“But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:15)

What a tragic statement one can make. Many of the Jews of the Old Testament and the New Testament either denied or rejected God as their King. But, what is just as tragic is that they wanted a man to rule over them:

“Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,” (1 Samuel 8:4)

“And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (1 Samuel 8:5)

It wasn’t because Samuel’s sons were crooked, taking bribes and perverting judgments, that Israel rejected God’s reign over them. It was because they wanted to be like neighboring nations, who had men as their kings. Would it have made a difference to select another man as judge, as opposed to Eli’s sons?

The request of the elders displeased Samuel, but the Lord told Samuel to hearken to the people, but also to tell them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. (See 1 Samuel 8:10-22.)

In our text verse, we see Israel repeating herself again. The Jews are now rejecting Christ as their King, in favor of Caesar.

Have you rejected Christ as King? To reject Christ as King is to reject God; for Christ is God manifested in the flesh:

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)

To reject God as King is to have the heart of a fool:

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…” (Psalms 14:1)

Has Christ ever been King in your life? Have you walked away from His Lordship? For what purpose have you done so? Who or what has taken preeminence over your life instead of Christ as King Supreme?

Maybe you have become weary and faint; or the appetizers of this world have become more appealing.

Whatever the reason, we all are going to bow before the King of kings and Lord of lords one day, and acknowledge that He is King.

Let us not ever make the tragic choice of rejecting the King of kings in exchange for the things of this word, whatever they may be.

He Reigns!