Have you ever wondered what kind of king Jesus really is? As we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, we’re confronted with a profound question that lies at the very heart of our faith: what kind of king do we worship? The answer, as revealed in the Gospel of John, might surprise you and challenge your understanding of power and authority.
The Word Made Flesh: A King Who Dwells Among Us
John’s Gospel begins with a majestic declaration: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) Already, we find ourselves in the presence of divine majesty. But how strange and wonderful is the way this majesty unfolds! For this Word, this eternal Logos, does not remain in distant splendor, but “became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
This is our first glimpse of Christ’s unique Kingship. Unlike earthly monarchs who rule from afar, our King chooses to dwell among His people. He doesn’t demand our service but comes to serve us.
The Lamb of God: A King Who Serves
The world looks for power in palaces of marble and gold, in armies and treasuries, in the ability to command and control. But where does John show us our King? At the Jordan River, where John the Baptist proclaims Him not as a conquering monarch but as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
What sort of king is this, who comes not to be served but to serve? What manner of sovereign presents Himself not as a lion but as a lamb? The answer lies in the very nature of His kingdom, which He Himself declares “is not of this world.” (John 18:36)
The Hour of Glory: A King Crowned with Thorns
Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of His “hour”—an appointed time that will reveal the true nature of His Kingship. But what is this hour? It’s not the hour of coronation as the world understands it but the hour of crucifixion. Not the hour of receiving a crown of gold but a crown of thorns.
To Nicodemus, who comes seeking wisdom by night, our Lord speaks of being “lifted up.” (John 3:14) And here we find the glorious paradox of His Kingship, for this being “lifted up” speaks both of His crucifixion and His glorification. The cross becomes His throne; His suffering becomes His coronation.
The Kingdom of Truth: A King Who Embodies Truth
This truth reaches its climax in that remarkable scene before Pilate. There stands the King of Kings, bound and seemingly powerless, before the representative of earthly authority. “Are you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asks. And how does our Lord respond? Not with defiance, not with submission, but with a profound declaration of truth:
“My kingdom is not from this world. If My kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here… You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:36-37)
Christ’s kingdom is the kingdom of truth—not truth as the world understands it, as mere facts or propositions, but Truth embodied in a Person. When Pilate asks his famous question, “What is truth?” (John 18:38), he does not realize that Truth Himself stands before him: the Truth that sets us free, the Truth that gives life, the Truth that is love incarnate.
Living in Christ’s Kingdom: Practical Applications
What then does this mean for us today? It means, beloved, that we must radically reshape our understanding of power and authority. In Christ’s kingdom:
- Greatness is measured not by how many serve you but by how many you serve.
- Victory comes not through force but through love.
- Authority is exercised not through coercion but through self-giving sacrifice.
Putting It Into Practice
- Serve others: Look for opportunities to serve those around you, just as Christ came to serve.
- Embrace humility: Rather than seeking recognition or power, cultivate a spirit of humility.
- Speak truth in love: As citizens of the kingdom of truth, commit to speaking truth, always tempered with love.
- Live sacrificially: Consider ways you can give of yourself for the benefit of others.
- Seek first the kingdom: In all your decisions and actions, prioritize the values of Christ’s kingdom over worldly success or gain.
As we approach the altar today, we come before our King. But we come not in terror of judgment but in joy of salvation. For this King has made Himself known to us in broken bread and poured-out wine, signs of His broken body and shed blood. This is how He reigns: through love that gives all, through mercy that knows no bounds, and through grace that transforms all it touches.
Let us therefore pledge our allegiance anew to this most remarkable of Kings. Let us submit ourselves to His gentle yoke, for His burden is light. Let us become citizens of His kingdom by living according to its laws: the law of love, the law of truth, and the law of self-giving service.
For this kingdom, though not of this world, transforms this world wherever it takes root. Through our witness, through our service, through our love, may Christ’s kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
