Jesus Is The King Of All Kings

Tonight, my sons and I will be leading worship for the Children's Spring Retreat. The theme is based on the Middle Ages, so we will all be in costumes of that era. It was a lot of fun for Matthew and I to get all the costumes together. Matthew has a special knack for it. I will post some pictures later.

Since the theme is Medieval, the children will be like squires, training to serve the King, our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was first prophesied about in the Old Testament:

"'For the time is coming,' says the Lord,

"when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David's line.

 He will be a King who rules with wisdom.

He will do what is just and right throughout the land."

Jeremiah 23:5 (NLT)

Hundreds of years later, when Jesus was born to the virgin Mary in Bethlehem and placed in a manger, Wise Men from the East saw His extraordinary star appear in the sky, recognized its meaning, and came to worship Him:

"Where is the newborn King of the Jews?

We saw His star as it rose,

and we have come to worship Him."

Matthew 2:2 (NLT)

Later, when Jesus had grown into a man, He taught God's Word, offered His love, compassion and forgiveness to all who sought Him, healed the sick, and delivered the oppressed. Then out of jealous rage, He was arrested and crucified by the Jewish leaders who refused to accept Him as their King. However, Pilate, the Roman provincial ruler who tried Jesus, believed otherwise:

"And Pilate posted a sign on the Cross that read,

 'Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.'"

John 19:19 (NLT)

Jesus foretold His death, including the fact that He would rise from the dead three days later, although His disciples didn't understand. He reaffirmed His Kingship to His disciples after His resurrection:

"I have been given all authority in Heaven and on earth."

Matthew 28:18b (NLT)

For forty days, Jesus spoke to His disciples about the Kingdom of God:

"During the forty days after His crucifixion,

He appeared to the apostles from time to time,

and He proved to them in many ways that He was actually alive.

And He talked to them about the Kingdom of God."

Acts 1:3 (NLT)

Then Jesus rose up into the sky and ascended into Heaven, where He sits now at the right hand of God exalted, waiting to return in the same manner.

"As they strained to see him rising into heaven,
two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.
'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why are you standing here staring into heaven?
Jesus has been taken from you into heaven,
but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!'"

Acts 1:10-11 (NIV)