IN the 1975 film The Man Who Would be King Sean Connery and Michael Caine play Daniel and Peachy, a couple of British soldiers serving in India during the time of the Raj. Thinking they could enjoy a better life, they decide to go to Kafiristan and get themselves installed as its rulers.
They pretend that Daniel is a god, the son of Alexander the Great. The holy men of Kaļ¬ristan give Daniel all of their gold and riches. It is enough to make the pair the richest men in the world.
All goes well until Daniel’s ego and greed get the better of him. The deception that the two men have carried out starts to unravel, and places them in a life-threatening position. Their problem is that they were fraudsters and their claim to kingship a lie.
If someone makes a claim to be a king, the authenticity of their claim is likely to be tested. Do they have a right to rule?
The Bible records that Jesus also claimed to be a king. Was it a fraudulent attempt to be something he was not? Or was he the real deal?
His claim placed him in a life-threatening position. Jesus was taken to the Roman Governor, Pilate, as his opponents sought to have him executed.
On trial, Jesus spoke of his Kingdom, so Pilate challenged him on whether he considered himself a king. Jesus said: ‘I am a king’ (John 18:37 New International Version).
Pilate was confused. The common perception of a king was of someone with strength and power; standing before Pilate was a man who seemed to have nothing kingly about him. To Pilate, Jesus must have seemed simply a nobody with a high opinion of himself.
Little did Pilate realise that standing before him was God’s own Son, the King of kings. Jesus held all power and authority – far more than any mortal king. Yet he chose to endure the shame and painful death imposed on him by people who did not recognise who he was.
But Jesus’ death was not the end of his kingship. Two days later he rose from the dead. Jesus clearly demonstrated that nothing could stop his reign, which has continued ever since.
And he invites us to follow his way of living and make him king of our lives.
War Cry 2010 - TSA UK
They pretend that Daniel is a god, the son of Alexander the Great. The holy men of Kaļ¬ristan give Daniel all of their gold and riches. It is enough to make the pair the richest men in the world.
All goes well until Daniel’s ego and greed get the better of him. The deception that the two men have carried out starts to unravel, and places them in a life-threatening position. Their problem is that they were fraudsters and their claim to kingship a lie.
If someone makes a claim to be a king, the authenticity of their claim is likely to be tested. Do they have a right to rule?
The Bible records that Jesus also claimed to be a king. Was it a fraudulent attempt to be something he was not? Or was he the real deal?
His claim placed him in a life-threatening position. Jesus was taken to the Roman Governor, Pilate, as his opponents sought to have him executed.
On trial, Jesus spoke of his Kingdom, so Pilate challenged him on whether he considered himself a king. Jesus said: ‘I am a king’ (John 18:37 New International Version).
Pilate was confused. The common perception of a king was of someone with strength and power; standing before Pilate was a man who seemed to have nothing kingly about him. To Pilate, Jesus must have seemed simply a nobody with a high opinion of himself.
Little did Pilate realise that standing before him was God’s own Son, the King of kings. Jesus held all power and authority – far more than any mortal king. Yet he chose to endure the shame and painful death imposed on him by people who did not recognise who he was.
But Jesus’ death was not the end of his kingship. Two days later he rose from the dead. Jesus clearly demonstrated that nothing could stop his reign, which has continued ever since.
And he invites us to follow his way of living and make him king of our lives.
War Cry 2010 - TSA UK
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