Articles
Christos Kurios
Somebody rules you! Who is it: Jesus or the world? Who do you think is cool: Jesus or the cast of Big Bang Theory? Where do you get your principles to live by: Jesus or The Vampire Diaries, Jesus or Captain America? For us older folks is it Jesus or CNN, Jesus or Fox News?
In the first few centuries the daily dilemma for every Christian was Christos or Caesar Kurios? It was a battle that was fought out in the streets, homes and coliseums as each person decided to either follow Jesus or Rome. Of course Rome’s role was as the servant of Satan in opposition to God and His people. So, even though Rome fell, the battle rages on all over the world, even here in America.
Hopefully you’ve accepted the challenge to make the daily decision to carry your cross for Jesus as your Lord. If not, or even if, let’s look at a few reminders of why we should boldly and daily affirm Christos Kurios.
First, God has declared that Jesus will reign as King despite all worldly opposition (Ps 2). It did not matter how much the rulers screamed or schemed God declared “Yet I have set My king upon My holy hill of Zion” (Ps 2:6). It does not matter how much we refuse and rebel, Jesus is King. If we will not accept it and submit to Him we will absolutely perish (Acts 13:38-41).
Second, Jesus has the right to rule us because He made us. In Gen 1:26 – 27 God said, “Let us make man in our image… male and female made He them.” In Col 1:16-17 we’re told that by Jesus all things were made. That means the whole world: the trees, the rocks, the animals, us - everything. Nothing that was made has the power to reject Him as its maker. Oh, we can rebel and refuse all the way to the end but it is a foolish and vain effort. Eventually we all will die and face judgment (Heb 9:27) by the words Jesus spoke (Jn 12:48).
Third, Jesus understands us. The God of heaven came down as the Son to take on flesh and live with us. Born in a barn, wrapped in cheap cloth and laid in a feed trough, Jesus, your King, deity in flesh, started off as a seemingly nothing baby in a nothing town. Just like most of us. Then He spent His first thirty years in another nothing town, before spending three years traveling the country with no property or possessions of His own. Then He died on the cross for our sins. He truly “knows all about our troubles.”
Finally, He loves us (Jn 3:16). Jesus loved us so much that He died for us even when we did not deserve it (Rom 5:6-8).
What a glorious Lord and Savior we serve! Well, that is the question for all of us isn’t it? Christos Kurios or Caesar Kurios?
