THE CHILDREN'S KING
The children who beheld Jesus entering Jerusalem and cried "Hosanna" to their King saw no evidence of royal apparel or splendour. He was meek and riding on an ass and her colt, yet even then He was the King of kings. Faith however can at all times gaze upon His heavenly regalia as it is displayed in the early chapters of the epistle to the Hebrews. With the inward eye of the Spirit of God we can see His crown of "glory and honour". This is made even more lustrous to us because we know that He has suffered even to death at Calvary to uphold the rights of God and to save His people.
A king must have a throne from which to rule his subjects. King Solomon made a great throne all of ivory overlaid with gold and having six steps with statues of lions. Probably it was the most magnificent of all time, yet it was only for a time. But the throne of Jesus, the Son who is worshipped by angels and mankind, is very simply said to be "for ever and ever". With all its strength and excellence it is a throne of grace to which we may come for help freely and at all times. No enemy can defy this throne. Just as Solomon had a footstool of gold fastened to his throne, so it has been decreed that the enemies of God's King will be made the footstool of His feet, and thus even add to His serenity.
The fact that the sceptre of Christ's kingdom is one of uprightness shows that grace is never at the cost of righteousness. A king's sceptre is a straight rod or staff of some precious metal and is an emblem of his authority. The golden sceptre held out to queen Esther assured her of the king's favour just as the glad tidings of Jesus presented freely to us assures us of God's loving-kindness. With the sceptre is the orb of wide dominion. It is in shape like a globe and is held in the hand. Though not mentioned by name in the Scripture it is seen in the fact that the Son of man has been set over all the works of God's hands.
The special dignity of a king is seen in his anointing. Jesus has been anointed "with oil of gladness" above His companions. How we rejoice with Him! As believers we also have royal privileges which require of us that we should love righteousness and hate lawlessness, which is sin. The great sword of the kingdom, much more than razor-sharp, is the living word of God. Even earthly monarchs have felt the lifesaving effects of that sword. Once, after hearing a preaching on the second coming of Jesus, a longing was expressed by the queen Victoria that the Lord might come during her lifetime. Asked why she had this earnest desire she said, 'I should so love to lay my crown at His feet'. Do His glories stir your heart too?
J.C.Evershed