idea that sparked in me a joy that I wish to express and hope will cause a similiar spark from the holy spirit within you.

3. Grace be to you and peace. This form of salutation, which occurred in the other epistles, has received an explanation, to which I still adhere. Paul wishes for the Galatians a state of friendship with God, and, along with it, all good things; for the favor of God is the source from which we derive every kind of prosperity. He presents both petitions to Christ, as well as to the Father; because without Christ neither grace, nor any real prosperity, can be obtained."

4. "Who gave himself for our sins. He begins with commending the grace of Christ, in order to recall and fix on Him the attention of the Galatians; for, if they had justly appreciated this benefit of redemption, they would never have fallen into opposite views of religion. He who knows Christ in a proper manner beholds him earnestly, embraces him with the warmest affection, is absorbed in the contemplation of him, and desires no other object. The best remedy for purifying our minds from any kind of errors or superstitions, is to keep in remembrance our relation to Christ, and the benefits which he has conferred upon us.

Jesus. Who He is, his preciousness. A divine preciousness, above any earthly gold or silver, car or house, video game or movie. This value to us should be chiefly approached not only in light of who He is, but what he has bought and accomplished on the cross for us. Just think about what he did on earth alone. Miracles, Teaching, Loving, Sovereignly arrested, sovereignly beaten, mocked, nailed, choked, and climaxily experiencing a divine seperation from the Father for us and because of us. And coming to life by his Father's power three days later for the victory over our sin and Satan's power in sin.

This reality of the cross being what we gaze and seek to know and see properly. Makes all the difference is how we live and put our longings and affections.

Man it excites me, I hope you have a great week. remember Jesus and the cross he took for you and me.

Christ - mas, why do most celebrate this holiday?

Christmas tree
Family
Presents
Church service for some of you
Food
Santa Claus
Baby Jesus
Movies
Shopping
Lights
Snow

Why celebrate it? A week or two away from school/work, Countless movies and songs made to honor and covering Christmas. It is a big deal in America. But why?

In a country that has millions of different beliefs, why do most people celebrate it?

What dictates a good reason to celebrate it?

Reason behind doing anything is crucial in ones life, doing something without purpose does not make sense and actually is a contradiction to the doing. We eat so that our bodies will live and survive. We go to job or college so we can have a future career or have income to provide for ourselves. Reason is found everywhere in our lives, to ignore or avoid it is to turn away from common sense itself.

Most Christians say Christmas is around to celebrate this person called Jesus. Others say its a good time to spend and celebrate Family. Others is an excuse to celebrate good behavior by convincing their children of an imaginary Santa Claus who will give them presents if their good to them instead of active disobedience. I think another reason could be simply like their presents and may be even celebrating their own desires and passions to satisfy their physical wants.

one guy thought this of the reason(s) for Christmas:

TOP TEN REASONS TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS

10. The big corporations need the money.
9. Gives you a good excuse to dress up in a red suit.
8. You like to stay in debt on your credit card.
7. Forget about that diet for the day.
6. The kids (you mean you) dont have enough toys.
5. What better way to spend your holidays than with the in laws.
4. Get to sit up all night waiting for santa.
3. Get to play with your kids toys.
2. You can eat and eat and eat.........
1. Just cant beat that smile on your childrens faces.

http://www.paralumun.com/christmascel.htm

Another guy thought the reason to celebrate Christmas is this:

My reason to celebrate Christmas is for the birth of my own understanding of human life, and for my acceptance that individual human happiness is not only possible, but moral. Christmas can be a time of giving, but it will be a time of giving to people I value on my own terms. It can be a time of thankfulness and appreciation, but it will be a time of thankfulness for people and things I love, and appreciation for what we’ve accomplished as human beings in the past year.

its from this article if your interested:

http://objectivistvoice.com/2010/12/13/celebrate-christmas/

celebration usually is done due to something happening in ones life that they view as precious or deemed worthy to spend time to appreciate and recognize it as valuable for them.

What deems worthy celebrating? Is it the worth of something? Is what it means to me? What about what is true and what is a lie? What lasts and what doesnt? Should the extent of my celebration be pursued due to the true worth of something despite feelings? I think so. Celebration demands something worthy, I argue that the ulimate celebration we have should govern

Lets investigate these reasons for Christmas.

Is Santa Real? Well he was, not the person they speak of now. Saint Nicholas was a Christian a long time ago and was a famous figure in his time.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11063b.htm

The Santa Clause we are familiar with is a distorted and manipulated imaginary creature from a real person used to appease the uses of those who profess its trueness. Despite most people understand it to be, they still confess it being true to their children and as a historical figure.

