King of Kings

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

~~2 Samuel 5:1-3~~Psalm 122~~Colossians  1:12-20~~Luke 23:35-43~~

The church ends the liturgical year this weekend.
It is fitting that we are given the kingship of Jesus for the closing liturgy.
Most of the year we do not focus our attention on Jesus as a King.
His kingdom is not and never was of this world.
This is what was so confusing, disappointing, and confusing for the Jews.

The kingdom of Jesus is in heaven with his Father.
His kingdom is ruled by the hand of love and mercy.

In his final days he was mocked and dressed up in a robe and a crown.
This crown was not one of gold and precious stones,
it was fashioned from thorn branches.
This king did not sit upon his throne and rule over the land.
This king was nailed upon a cross and raised up covered in blood to be spat upon.
This king was not flanked on either side with palace guards,
he had common criminals hanging beside him.

The sign above his head read 'King of the Jews'.
No one that day took it seriously with the exception of the good
thief hanging beside Jesus.
 

 

"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
He replied to him,
"Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise."

Jesus was not the king the people were expecting during Biblical times.

He had no earthly kingdom...he had no regal robes...
he had no servants or slaves to wait on him...

 

KING

 

K...knowledgeable

I...intimate, inclusive

N...never-ending, non judgmental

G...generous

Jesus had full knowledge that he came to do the will of the Father.
Jesus desires to have an intimate relationship with each of us.
Jesus is inclusive of all people. saints and sinners.
The love Jesus has for us is never ending...freely given
we are not judged whether or not we are worthy of this love.
Jesus generously gave us all that he has...he gave us every drop of blood
in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. 

 

 

Let us give thanks to the Father....

Today we have so many reasons to give thanks to the Father.
It is right and just that we should give him thanks and praise
for all that he has done for us.
What king today would lay down his life to save his subjects?
We have a king who is the King of Kings and Lord of all the Universe...
all of creation...all that is good.

He delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
 

Someday we will be welcomed into his kingdom.
God sent his Son to save us so that we would be able to enter into the Kingdom of God.
The word became flesh to show us the way to the Kingdom.
I pray that the day that I die I too will hear Jesus say...

...today you will be with me in Paradise.

Begin taking an inventory of your blessings today.
Give thanks first to God for including you in his divine salvation plan.
Our King is like no other...he loves like no other...
he provides for us like no other could. 

Robed in Majesty

~~~ Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe ~~~

 

~~~ Daniel 7:13-14 ~~~Psalm 93 ~~~ Revelation 1: 5-8 ~~~ John 18:33b-37 ~~~

 

 The prophet Daniel is having a sleepless night filled with visions
of Jesus entering into his rightful role as King.

The one like the son of man was presented to the Ancient One,
God the Father,
where he received dominion, glory, and kingship.
God the Father is the one who bestows the title of King upon Jesus.
"...His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed."

All peoples of every nation and language serve him.

He will come in splendor robed...robed in majesty.

He says to all...
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God,
"the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."

 

 

Pilate in his ignorance and confusion questions and doubts the kingship of Jesus.

 

Jesus tells Pilate his kingdom is not of this world further

complicating his lack of understanding.

 

Out of frustration Pilate declares Jesus to be a king?

He orders the sign made to on the top of the cross.

 

Jesus, King of the Jews. 

 

Jesus answered, "You say 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."

 

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega...

The one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.

Jesus is the King of Kings.

 

The king born in a stable, rides in on a donkey and

wears a crown of thorns...

This is who we honor as our King today!