Q26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
A: Christ executes the office of a king in subduing us to Himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all His and our enemies.
Gabriel promised Mary that the Lord God would give unto her Child the Throne of His father David. Christ accepted the title King when it was given Him by Nathaniel, by the people of Jerusalem, and by Pilate. But somewhat as David was anointed years before he ascended his throne, so our Lord Jesus was anointed King at His Baptism, but only ascended His Throne at the right hand of the Father by His Resurrection and Ascension. At Pentecost He poured forth the Holy Spirit and ever since has been reigning and ruling over the hearts of His people and in His Church. The history of missions is the history of the spread of His reign.
Christ subdues us unto Himself. By the fall we rebelled against God. By nature we are at enmity toward God. The natural man is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can he be. But Christ came to this earth to restore the rule of God. By His Word and His Spirit He subdues our rebellious wills and brings us into the obedience of the Christian faith. He does this, not by external force, but by internal love. The Holy Spirit sheds abroad His love in our hearts. Christ restores God’s reign over us by the way of His communion with us, by living for us, by dying in our stead, by loving us and opening our hearts to accept His love and to love Him in return. His yoke is easy and His burden is light, because His is the yoke of love and the burden of kindness.
[To be continued]
- William Childs Robinson