Leadership in this world is, more often than not, characterised by pride, arrogance, and a lust for power. This is (partly) why we so often nowadays cringe at the idea of an absolute ruler. We believe that too much power corrupts even the best leaders, and we would be right. But by insisting on freedom from external rule, we risk unknowingly enslaving ourselves to an internal tyranny: the worship of self, of bodily passions, of sinful desires. True liberty does not lie in being free of constraints: that is impossible. Rather, true liberty lies in following the right ruler.
The most powerful ruler of all is the God of the Bible, yet He rules in such a radically different way from any other ruler on this Earth. He has absolute power (He spoke the universe into existence!) yet He uses that power for justice and to save His people. He has absolute authority (even the most powerful king could not but yield to His command), yet Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was willing to humble Himself to the point of dying on a humiliating Roman cross as a human being. Sometimes politicians try to make themselves seem approachable by wearing jeans or going to the local shop to buy a sausage roll. Meanwhile, the Creator of the whole universe was willing to become a baby born in a smelly manger, to grow up as a carpenter in a backwater town, to walk around with a band of fishermen disciples, to be accused of crimes He never committed, to be executed as an innocent man, and to suffer the most shameful punishment known to the Roman Empire.
Why did Jesus Christ do this? Why did God the Father send His Son to go through this? To save all who believe in Him, so that they might not die an eternal death, but rise to eternal life. The Father raised Jesus Christ from the dead triumphantly not because Christ overcame the nations of the world by bloody conquest or violent campaigns, but because He triumphed over death and evil by giving up His innocent life for the pardon of His people!
Every time we feel dissatisfaction towards a politician or a government, every time we are disappointed by how prideful, shameless, and selfish those in power can be, let our first reaction not be to complain on social media or search for a way to break free of all constraints. Rather, let us look to our Lord Jesus Christ, the most powerful yet the most humble ruler. He is ruling the world right now (though many don’t know it). He is inviting each of us into His eternal Kingdom. Only one Kingdom shall last, and that is His Kingdom. Repent and turn to Him! He is a good Master.
[Jesus said:] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11.28–30
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15.54–57