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Read: Revelations 19:11-16
Listen: Revelations 19

“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:16

The last verse in Judges summarizes a core theme in the book: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 21:25). People did what was right in their own eyes, but they needed a righteous leader. As the story unfolds, Israel would have many kings, but none of them would live up to being a perfect, righteous king. The book of Revelation identifies Jesus as that perfect King. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Where all other leaders and kings of Israel failed, Jesus came as the righteous King in whom we find life and peace.

The longing for a king—the longing for leadership and peace—finds its fulfillment in Jesus, the King of Kings. Submitting to the rule of King Jesus means trusting him and walking in his ways. Jesus came to establish a different sort of kingdom with a different way of life. Trusting Jesus implies believing that his work is sufficient for our salvation. It also involves putting his teachings into practice—like loving our enemies, turning the other cheek, and forgiving those who have done us harm. Jesus is the King who knows what life is all about. Will we follow him?

TODAY: If you have never put your faith in King Jesus, today is a great day to do so. And if you already trust Jesus for your salvation, then pray a prayer of surrender to Jesus’s rule as King over your life. Consider using Jesus’s prayer as a model: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10).