By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
Luke 19:14
I was cleaning in a client’s home during yesterday’s Closing Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their TV was on and my clients were mesmerised. As Yseult sang Frank Sinatra’s song ‘My Way,’ tears welled up in my eyes. This song exalts self-centred humanism.
Ignoring God’s right to rule over us, mankind defiantly shakes his fist in the face of his Maker.
In our text today, the Lord Jesus is telling a parable. In verse 12 He likens Himself to a nobleman who goes into a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. This resembles our Lord’s ascension to heaven, from which He will someday return.
Here the inhabitants of the world collectively send the Lord Jesus a message. They say, ‘You are not our King! We refuse to bow to Your authority!’
This not only was the message of the song ‘My Way,’ but it is the message of mankind today. We still regard Jesus Christ as our enemy, at least the real Lord Jesus described in the Scriptures.
Millions follow a Jesus who was merely a prophet but not the Son of God who did not die on the cross (Islam). Other millions adore a Jesus who was brother to Lucifer (Mormons). A multitude cling to a Jesus who was originally created as Michael the Archangel (JWs). Still other millions worship a Jesus who inhabits a wafer, shares a cross with his mother, and whose blood and righteousness is deemed insufficient to save a sinner’s soul (Roman Catholics).
None of these is the Lord Jesus portrayed by the Word of God. They are ‘another Jesus’ (2 Corinthians 11:4) who exists only in men’s imaginations.
Try getting into a serious conversation with people about the true Lord Jesus Christ, and you’ll soon see how few have any regard for Him at all. They might use His holy Name as a swear word, but they have no interest in bowing to His will.
They are enemies of Christ. They are revolted by His claim of absolute truth. They detest His love of righteousness. They abhor His values, loathe His rules, and scorn His loving invitation to reconcile.
How will mankind’s collective rebellion against God end? Verse 27 concludes: ‘But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.’
But for the children of God, we say, ‘You ARE our King! Reign over every aspect of our lives. Even so, come, Lord Jesus, and set up Your kingdom on earth!’
Father, thank You that You are ‘the way, the truth, and the life’ (John 14:6). I say, not MY way, but YOURS. What I do my way will fail. I agree with King David’s ancient request: ‘Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths’ (Psalm 25:4). I submit my will to Yours. I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
This article was written by Kevin Harris Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.