Pull Quote: Are we kings who exercise dominion over sin? Or are we kings who only rule over men?
Nigerian Christian faithful have joined others worldwide as they start to celebrate the Easter festival as armed bandits killed six miners in northern Nigeria’s Kaduna state, police said, an area beset with ethnic and religious tensions with frequent clashes between farmers and herders. / AFP PHOTO /
They had seen Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, with his train of Land Cruisers zooming around the streets of Lagos. They had seen Pastor Paul Adefarasin, with his fearsome body-guards and retinue of escort-cars. But they did not know what to make of this “pretender” from Nazareth.This king does not drive around in a Porsche. He does not have chariots and horses. On the contrary, he is a lowly king who comes on a donkey. He was born in a manger. He works as a carpenter. He is not a university graduate.
David himself caught the revelation of Jesus the Messiah when he wrote his most famous psalm. He said: “The LORD is my shepherd.” . That translates today to mean; “The Lord is my pastor.” But if you have the audacity to tell your pastor today that the Lord Jesus is your pastor, I can assure you he will not take kindly to it.Jesus entered the world in a family so poor Mary had to offer two turtledoves, rather than the required lamb, as the sacrifice for her purification. .
In effect, Jesus compels a choice. We can either see dominion in terms of outside splendour and power, or we can focus on strength of character to distinguish the inner core of greatness. It is important for us to see in Jesus’ humility and self-abnegation the key to true greatness and glory. The believer should seek the inner liberty that defines dominion over the shackles of sin. It is this inner freedom and power that was exhibited by Jesus.Jesus was in full control of himself.
Instead, they would go with Jesus’ beatitudes boldly written on their hearts and live among their fellowmen humbly and as servants. Jesus says: “Whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” .