The long-awaited day for the King's coronation had come. The stage was set for a victorious arrival as the King arrived to begin His rule. Would the celebration be worthy of the King?
The King's throne is a criminal's cross. His royal crown is filled with sharp thorns, painfully lodged into His skull. He wears no robe; all His clothes have been stripped. His brutally beaten back rests against the hard wood of His cross. The scepter in His hand is not a graceful staff but rather a nail. His courtiers are condemned murderers, one on each side. His coronation toast consists of "sour wine" (Lk 23:36).
The King is about to deliver His coronation address. He stands erect, making blood gush from the nail wounds in His feet. He speaks: "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23:34). His subjects greet His remarks with "jeering" (Lk 23:35), blasphemy (Lk 23:39), insults, and taunting (Mk 15:29-32). Finally, King Jesus begins His rule by dying.
The coronation continues today. Will we submit to King Jesus or reject Him as our King? To be subjects of King Jesus, each of us must follow in His steps, deny our very selves, and take up our cross each day (Lk 9:23). Offer King Jesus your homage by offering Him your life. Submit to King Jesus; die with King Jesus; rule with King Jesus (2 Tm 2:12).
| PRAYER: | King Jesus, I pledge my allegiance and my life to You. |
| PROMISE: | God "rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son." –Col 1:13 |
| PRAISE: | Praise King Jesus, Who humbled Himself and took the form of a slave to give us life (Phil 2:7). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College