That's My King

from Devotions for Easter

Above His head they placed the written charge against Him: This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.  — Matthew 27:371

How are you at describing things? Can you wax poetic, or do you fumble for the right words? Just the other day, on a popular television show, a couple was asked to list three things that they loved about their spouse. The husband was instantly able to share three things, and his words were heartfelt and romantic. The poor wife, on the other hand, was painful to watch. She played with her ring and sat there as the seconds ticked away. Either from nerves or from lack of inspiration, she could not verbalize one thing that she loved about her husband!

S. M. Lockridge was a pastor for more than forty years, and he had no problem describing his love for the Lord.

Though he pastored a church in California, he is most known for a sermon he delivered in Detroit in 1976. Millions of people have listened to this sermon over the years, and it continues to captivate the hearts of listeners. The sermon, That’s My King, is a six-and-a-half-minute description of Jesus. Trust me: you want to look it up and listen to it. Just know beforehand that you will want to jump out of your chair or, at the very least, shout, “Amen!”

A few of Lockridge’s descriptors for Jesus are:

He’s enduringly strong.

He’s entirely sincere.

He’s eternally steadfast. He’s the doorway of deliverance.

He’s the pathway to peace.

He’s the gateway of glory.

If we call ourselves Christ-followers, we are to always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15). If someone asked us to list three things we love about Jesus, the words should just tumble right out of us. Each of us should have a heart so overflowing with love for Him that we’d be able to write our own “That’s My King” sermon.

What is there to love about Jesus?

He takes our rubble and rebuilds us.

He takes our brokenness and makes it beautiful.

He takes our jagged pieces and gives us His peace.

He calls us by name and removes our shame.

The more we see of Him, the more we want to see of Him.

Our Lord lay in a manger, hung on a cross, and walked out of a tomb. He taught and touched. He healed and loved. No one was invisible in His presence or beyond the reach of His power. Jesus, my friend, is everything. He is more than enough for whatever you face.

There is more to Jesus than we could ever comprehend. Make it your prayer that He would reveal more and more of Himself to you each day. Though His persecutors named Him “King of the Jews,” He is King of so much more — so much that mere words are not enough to describe Him. May we have an unquenchable thirst to know our King more and more each day!

He takes our jagged pieces and gives us His peace. - from Devotions for Easter

Who is Jesus? How would you describe Him?