Arizona sun., 1947-03-28

! loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish but have ever
lasting hfe.-John 3:16.
The cross of Calvary, from mans
viewpoint, was "a paradox. There
is something startling and seeming
| ly incredible about the idea OF a
crucified king, particularly if those
who do the crucifying are the kings
own subjects. Kingship implies
rulership over others, and not suf-
fering and death at their hands.
Plate told the simple truth when
he exclaimed, Behold your King,
and when he flung out the sarcastic
question, Shall I cruelty your
King?' he was speaking more truly
than he knew. They were, verify,
doing the incredible thing Of de-
manding the death of their King,
their Messiah, yea, Of the very Son
of God" (B. L. Olmstead.
I. Jesus Said, 'I Am a King"
l8:S7, S0.
Jesus was before PLATE. The Jews
had accused him of declaring him.
self to be king (see Luke. 23:O.
Plate demanded, cart thou King
of the Jews?" ". 33).
Jesus did not answer directly at
first, but declared his kingdom to
be mot of this world ". 36), in
dicating to Plate that he was deal
ing with One who was more than
an earthly king.
When PLATE persisted, Jesus
openly declared, II am king"
The expression 'Thou sayest' ".
3O carries the thought, "You say
that I am king and you are right.
I am a king" It was in no sense
disavowal of his royalty, but a
declaration of it.
PLATE, troubled, convinced of
Christ's innocency but too cow
ardly to declare it, hid behind mans
proverbial inability to know the
truth ". 38), and wrote himself
into history as hypocritical cow
ard.
What have we to say-what have
you to say, dear reader, to Christ S
claim to Kingship over your life?
Should We not say, 'sHe is not only
king of the Jews, he is the King of
my life"?
III. The Priests Said, 1--WE Have
No King" Q9:19-16).
PLATE, in aeshly pride, taunted
Jesus with his power to determine
his fate. He did have much power
as the representative Of Rome, but
power over Jesus he did not have.
Majestic indeed was the reply of
the King. In a brief sentence Jesus
put PLATE on trial before the judg-
ment throne Of God. Only because
the tiIne had come for the Son OF
God to die was Plate permitted to
exercise his governmental power
(see Rom. 13:D, and he would an
swer for his decision one day in the
presence of God.
Of especial interest to us just
now is the statement of Jesus: "He
that delivered me unto thee hath
the greater SIM" It was the high
priest Caiaphas who had that guilt.
Yes, and it was the high priests
who declared. 1--WE have no king
but Caesar" after PLATE, driven by
their cunning threat ". 12), had
sarcastically asked them, Shall !
! cruelty your king?" ". 15).
The awful declaration which they
made then was on behalf of the en-
tire nation, and declared themselves
against Jesus and loyal to the pagan
Caesar.
No King? Countless are the men
and women today who by their re-
lection of Christ have declared that
they would not have him rule over
them. And sad but true is the fact
that those who neglect to receive
his great salvation have rejected
him!
III. Jesus Said, cit Is Finished''
(19: $500.
In his time Of greatest anguish
Jesus, in an act of tender thought
fulness, provided for his mother,
and gave the beloved disciple John
a high place Of privilege and re-
sponsibility. He thus, as he made
his last request, brought together
the two who In all his human rela-
tionships had been closest to his
heart.
Ready for the final word before
he died, Jesus received the refresh
ment which quenched his awful
thirst. Then crying out with a loud
voice, ut is finished (Matt. 27:5O),
he commended his soul into the
hands Of the Father Nuke 23:46).
What was finished? The great re.
demptive work, the work of recon.
ciliation and atonement. The Lamb
of God had made his great sacrifice
for the, world-it is\this that was
completed. Our great Substitute had
paid the great ransom price, paid
it to the uttermost farthing.
1T is finished indeed. Others viii
yet preach and teach, and Jesus
will work through them; as the King