Sunday, November 22, 2009: Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18:33b-37 ( Solemnity of Christ the King)

In traditional African societies, the people had some expectations of the king. He was someone who was strong and wielded so much power. He distinguished his strength by waging wars of expansion and subjecting other kingdoms under his dominion. This kingship is different from the kingship of Jesus. The Jews understood Jesus’ kingship in a secular sense. They saw him as a political or national leader who would make them once again a super power. They expected a king that was going to sit upon the throne of David and would rule over the whole world, rebuild the temple, bring the Jews all back from exile and place them in the number one position worldwide with dominion over all the earth. In a sense, Jesus fulfilled all these, the people failed to see this because they were looking for a different kind of kinship. Jesus took the whole human institution of kingship and transformed it into a spiritual institution. In this sense, Jesus was truly a king.

Jesus was never weak. He was strong. It is only a strong and brave person that can embrace death joyfully for what he believes in. He was not ready to change his positions in order to save his life. He knew what his mission was and he stood by it even unto death. Jesus waged a spiritual a war against the kingdoms and powers of the evil one and the resurrection is a sign and crown of that victory. Jesus Christ liberated the whole of creation from the power of Satan and made us all a kingdom of priests to serve our God. For a moment, Satan thought he was victory when he saw Jesus Christ dying on the Cross, three days later, it was proven that the power of satan as well as the power of the rulers of this world were limited. When Jesus rose from the dead, he showed that his kingdom was more powerful than the kingdom of those who sent him to the Cross.

As we celebrate this feast of the kingship of Jesus Christ, we must keep in mind that as Christians, we do not belong to the kingdoms of this world, nor does any kingdom contrary to the kingdom of God has any power over us. Our worship and homage must only be to the kingdom of God and no other kingdom. Jesus Christ not only sits upon the throne of David, but he sits upon the throne of the Almighty Father, in which he exercises his dominion over the entire world. Everyone is subjected to him, whether Christian or not. The new temple is the body of Christ and all those who are in exile in their different beliefs are welcomed to this new temple.

For your challenge this week, spend some time reflecting on these questions: What does the kingship and lordship of Jesus Christ mean to me personally? Am I living as a child of the kingdom of God? What must I do to make this world reflect God’s kingdom?

JESUS IS TRULY A KING. NOT ONLY A KING OF THE JEWS, BUT THE KING OF ALL THE WORLD.