The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-01-28
gburt 9ermons
For
5unnap Dalf-Gc;.r
Theme:
THE KINGSHIP OF JESUS

THE KINGSHIP OF JESUS
r. r r
BY THE REV. JOSEPH A. BENNETT
Text: John 1914. "6ehold your
King"
The world has had many kings, all
of whom have been more or less IA
nous. But II has had only one, who
could In truth be called King OF Kings
and Lord of Lords. Time and time
again the world has trembled, to know
what conception its sovereigns had OF
their sovereignty, for their concep-
uons inevitably shaped their policies
ana determined their actions. But
never in all the history of the world
was 1t so important for the children
OF men to know what conception their
sovereigns had OF their sovereignty,
as it is for the child of God to know
what conception the Christ had of His
kingly office. And thanks be unto
God, we are not left in the dark con-
corning this momentous question, for
we may easily gather from the words
of the King Himself and the lips of
those whom He has commissioned to
speak In His behalf, a clear and vivid
conception of His Kingship. And this
is the task set for the accomplish
ment of the present hour.
First, then, the ground of His King
ship. What right has the Christ to be
King? What are His credentials?
The kings of this earth have gone to
their thrones by way of royal birth,
intellectual force, the might of arms
or the glitter of gold. If such creden-
tials be sufficient to insure crown
and WELD a scepter, then surely the
Christ ought to wear the brightest
crown and sway the mightiest scep-
ter the world has ever known, for lie
is as far above earthly monarchs as
the stars are above the ponds which
reject their shimmering light. No;
Christ did not go to His throne
through royal birth, intellectual force,
the might Of arms, the glitter of gold,
or the schemes of politicians. What,
then, were His credentials? Well,
first, divine appointment, when in the
Second Psalm, Jehovah says, yet
have set My King upon My holy lill
of Zion" He speaks OF the Christ,
and when in the fullness of time the
Christ comes, it is not without signs
of divine appointment and approval
Among these we notice the song OF
the angels, the shining of the star,
the visit of the Wise Men, the hueh-
ing of the winds, the stilling of the
waves, the opening of blind eyes, the
healing of the sick and the raising Of
the dead. But, again, the Christ Gre
dentials are Inherent Qualification"
1t is necessary to a successful SOW
ereign that he have comprehensive
knowledge of his subjects. He must
know their virtues and their vices,
their vocations and their avocations,
their religion and their irreligion. In
word, he must know and under
stand human nature. He must also
be possessed of mind legislative and
be able to enact such laws as shall be
for the best interest of his people. He
must be possessed of a mind judicial
and be able to execute those laws
with judgment tempered by mercy.
He must have a mind martial and be
able to marshal the forces Of the
realm for the protection and defense
Of his people.
In all these things Jesus is pre-
eminent. He knows mankind as only
the Creator can know. He knows the
weakness of the flesh and the strength
of temptation. He knows the deceit
fulless of the heart and the allure
ments of the world. He knows the
strength and tempter OF the devils
sw I'd, for He has often crossed blades
with him. Jesus knows all these
things and He is able to make laws
which, II obeyed, will make us happy
here and hereafter. He is able to.
and will, execute the laws which He
has formulated. Nor will He forget
the rewards and the punishments be-
longing to those who obey or disobey.
He is able and willing to marshal all
the forces of Heaven to protect the
weakest saint, who puts confidence in
his name.
Again, the Christ credentials are
mediatorial acquisition. BY all the
sufferings of the cross, by the atone
ment OF His blood, He has won the
right to the scepter over human lives
So much for the grounds of His SOW
ereignty. But in what realm is He
sovereign? In the realm OF nature.
By Him and for Him were all things
made. The centre of this universe is
not the milky way, along which count
less worlds blaze their light, but
Christ the new and living way, along
which countless multitudes pass to
the Fathers house. He is King also
in Heaven. All the angels OF God bow
down and worship Him. His king
dom Is higher than the highest heav-
en-. and deeper than the deepest hell.
He is King among men. Millions bow
down before Him and worship Him