Now to turn the picture.

This has been done to the person of Jesus. He was a real person (historical accounts: http://www.textexcavation.com/anatestimonium.html) who is many times thought of as numerous different personas by different people (hippy Jesus, gay Jesus, blue-eyed model looking Jesus, dumb Jesus; just watch a show of family guy). It is a tender topic to speak of, I thought it important to bring Jesus up in this light and in comparison to Saint Nicholas. There is a real Jesus, who did existed, this is entirely true and historically documented with many different witnesses and testimonies. Most have altered this picture that Jesus has been shown by the witnessed and accounts. They have been altered simply by what most people think he is and simply to use this picture to their own means, ignoring any kind of truth.

What is the true reason we should celebrate Christmas?

The way we celebrate, shows what we indeed are celebrating (hah, sounds funny). Ask yourself if what you are celebrating is truly worth complete celebration. There are many ways to celebrate one thing through different ways.

Is Santa Clause the reason for Christmas? Well, this picture of him isnt true, so why celebrate a fantasy, maybe we could celebrate Saint Nicholas, he was a good man, respected, but most people dont look at Christmas in this light, but see this imaginary picture.

Is children the reason for Christmas? Are they worth celebrating, I think so. Maybe not complete celebration. Why? well, spoiling and exalting people is not the best thing to do. Recollect Caesar, Hitler, Cult Leaders; it doesnt turn out well. People thinking of themselves as great and encouraging that thinking can be very dangerous, this could show in the way we love and celebrate kids. I know it sounds wierd, but think about it.

Is corporations getting money the reason for Christmas? Look at the advertisements on TV, some people think so. Most people would not agree this to be the reason, but money is something that people do celebrate which is attached to corporations. Money can be bad to celebrate. Money, although it can provide a lot of things, can cause unending pursuits. May not be reason for Christmas. It should be outstandingly worthy and valuable.

Is our own achievement the reason for Christmas? What can people do, figure out something that has already existed, obtain something, reach a level in the career chain, think about things, create something no human has seen. Pred cool stuff. And it may be a reason to a certain extent, but Christmas? Should we be celebrated ultimately? Are we a huge deal? I dont think so, who is the absolute standard? People arent that big. Just look at the sun and what it could do to us if it were closer to us than it is now. We are little ants compared to the sun, we aren't a big deal. Not even to mention a creator.

Is Jesus the reason to celebration Christmas? I think it is essential. Celebrating anything else absolutely will not suffice, I think I have made it clear. I hope I have. If Jesus is the person his witnesses have confessed through their testimony, then he is the biggest reason to celebrate Christmas. Focus and Target. With God from eternity past til his birth. He is perfect, beautiful, life giving, created us, sin hating, jealous. Son of God, came to earth as a baby boy human to a poor unimportant family in relation with human renown and wealth. Sinless in all he did, compassionate, servant, told people about the eternal God, whom he had known and offered this God to them, they rejected him, his creation, killed him. Their rejection was his purposed victory. Using their evil and hate to destroy evil and hate on the earth through his work. He has provided a way to escape his Fathers anger for this God-ignoring, evil, hating mentality through this cross he died on and rose afterward. He demonstrated his victory and use of his death by raising from the dead. Jesus declares to be the ruler of everything, including you, me, your children, Saint Nicholas, presents, trees, movies, he owns it all baby.

Maybe you celebrate Jesus during Christmas, great. I encourage you to retell yourself who he is to you and how you have been living in light of this Jesus. Our lives are a great lens to see how we see Jesus as a person.

Maybe you dont celebrate Jesus during Christmas, great. I would challenge you to reconsider what you think of this person and would encourage you to investigate those who have witnessed this Jesus (The book written by John who witnessed Jesus is a great start) and consider him.

Prayer, what is the best way to do it?

I was asked this question on the internet and I gave the best response I thought to give, and thought it would be encouraging to post it on here. Here you are.

The way we think or speak prayer, there may not be a best way. I think if I approach this answer by the heart, the rest of your question will be answered. May God use my limited mind to express his will and a portion of his greatness.

I would view prayer as: Communication with God. But its far more than just saying that.

prayer begins by having a mediator.

We cannot go to him on our own.

