Jesus as King
To speak of Jesus as King is, first of all, to convey the idea of His dominion, authority, or royal sovereignty.
His position is His by divine right, because He is the One whom the Father intended to serve in that office,
as indicated by the prophets and the New Testament writers like Matthew and Luke, who presented His
royal pedigree in their genealogies.
Jesus is a special kind of King—a benevolent King, as taught again by the prophets and the apostles. He is
a King like Melchizedek, in that He also serves simultaneously as both King and High Priest (Zech. 6:13).
This is to say that His reign is a mediatorial reign—one in which He has placed Himself in the gap as
mediator between God and man to superintend and to serve the needs of man by representing God, as no
one else can do. In this regard He became the sacrifice acceptable to God and offered Himself for us,
ruling over us in love for our everlasting benefit.
His reign is unlike that of earthly monarchs because it did not derive its source or basis from earthly beings
or actions (Jn. 18:36). No advancing army with carnal weapons, no wealth or power founded on earthly
considerations, and no political strategems employing trickery or flattery had any role in establishing His
kingdom, advancing it, or defending it. Instead of being of this kind, it is of the Father’s doing because of
His marvelous mercy planned to bring about eternal fellowship with Him for the saved. In both its origin
and maintenance, His kingdom is “not of this world.”
In Jesus’ conversation with Governor Pilate in Jn. 18:33-38 the Lord made clear some very important
principles concerning His kingdom:
1. He is the King (vv. 33-34).
2. His kingdom is not of this world (v. 36).
3. The truth that He and His emissaries (apostles) declared became the law of the kingdom (“To this end
have I been born and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.” V.
37).
4. Anyone willing to submit to Him can be His subject, or a citizen in His kingdom (“Every one that is of the
truth heareth my voice.” V. 38).
In this final principle, we observe the voluntary nature of citizenship in the kingdom of Christ. Those
willing, believing, repenting, and submitting in baptism enter into the kingdom. Likewise, those daily
crucifying themselves remain His subjects.
Am I loyal to Christ the King above all other loyalties?
Do I daily show my allegiance to Him?
Our song “O Lord, Our Lord” (# 90) depicts His Kingly majesty, His mediatorial reign, and our beneficial
submission. In this prayer-song we voice our plea to this wonderful, and exalted One seeking to mediate
our cause, “…forgive me of my sinning, and help me daily to look to Thee above.”
Bobby L. Graham
24978 Bubba Trail
Athens, AL 35613
