This is the final installment of our series on the Image of Jesus. We have journeyed through the Prophetic (declaring His Word) and the Priestly (maintaining His Sacred Space). Today, we reach the pinnacle: Jesus as King.
If the Prophet paints the picture and the Priest prepares the room, the King establishes the Rule. As His body, we are not the kings themselves, but we are the legal representation of the King in His Kingdom.
The Arrival of “He Whose It Is”
The concept of the King isn’t a New Testament “add-on.” It began with a dying father’s blessing in Genesis 49. Jacob prophesies over his son Judah, stating that the scepter (the symbol of royal authority) would not depart from his lineage until Shiloh comes.
The ESV footnote gives us a stunning revelation: “Shiloh” can be translated as “He whose it is.” Jacob was telling Judah that his earthly reign was merely a placeholder. The scepter was being held in trust until the True King—the one to whom it actually belongs—arrived. That King is Jesus. From the star rising out of Jacob (Numbers 24) to the decree in Psalm 110 where God tells the King to “Rule in the midst of your enemies,” the trajectory of Scripture has always been toward the Throne of Christ.
Defining the Kingdom
Before we can represent the Kingdom, we have to define it. A Kingdom is not just a place; it is the seat of government and the object of the King’s care. But Jesus’ Kingdom is unique. It isn’t defended by worldly power or carnal weapons. It is defended by bearing witness to the Truth and the preaching of the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Two Pillars of the Kingdom
1. The Kingdom is Exclusive
We live in a culture that wants to “love everyone into the Kingdom” regardless of what they believe. That is a lie. In Mark 12, Jesus tells a scribe who understands the priority of loving God, “You are not far from the kingdom.” The Kingdom is built on a specific foundation: The Cornerstone.
Isaiah and Peter both describe Jesus as the “tested stone” and the “precious cornerstone.”
- To those who believe, He is the Foundation.
- To those who disbelieve, He is a Stone of Stumbling.
The Kingdom is exclusive because Jesus is the only way. There is no back door. The hope for the world today is that as long as the Church is here, the gates of the Kingdom are still open for those who choose to believe.
2. The Kingdom is Love
If the Kingdom is exclusive in its entry, it is overflowing in its expression. In 1 Corinthians 12:31, Paul mentions a “more excellent way.” The Greek word there is Hyperbole—it means to embellish, to exceed, or to exaggerate.
Paul isn’t saying “don’t use spiritual gifts, just love.” He is saying that if you want your gifts (prophecy, healing, tongues) to hit peak performance, you must embellish them with Love. Without Love, the gifts are just “noise.” And when noise gets irritating, people turn it off. Love is the “hyperbole” that makes the power of the King irresistible to a broken world.
Conclusion: You are the Influence
Jesus compared the Kingdom to a mustard seed and leaven. These aren’t images of hostile takeovers; they are images of unstoppable influence.
- The Mustard Seed: The Kingdom provides a home and a place of rest.
- The Leaven: The Kingdom transforms the environment from the inside out.
You are the representation of the King. When you walk into a room, you should change the tone, the environment, and the atmosphere. You aren’t there to blend in; you are there to be the influence. You are the change. You are the representation. You are the Kingdom!
