Where is He who has born king of the Jews? (Matt. 2:2)

 Where is He who has born king of the Jews? (Matt. 2:2)

I listened from a distance to last night’s Republican presidential debate. What would it have been like if Jesus had been there?

First of all, Jesus doesn’t share the stage. He is the stage. Remember the Mount of Transfiguration? Jesus took Peter, James and John, and then appeared Moses and Elijah. Peter chose to break the silence, and break it he did. He suggested that they build booths, or, for our “stage” setup, give podiums to each of them, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. This great idea was interrupted by this: Matt. 17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” In other words, Peter, “Quiet!” I would have liked to see the bright cloud a couple of times last night.

Or do you remember when Jesus was arrested? The gang of soldiers came from the chief priests, and Judas was to do the identifying. I have never understood why simple finger-pointing would not have worked instead of kissing. It just seems to me like a double offense. Here’s what happens next: John 18:4 “So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6 So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” That’s what I would have like to have seen. The one anointed and appointed for the position speaks, and everyone else falls to the ground. Now that would be a good presidential debate.

We are not going to get any help on the presidential front. I suspect we may find ourselves told to vote for unacceptable options. It is not that there are no individuals who are up for the job. They just may not be on the ballot. And, God can work all that out.

We are not going to get any help on the presidential front. I suspect we may find ourselves told to vote for unacceptable options. It is not that there are no individuals who are up for the job. They just may not be on the ballot. And, God can work all that out.

But the title above isn’t about presidents. It is about kings. And kings are not about elections. They inherit the throne, and there is no higher throne than the one upon which sits the Son of God, identified in the last passage as “Jesus the Nazarene.” If Jesus is King, and if He is ruler of all, acknowledged or not, then how should I respond to Him? Let’s just use the answers from above. First, it is not so much about what you think, or, these days, feel. It is what Jesus says. That is, as the voice from cloud said, “Listen to Him!” We are to be excellent listeners. Also, we should bow before Him. Don’t wait to be knocked to the ground. Do it now. Worship the King.