Jesus is King

Kanye West just released a high flying, Billboard chart rocketing, new album called “Jesus is King”. It begs a key question, Is Jesus King? It’s a Yes or No answer. Either He is or He isn’t. If He is, doesn’t that change everything? Martin Luther King, Jr. worshipped King Jesus. King James bowed to King Jesus and sponsored the best selling book about Jesus. Mega-celebrity, pop icon Kanye testifies that Jesus is King.

In an interview with Oxford grad, UK rapper Zuby talking about Kanye’s new “Jesus is King” album, TV host Tucker Carlson said, “It would be interesting to talk about whether or not Jesus is King. But no one wants to have those conversations so they dismiss Him, as you know, and many others.”

5 Talking Points to Engage the Conversation, “Is Jesus King?”

~ Jesus proclaimed a Kingdom.

The magnitude of Jesus’ manifesto and the meaning of His mission was the now available and fully accessible Kingdom at hand.

~ Jesus’ enemies accused Him of being a King.

Jesus was dragged like a war criminal before the highest court with charges of treason and chants of execution for attempting to overthrow the ruling powers.

~ Jesus was charged and convicted as a King.  

His alleged crime of sedition led to capital punishment on the most brutal, humiliating, public means of death ever designed by the state, namely the Cross. Above his tortured, dying body hung a sign that stated “King of the Jews”.

~ Jesus’ followers claim Him to be King.

His Kingdom realm transcends every national, ethnic and racial line, far wider, longer and deeper than any monarch in history. In a purely democratic fashion, He won and continues to win the popular vote of billions, not as President, Prime Minister, or even Benevolent Dictator, but reigning King.

~ Jesus declared he was King.

As the Governor held the power to issue a pardon, he asked Jesus, “Are you a King?” Knowing his answer would end or extend his life, Jesus distinguished His kingdom and extinguished His life.

While advancing His Kingdom on Earth for three short years, Jesus asked the most important question anyone will ever ponder: Who do you say that I am?

Is Jesus King?   

If Jesus is not King, enjoy the pomp & circumstance of a platinum bound album.

If Jesus is King, will you swear true allegiance to His throne, according to the law of His realm, so help you God?

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by Doug Webster

My Manifesto

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5 Ways Jesus Treats Women

A Hunger Games generation is rising up like a nation behind a novel heroine created by a woman, starring the Oscar winning, world’s highest paid actress.

The bow is drawn, the arrow has flown.

No longer quiet, they are no longer alone.

          #MeToo

How do we honor women?

My family encircles eight women. Over three and a half decades of love for a precious woman resulted in two priceless daughters, then three perfect granddaughters. Thankfully, I’m still blessed with two moms – one by birth, one by bliss. How do I love these four generations of women?

History’s leading man teaches me how. Jesus saves women. Jesus heals women. Jesus forgives women. Jesus redeems women. Simply put, Jesus is the greatest lover of women.

What does Jesus’ love for women look like? What would His younger sisters say? What can we learn from the idyllic Bridegroom? 

“Jesus, if you were me, how would you treat this woman right now?”

~ Jesus Personalizes Women

Early in Jesus’ mission, a grieving man begged Jesus to resurrect his daughter. Though she was dead, Jesus went to the young woman. En route, one woman uncloaked His power. Jesus stopped for her. Jesus engaged one non-Jewish, Greek woman. He afforded one woman the altar of her finest perfume. His disciples caught Him talking alone with one woman. After disbanding a murderous crowd, Jesus was the last man standing with one woman. Jesus was not just pro-women, but pro-woman.

~ Jesus Affirms Women

Jesus exclaimed one woman’s exemplary faith and another woman to illustrate diligence. Defying critical men, Jesus painted one woman’s action beautiful. He guaranteed one woman’s story would last generations. Jesus did not just call women, He called them by name. Jesus stopped and stooped for women, then raised them above the mayhem, the madness, the mundane and often, the men.

~ Jesus Listens to Women

Jesus let one woman berate Him for arriving after her brother’s death. One woman waylaid Jesus’ healing ministry…of another woman. In the mania, Jesus gave her audience to tell her whole, horrific twelve year story.

~ Jesus Defends Women

When women were property, Jesus confronted male contempt. He questioned men about bothering one woman. He defended, “Leave her alone!” Jesus is the Knight in shekinah armor.

~ Jesus Empowers Women

Jesus commissioned women as His first evangelists to tell His men He was back and never going down again. Without raising a sword or his voice, Jesus fended off a self-righteous mob hell-bent on killing a woman. After clearing the court and her unscathed, Jesus raised her to a new life leaving the defanged bedlam and defiled bed.

How can we say we follow Jesus if we don’t love women like Jesus who proved love by His life and death? His love powers our love for the woman from whom we came, the woman to whom we vowed, the woman we were blessed to parent and the son in birth or in-law we lead.

