By Mark Wilmoth

In his book, Follow Me, David Platt points out that while churchgoers are often invited to “make Jesus the Lord and Savior of their life,” that isn’t Scriptural language. No one can “make Jesus Lord.” Jesus is Lord and humanity can only acknowledge that truth. Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV) reads, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Most American believers don’t understand “King” or “Lord” very well. We live in a democracy where each vote counts; everyone has a voice. When we do encounter a king, it’s usually in a limited or constitutional monarchy like Great Britain’s or Japan’s, where the monarch functions as an honorary head of state but governing authority resides with elected officials. That’s not King Jesus!

To understand King Jesus, Americans must look to one of the true monarchies in the world, Kingdoms like Saudi Arabia or Brunei. In those kingdoms, the authority of the monarch is absolute. The king has the authority to organize government, to control the media and to serve as the final court of appeals in the justice system, holding absolute power over life and death. The King’s word is law. Those who don’t like the laws can only exit the kingdom; to stay means to submit.

Similarly, King Jesus holds complete authority. Believers sometimes overlook the uncomfortable details of the Parable of the Wedding Banquet in Matthew 22, failing to note that when the king’s invitation to the wedding banquet is scorned, “The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city” (Matthew 22:7). Bible students believe that the Jewish leaders’ rejection of Jesus was punished in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Later in Jesus’ parable, when a guest tried to attend the banquet on his own terms, “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are invited, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:13-14). Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven must obey Jesus.

But Jesus’ standards are good for us. Jesus taught “This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10). Jewish commentators point out that, in the Aramaic language Jesus spoke, “on earth as it is in Heaven” modified each of the preceding phrases: “Hallowed be your name on earth, as it is in Heaven.” “Your kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.” “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Those phrases form a prayer of submission in which every area of life is yielded to the control of the King. Politics, romance, finances, education, parenting, labor relations, entertainment and every other area of life come under the King’s control. Puritan preacher Richard Alleine wrote, “Would you pass over into his kingdom and become his subjects? Then you must serve him as your only Sovereign. Loyalty can admit no rivalry. If Christ is your King, then His laws and scepter must rule all within you. You must acknowledge no foreign power; that would be treason. Your only safety is to make heap of all worldly lusts and sinful affections and to have all sacrificed together, to live to no sin but altogether and only to God.”

That’s demanding, but consider the advantages and stability of a monarchy. When disaster strikes, a king can respond quickly, without seeking approval from others. So today, when trouble comes, Christ’s Church is often first on the scene. In a monarchy, when the king pardons, no one may question the decision. So when Jesus forgives, Satan may no longer accuse and life is forever changed. One man anonymously wrote, “I was homeless, got into drugs, went into prisons, then I got to know Jesus, He changed my life. Now I have a home, a wife, a lovely daughter and a new identity… A child of God.” In a monarchy, the king’s family and friends enjoy the greatest security; no one dares to challenge them. In the same way, Heaven’s citizens are forever secure and at peace.

Mark Wilmoth is with Pinehurst Christian Church in Marietta and can be reached at Minister@PinehurstChristianChurch.org