Commander and Chief 'Not of This World'

Today let us celebrate the Inauguration of Jesus

Commander & Chief ‘Not of this World’

(From Bob Ekblad at https://www.peoplesseminary.org/)

Today as Donald Trump is inaugurated America’s 47th President I find comfort in remembering and celebrating the world’s highest Commander and Chief-- Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus was enthroned on the cross, where he defeated the Ruler of this world and every one of his principality and power minions. This I celebrate! Jesus, I choose to worship!

Jesus understood his destiny as he approached Jerusalem- the Israeli equivalent of Washington DC. He revealed to his disciples then (and now) how the leaders of God’s people and secular rulers would respond to him. He highlighted their reaction so that they (and we) would know in advance what we can expect as we follow him in his subversive way to victory.

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify him, and on the third day he will be raised up” (Matthew 20:18-19).

The leaders of God’s people and the majority they influenced did not “elect” Jesus as their King when he came in the flesh-- so why would they now? They rejected him, engaging in the then equivalent of organizing, voting, lobbying, and demonstrating before the Roman Empire’s governor, Pilate to have him executed.

“We have no king but Caesar!” cried the crowd of God’s people, a warning to us all as we watch the equivalent today.

Jesus prophesied his elevation at his execution on the cross, where he would be gloried—something to remember today as we commemorate Martin Luther King Jr., whose fate resembled that of Jesus.

He prophesied the defeat of the ruler of this world there on the cross, at the moment of his rejection.  

“Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31).

He declared that his enthronement would benefit the whole world that he came to save— with no resemblance to anything close “make Israel (and certainly not America) great again.”  

“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself” (John 12:31-32).

Jesus, Israel’s Messiah and the world’s King was enthroned at his crucifixion. He took no mountain (of the supposed seven)-- but was taken to Golgotha, the place of the skull.

Soldiers of the world’s then most powerful empire, the Romans placed a scarlet robe on his shoulders—torn to shreds by their whips. They placed a crown of thorns on his head, a reed in his right hand and mockingly knelt before him, spitting on him and striking him on the head, saying: “Hail King of the Jews” (Mt 27:27-31). They crucified him between two criminals, and placed a sign over his head, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (Mt 27:37).

Jesus was brutally enthroned, without endorsements from the equivalents of tech billionaires, defense industry and financial sector CEOs, and other powerful opportunists. No former or present heads of state were present but soldiers and mockers. His only endorsers were women who watched from a distance, weeping, and a criminal who asked him: “Jesus, remember me, when you enter your Kingdom.”

Today as we commemorate Martin Luther King Jr., as Donald Trump is being gloried, let’s choose to remember Jesus, who “sanctified the people through His own blood, suffering outside the gate.”

“So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come” (Hebrews 13:12-13).

May we choose to accompany those who are most vulnerable now, including undocumented immigrants, asylum claimants, the homeless, addicted and incarcerated, and those who await execution on death row. May we fix our eyes on Jesus, our Commander and Chief, victor over the powers and over death itself—and celebrate.

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