Imagine women hearing…

     “Your faith has rescued you; Go in peace.”

Heartbreaking #MeToo will encounter wholehearted #LoveYou.

What woman will you love today personalizing, affirming, hearing, defending or empowering her like a brother treats a sister, a Bridegroom treats his bride, a King treats his princess, a heavenly Father treats His daughter?

My Priceless Princesses

by Doug Webster

My Manifesto

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5 Things Jesus Did Most Never Knew

Most people know of Jesus. Few know Jesus. Fewer know Him well enough to know what He did that most overlook. Reflecting upon the unknown Jesus helps us know Him better. Who we are when no one is watching is more who we are than the who we are we want people to see.

5 Things Jesus did Most People Never Knew

~ Jesus Paid Taxes – He rendered accounts payable to Caesar and hooked the big fish to cover His taxes.

~ Jesus Cooked Breakfast – Post resurrection, what did the risen Savior do? Jesus served his best friends breakfast after a hard day’s night.

~ Jesus Obeyed His Parents – After His first and only runaway, Jesus went home and obeyed His father and mother. Arguably, it went well with Him.

~ Jesus Got Waylaid – Imagine being Jesus’ publicist. He wasn’t always on time, but He was never late. His pace was perpetually pained by people’s problems.

~ Jesus Did Nothing – Following a celebrated Baby Dedication then a few years in the EWPP – Egyptian Witness Protection Program, Jesus was a kid in Nazareth, handyman for Joseph & Sons, then likely a small business owner.

Jesus led an unimpressive existence for three decades.

For most of His life, Jesus was the guy next door who loved God and loved His neighbors. He was so common, when He became divinely uncommon, His neighbors said, “Isn’t that Joseph & Mary’s kid? Didn’t he make a well fitting yoke for our ox?”

What if following Jesus is as much what He did for His first 30 years as His last 3 years? True, the last 3 afford and activate us to become like Him, but were not His first 30 our more likely resemblance?

What might it look like for you in the next 7 days…or 30 years…to simply love God and love your neighbor? If on Tuesday you preach to 5000 people before you cater their lunch, praise God! But, we don’t have to be miraculous to be like Jesus.

Being an apprentice of Jesus means trusting His Father’s Kingdom for today and not worrying about tomorrow, even if today means paying bills, cooking, following an order, engaging interruptions or being okay going unnoticed.

Jesus gives dignity to daily life.

How a Jesus Apprenticeship Works

Apprentices spend time with the Master Jesus. We think about Him. By His Spirit, we start thinking more like Jesus. We develop ears to hear and eyes to see like Him. In turn, we turn, we act more like Jesus. We might walk on water. Or, we might simply serve a cup of cold water to a thirsty person.

Your Practice Plan

Which of the 5 ordinary Jesus acts will you practice today with a grateful heart and abandoned outcomes knowing you are like Jesus for 90% of His life?

by Doug Webster

My Manifesto

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Dying for a Bride

34 years ago I had a fleeting moment of brilliance divinely timed with a young woman’s fleeting moment of blindness. I asked her to marry me, and amazingly so, she said yes.

I did not marry my wife because she was single even though I married her because she was single. I could not have married her if she was not single but her singleness was not the focus of my proposal. I wanted to spend my life with her as my wife.

About 1953 years prior to our betrothal, another young man after many years of running a small business as a humble tradesman became a rabbi. He then invested 3 years living an unparalleled life of grace and truth only to die a brutal death falsely accused by a corrupt legal system. His case would have been thrown out today. What happened three days later altered history forever.

Jesus died for our sins but He did not die only for our sins. His purpose to live, die and rise again, the occasion we followers celebrate as the holiest day of our year, was not solely redemption no more than marrying my bride was to remove her singleness. With Jesus, atonement was for betrothment. The Cross was the ceremony. The Resurrection is the marriage. Jesus died for His bride to be without spot or wrinkle cleansed by His Word to take her for Himself with splendor.* It’s as if the Father said to His Son, “Go get yourself a bride knowing it will cost you everything.”

Watchman Nee declares, “The outcome of the Cross is shown to be a single person: a bride for the Son. Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for it.” **

Creation’s first marriage occurred when Adam went to sleep and woke up with a bride. Creation’s perfect marriage happened after Jesus was “asleep” for three days and awakened to give His new bride what Eve never received. Adam later followed his wife to the Tree of Knowledge resulting in death. Jesus chose a tree of death to lead His wife to life. Adam chose his own soul. Jesus chose His bride’s soul.

Easter’s amazing grace takes away our sin before God as a mandatory and crucial act but not the final outcome. As divinely timed, Jesus engaged the Cross and disengaged the Tomb to share His joy with His bride forever. Amazingly so, His brilliance removed our blindness.

* – Ephesians 5:25    ** – Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Life, p. 214

by Doug Webster

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