Christ Our King

by Pastor Carl Robbins

Because we live in a nation that has not had a monarch for over 230 years, we don’t understand what it means to be under the rule of a King. We like our rulers folksy, populist, and a lot like ourselves. We especially like them to have limited power. This hampers us, however, when we seek to understand the Kingship of Christ. Let me remind you what the Holy Scriptures teach about the reign of King Jesus.

The Scriptures repeatedly assert (as we’ll see below) the present reign and Kingship of Christ.

The Psalmist says (Psalm 103:19) “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules overall”. We don’t make Christ anything-He is the Lord over his creation. His throne is in heaven, and he is king over creation. This kingship is His official power to rule all things in heaven and on earth, for the glory of God, and for the execution of God’s purpose of salvation. If Christ is not presently ruling in this capacity, we must ask ourselves, just who exactly is minding the store? 

Our catechisms agree when it asks (in Shorter Catechism 26) “How doth Christ execute the office of a King? Christ executeth the office of a King, in subduing us to Himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all His and our enemies”.

Almost 2,000 years before the birth of Christ, it was prophecied  (in Genesis 17:6) to Abraham that “Kings would come from him”. This was certainly a prediction of the King, who would be a descendant of Abraham’s, namely the Lord Jesus!  Several hundred years before the advent of Christ, Isaiah prophecied of the coming Redeemer(in Isa. 9:6) “the government will be upon  His shoulders ”  When the angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell that she would be the mother of the Messiah, he informed her that her Son would be given  “the throne of His Father David, and He will reign….forever” (Luke 1:32-33).

When the Lord Jesus begins His public ministry He declares that He has inaugurated a Kingdom (in Mark 1:14-15). Who can do that, but only a King? When He enters Jerusalem in the Triumphal Entry all the inhabitants of Jerusalem sing with gusto “Blessed is the King who comes in the Name of the Lord” (Luke 19:38). Early on Good Friday when Jesus is asked directly by Pilate if He is a King, Jesus says “It is as you say” (Luke 23:3).

When Jesus describes His own role at the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:34,40), He speaks of Himself as a King exercising His regal prerogatives.

Scripture repeatedly insists that Christ is King over all other monarchs. He is “the King of Kings” (per Rev. 19:16) and the “ruler of the Kings of the earth” (according to Rev. 1:5)

All throughout eternity, the Kingship of Christ will be a subject of praise for believers. In Revelation 11:15-17, we find that the heavenly inhabitant’s lips are filled with adoration for Jesus since “You have taken Your great power and reigned !”

How did Jesus become King? According to Psalm 2:6-7, the Father has set the crown upon His head. In Matthew 28:18-20, we are told that “all authority has been given to Him”.

What impact should the Kingship of Christ have on you and me?

• If Jesus is on the throne, stop worrying! Martin Luther’s protégé, Philip Melancthon, was a notorious worrier. One evening as they sat down to dinner, Luther noticed his young friend fretting. Luther said, “Philip, quit trying to rule the world. Jesus is King”.
• If Jesus is “the everlasting King of Kings”, don’t labor for temporal kingdoms that are passing away (before our very eyes !). Pour your energies and resources into the Triumphant Kingdom that will last forever.

Ever serving the King,

Pastor Carl