An Easter Message About a King That’s
Fit to Give a Queen

Author, world traveler, pastor, university professor—James Stewart (Christian leader, not the Hollywood legend) also was Scottish chaplain to the Queen of England.

However, the preeminent mission of his life-message and life-work became the enlarging of Christians’ vision of the true ruler, God’s reigning Son—the King of kings AND of queens!

As we approach the celebration of Easter 2019, I want to treat you to Dr. Stewart’s description of the ultimate outcome of Christ’s victory over the grave.

For sure, these few paragraphs will recharge your praises to Jesus in this glorious season!

They are taken from the last pages of his book, The Life and Teaching of Jesus Christ (© Abingdon Press)—which is really a study of how Jesus displayed his spectacular supremacy throughout his entire earthly ministry, straight through to his empty tomb.

There’s no doubt Dr. Stewart shared such teachings with the British royal family. Now his powerful words come around to bless you!

In this Easter season, this renowned chaplain’s insights provide even more reasons to declare with Charles Wesley:

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Really and Truly Alive? Right Now?

[James Stewart’s message begins here]

One day while Matthew Arnold [famous biblical scholar] was writing an Easter sermon, the fact of the Resurrection broke in upon him as it had never done before.

“Christ is alive!” he said to himself. “Alive!” Then he paused—“Alive!” And then he paused again—“Alive!” Can that really be true? Living as really as I myself am right now?

Arnold got up from his desk and walked about repeating, “Christ is living! Christ is living!” At first, it seemed strange and hardly true, but at last it came upon him as a burst of sudden glory.

Yes, Christ is alive. Today.

To thousands upon thousands today this is no mere theory, or vague, uncertain rumor, but proved, inviolable experience. If they are facing life victoriously now where once they were defeated, it is because they have found the same risen Lord who walked [forth] the morning of the first Easter day.

Resurrection and Exaltation

Here in the Resurrection was God’s sudden, unexpected attestation of the very highest and most daring hopes that had ever been cherished about Jesus. God’s own seal was set convincingly to Jesus’ messianic claims, God’s final vindication of his Son.

What sent those first disciples into the world to proclaim the Gospel? It was the conviction [rooted in the Resurrection] which they embodied in the earliest Christian creed—Jesus is Lord.

The very first Christian sermon which was ever preached culminated with the words, “God has made this same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36)—and it was this lordship of Jesus that was the heart of everything else.

In Paul’s statement, “We preach…Christ Jesus as Lord” (2 Cor 4;5) the theme of all the early preaching is summarized. Just as the confession “Jesus is Lord” was the sole creed of the earliest days (Rom. 10:9; I Cor. 12:3; Acts 10:36).

[Twenty] centuries of Christianity have made this title familiar and perhaps have dulled its wonder for us.

But when the first disciples, borrowing from their Old Testament the very word which the Greek version had used to translate the Hebrew Jehovah, took the name and applied it to the Master with whom they had walked the roads of Galilee, it was a mighty achievement of faith. By this title they meant that the Friend to whom they owed so much was one day to be judge of all mankind….

Alive, the Throne Is His Alone

“Jesus is Lord” is profound in its meaning and world-shaking in its consequences.

To apply it faithfully involves asserting the absolute sovereignty of Jesus over every department of one’s own life first and then overall the life of the world. It means the throne of the universe is for Christ alone.

The throne is his. It was bought with a price. “Wherefore,” says Paul, summing up in the one word the whole story [of Jesus’ incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension], “God has also highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” (Phil. 2:9)

Yes, Jesus’ sovereign rights have been bought with a price….

[Therefore] one question leaps out at us from every page of the story of Jesus, one challenge which no soul can finally avoid:

Is he truly Master and Lord of my life?

Every year hundreds of thousands of young people [around the world] on coming to their first Communion, make open profession of faith. That is to say, every year these thousands stand up in public and take upon themselves a vow that they are going to make Christ “Lord Of all”.

Think what would happen if that multitude of youth was witnessing for Christ with all their might!

Think what would happen if our own lives were really his, with no “ifs” and “buts” or conditions and reservations, but his up to the very hilt!

Think what this would mean for us.

Think what this would mean for the world around us.

Above all, think what this would mean for our [risen and reigning] Christ!

[End of James Stewart’s message]

Why not respond with praise to Dr. Stewart’s Easter meditation about our victorious Lord?

Take just four minutes to join Britain’s world-renowned Huddersfield Choral Society as they sing a hymn for the Queen that’s all about the KING. You already know it: “Crown Him with Many Crowns.” Watch here. The words also appear on the screen, so you can sing along if you’d like.

Crown him the Lord of life
Who triumphed o’er the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife
For those he came to save;
His glories now we sing
Who died, and rose on high.
Who died, eternal life to bring
And lives that death may die.

Crown him of lords the Lord,
Who over all doth reign
Who once on earth, the incarnate Word,
For ransomed sinners slain,
Now lives in realms of light,
Where saints with angels sing
Their songs before him day and night,
Their God, Redeemer, king.

About the Author

Over the past 40 years, David Bryant has been defined by many as a “messenger of hope” and a “Christ proclaimer” to the Church throughout the world. Formerly a minister-at-large with the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, president of Concerts of Prayer International (COPI), and chairman of America’s National Prayer Committee, David now provides leadership to ChristNow.com and Proclaim Hope!, whose mission is to foster and serve Christ-awakening movements. Order his widely read books at DavidBryantBooks.com.