Here Is Your King

 It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.

“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.

But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.

— John 19:14-15

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

The Jews outright rejected their Messiah. They demanded you be taken away from them and be crucified. They did not want to see you, much less receive you. They called for your execution. To the One who offered eternal life they demanded immediate death. They rejected their king and chose a tyrant.

Lord, isn't that how it is in my life? In areas of my heart where I reject your kingly rule, I choose instead the tyranny of sin. Sin demands more from me and imprisons all of me. When I close my heart to you, I am standing among the Jews shouting, "Take him away!" When the Spirit of God shines light upon the sin in my heart, He says, "Here is your King! Receive Him into this area of your life so He can remove your sin and heal your heart." My answer all too often is, "Take him away!" And when I reject you—even in seemingly small ways—I'm choosing sin to be my king. Sin is a tyrant and it won't allow any other king besides it.

Gracious Lord Jesus, today I surrender my heart to You. These areas where Your Holy Spirit has brought conviction, I say "Come, King Jesus." Have Your way in my heart. Deal with my sin. Cleanse me. Heal me. Free me. You are my King!

In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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