Christ the King of the Universe

The right to rule and govern, to judge or offer pardon, belongs to the King, when it comes to eternal rule and judgment that belongs to the King of kings alone.  Today we celebrate The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.  It is not just a pious title, but one that is real, true, and good.

When the Logos became flesh and lived among us, He lived among us as a humble servant.  Even His birth was a very humble event, born in a manger among the farm animals and farm hands.  He grew up in a poor hard working family, living among other hard working poor folks.  There was nothing that would have made you think, “Here is a king.”

Even when He began His public ministry and performed great deeds and miracles many believed He was not the Prophetic King, the Messiah that would come because they were expecting someone like King David, someone who would rule them and deliver them from the Romans.

Jesus did not want to come in that fashion but rather as the suffering servant so that He could teach us two things, one) the redemptive value of the Cross and two) to teach us how to live – what love really is.

Now, however, Jesus is no longer the suffering and poor servant, He is the One who sits at the right hand of the Father, governing and ruling the nations.  He still remains brother and friend to us, one who is close to us, but never again will He suffer or be poor.  And to Him belongs judgment of peoples as the Gospel of Matthew tells us.  “He will separate the goats and the sheep.”  Sometimes we get caught up in judgment and we find ourselves doing that, eternally judging others, that is a no-no.  Actually it is a very serious and grave sin to do so since we take the role of King of kings, which we are not to do; it belongs to Christ and Christ alone.

Next week we will begin Advent and prepare ourselves for Jesus’ first coming, Christmas, when He was the small and humble baby, this week, however, we are to reflect on Jesus as King of Kings, His second coming in glory, power, and judgment.  Yes it can seem a little scary and some would not preach about this kind of Jesus, but that would be to leave out an important aspect of who He is and the thought of Jesus as King of kings should make us fear a little, not to be frightened but to cause awe and wonder.  I leave you with lyrics of a beautiful song that I have loved since I have been a child, one that leaves me in awe and wonder about Jesus, King of kings.  “Who is the King of glory; how shall we call him?  He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages.  The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices.  Open the gates before Him, lift up your voices.”