This is the most essential and critical thing in approaching prayer. Without Jesus being our mediator, we could not approach or even think to speak with God unless we would be completely destroyed by his holiness in light of our immense evil within us (Gen 6:5, Romans 3, Hebrews) . Jesus taking our punishment and giving his righteousness through his blood is the only way we can even approach God (2 Cor 5:21, John 14). When you go to pray today, even that prayer that you speak is washed in the blood of the lamb. Thats how dependent and in need of a savior that we are in. We have to see this when we approach it. Any other approach other than the cross of Jesus paying for my debt will bring about pride and self righteousness.

There is definitely a proper topic that we discuss in our prayer to God, we dont just pray about whatever we desire to pray about and ask for everything that we think is proper to prayer for. I hope that makes sense. What I mean is that I am not going to pray to God and tell him about me pooping in the bathroom. This doesn't mean that we cant talk about small things with him.

You and I do not know how to pray, this truth will humble us if we really believe it. Most people think they know how to pray the best or think that their great that they pray the best or most passionate or cover the best topics. This is an improper approach which is a form of self-worship. (reading matthew 6 is a good thing that describes this)

If you can recall Jesus's parable of the tax collector who prayed and the pharisee who prayed, you would see the distinction. Our hearts tend to move toward the way the Pharisee prays, where he praises himself before God because of how put together he is and spiritual he is compared to other people. Our approach to God should be of the tax collector, who says in brokenness "Have mercy on me, a sinner". Time and time again, this should be our heart, because we are vile in our flesh and are in need of a savior.

Prayer begins with humility. (Isaiah 66:1-2, Isaiah 6) Humility begins from us seeing God as his greatness and his perfectness and preciousness, to then in comparison see our smallness and unworthiness and filthiness.

We see his love and grace in our small and his greatness, because of the gospel. Again, you dont approach prayer with complete sadness, although there should be a healthy sadness over our sin. But there is this fear or divine awe that we cannot simple make up for myself. It must be founded in the gospel. (Ephesians 2, Titus 3, 2 Corinthians 5, John 17, John 14, Lev 17:11, Psalm 53)

As a Christian, God is definitely a friend of ours, but cannot be considered like a human friend we have. He is the King of the Universe and has called all men to turn from their tendency to sin and turn to God their life, confidence, and death in most instances (Luke 9:23-24, Matthew 28:18-20)

Good passages to look in about prayer

1 Peter 5:6-7
Philippians 4
Titus 3
Isaiah 6
Isaiah 66:1-2
John 17
Psalm 16
a lot of the psalms are prayers

Jesus gives us a sweet prayer, this is not a prayer to simply quote, but shows the topics that would be great to cover in a prayer. Matthew 6

I could break apart The matthew 6 prayer, to show what Jesus was praying about to help you see what are some good things to think through and pray through when you communicate with God?

Does that help?

I hope that these answers wont intimidate you whatsoever, but will aid you in thinking how big God is and how small we are in light of him. And God can change our views of himself. This is what God has been doing in me for the this past semester, is showing me a greater picture of how big he is and how I ought to fear and revere him and not approach him lightly. We can approach him because of Jesus, and our viewing of Jesus on the cross in prayer is super helpful in how we engage prayer.

Wonderful Light, A poem to Jesus

I dont make poems often, But one day God pushed me to make one for him.

Wonderful light

watching the reflection from its strong and revealing gaze
spreading beyond every thing it touches and enlightening its contents
when I look directly into this light, no words can describe such brightness,
my eyes are unable to process such a bright and mysterious light

Wonderful light

When this light disappears, the brightness goes away
like the aura of a campfire being put out
my heart goes to despair
the things that were bright are now unseen
the place where I was walking is no where to be found
how can I see or where do I go?
why does the coldness come so near?
when the light and its brightness flee?

Wonderful light

Oh come once again great light, come oh so quickly to me
for I cannot live without you
like my heart beats for my body
oh how your light is the warmth and life to my soul
My joy is complete, my lying eyes are defeated at last
when I gaze into the glories of your light


Wonderful light

Oh you have come once again
such grace and mercy to come to me
I have not done anything to deserve such light
that the warmth of your rays might cover me
What can I do to express my love for such a light as this?
Can such a distant and strong light be something I could give?
without it I have nothing to give for I could not see a thing

Wonderful light

I will tell of your light
when others have not seen and other have been distraught
Those in the caves I will tell of this light
when they see it, oh what joy will fill my day
for this light has been my life and my way
let me tell once again of this light

Wonderful light

What is your name?
Who can you be?
Are you simply a light in the sky? Or a brightness unknown?
Of course you are not
you are my Light, my great and merciful Master
Jesus Christ this is he, the one that I have described with many phrases
Oh come to this light or even better come to this King
That his light might shine and bring life to everything