King of kings

Mark 15:1-39

"the King of the Jews" (Mark 15:2,9,12,26), "the King of Israel" (Mark 15:32)

Jesus is more than this - He's "the Son of God" (Mark 15:39).  He's "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16). 

"At the Name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will kneel and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2;10-11). 

When we remember Jesus' death, we remember more than the fact of His death. We remember the purpose of His death. Jesus suffered death, Jesus defeated death (Hebrews 2:14-15): "Here I am and the children whom God has given Me"  - "Bringing many sons to glory" (Hebrews 2:13,10). 

In Revelation 19:7, we read about salvation and celebration. The salvation comes from God. The celebration comes from us. It's our response to His salvation. 

Jesus is described as "the Lamb." This is a reminder that He is "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Here, we see the connection between the Cross and the glory. We will be received into His glory because Jesus has gone to the Cross for us. we will not be in heaven because we deserve to be there. We will be in heaven because Jesus died for us. As we look at Jesus, crucified for us, may we join, with the centurion, in saying, "This man really was God's Son" (Mark 15:39) - "the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).