182. Behold Your King!

He saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! - John 19:14.

PILATE spake far more than he understood, and therefore we shall not confine ourselves to his meaning.

Everything concerning our Lord was more than ever full of meaning just then; the saying of Caiaphas, the fleeing of the disciples, the dividing of his garments, the soldier piercing his side, etc.

It was to the Jews that Jesus was brought forth, and by them he was rejected; yet was he distinctly declared to be their King.

The same is repeated at this day among those favored with special privileges; but whether they accept him or not, he is assuredly in some sense or other their King.

To the summons of the text the answer was mockery.

We would with deepest reverence draw near, and behold our King.

I. BEHOLD HIM PREPARING HIS THRONE.

1. He lays the foundation of it in his suffering nature.

2. He makes it a throne of grace by his atoning griefs.

3. He prepares access to it through his ability to have compassion on those who come to him, by partaking in all their sorrows.

4. He canopies and glorifies it by the shame to which he willingly and unreservedly yields himself. Believe in the perpetuity of a throne thus founded.

II. BEHOLD HIM CLAIMING OUR HOMAGE.

He claims and wins our adoration—

1. By the right of supreme love.

2. By the right of complete purchase.

3. By the right of grateful consecration, which we heartily accord to him under a sense of loving gratitude.

Glory in rendering homage thus made due.

III. BEHOLD HIM SUBDUING HIS DOMINIONS.

1. Jews and Gentiles are won to obedience by beholding his sufferings for them.

2. This brings in his own elect everywhere.

3. This restores backsliders. They look to him whom they have wounded, and return to their allegiance.

4. This holds all his true servants captive: they glory in yielding their all to him who was thus put to shame for them.

5. This subdues all things unto him. By his cross and passion he reigns in heaven, earth, and hell. Bow low before the scepter of his Cross.

IV. BEHOLD HIM SETTING FORTH THE PATTERN OF HIS KINGDOM.

He stands there the Prophet and the Type of his own dominion.

1. It is no earthly kingdom; the difference is palpable to all.

2. It is associated with shame and suffering, both on the part of the King and of his loyal subjects.

3. It is based on his love and self-sacrifice: this is his right of sovereignty, this his force of arms, this the source of his revenue.

4. It is made resplendent by his woes: these are the insignia and ornaments of his court; his glory even in heaven.

Glory only in the cross.

V. BEHOLD HIM PROVING THE CERTAINTY OF HIS KINGDOM.

1. Is he King there in his shame? Then, assuredly, he is King now that he has risen from the dead, and gone into the glory.

2. Is he King amid shame and pain? Then he is able to help us if we are in like case.

3. Is he King while paying the price of our redemption? Then, certainly, he is King now that it is paid, and he has become the author of eternal salvation.

4. Is he King at Pilate's bar? Then truly he will be so when Pilate stands at his bar to be judged.

Come hither, saints, and pay your accustomed worship!

Come hither, sinners, and adore for the first time!