King of Kings and Lord of Lords

 “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”   (Revelation 19:16)

 

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

 

Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God, and the history of his existence identifies His kingly role. It is most clearly illustrated at the beginning and end of Jesus’ earthly life. The angel told Mary that the one she would bear would reign on the throne of His father David, and the magi from the east came seeking the one born “King of the Jews.” Throughout His ministry, Jesus’ disciples assumed that He would establish an earthly kingdom; some even asked to have positions of authority in it. During the final week of His life, Jesus entered Jerusalem as a king coming in peace. He was seated upon a donkey while crowds bowed before Him and called Him “Blessed.” At His trial and crucifixion, they mocked Him with a “crown” of thorns and the purple robe of a great ruler. The sign above His cross identified Jesus again as “King of the Jews.” But after the crucifixion, His followers thought they must have been mistaken about His kingship, saying, “We had hoped [notice the past tense!] that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21).

 

The title Lord was occasionally used as a form of address for Jesus in the Gospels, but was more a title of respect than one of reverence and majesty. He was a lord in the same way as other men of power and authority. That was all to change after the Resurrection and Ascension!

 

Immediately after Pentecost, the message of the church rang out in the words of Peter: “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). The risen Lord was no mere earthly king among earthly kings or earthly lord among other lords. No! Rather, “God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior . . .” (Acts 5:31).

 

For now, His kingdom is somewhat hidden. It is a kingdom that both has come (Luke 17:21) and is yet to come (2 Peter 1:11). But at the end of all time, He will come in all of His glory, with His name written on His robe: King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Let us bow down worship the King!                    —Mari Gonlag