Dig into the term “King of Kings” and what it means in terms of the balance between Christ’s divinity and humanity, and the social nature of Jesus’s life… a meaning that the word “king” no longer has.
The reach of the gospel and the significance of Christ excludes no one.
Reflecting on the story of the Apostle Paul, who declared Jesus Christ as Lord of all upon witnessing a vision of clean and unclean animals, we see a powerful illustration of the all-encompassing nature of redeeming love.
‘King of Kings’ no longer works
While the New Testament concludes with a triumphant vision of Jesus as the glorified King of Kings and Lord of Lords, I can’t help but feel that the title ‘King of Kings’, as used by the Wise Men, might not do justice to the true scope of Christ’s kingship. Jesus is more than the King of the Jews; He is the King of all nations.
The Wise Men, gentiles from Eastern lands, were the first to acknowledge this truth and offer homage to Him—a gesture that has been repeated by multitudes across the world, including myself today.
What “Kingship” means today
In today’s democratic world, where monarchy is scarce and often unwelcome, the concept of kingship might seem outdated. Some may even feel troubled by describing Christ as King. We have witnessed protests, even in countries to our south, rejecting the notion of kingship.
This concern, however, stems from a misunderstanding. The complaints are aimed at the wrong kind of king— one who embodies dictatorship, rather than the benevolent reign of Christ.
Revisiting Christmas Carols
In 1925, the Feast of Christ the King was established, evolving into the acknowledgment of Christ’s reign. During this transition, some proposed revisions to familiar Christmas carols to align with modern sensitivities, substituting words like ‘King’, ‘Man’, ‘Son’, ‘Virgin’, and ‘Lord’ with more politically correct alternatives.
For instance, in “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, the phrase “glory to the Newborn King” has been adapted to “glory to the Christ child”.
Similarly, in “Joy to the World”, the line “the Lord is come, let earth receive her King” was changed to “peace shall come”, which honestly strikes me as laughable, were it not so insensitive.
This change risks overshadowing Christ’s humanity with His kingship, leading to a superficial understanding of Jesus as merely a divine figure in disguise. Yet, the church teaches that Jesus Christ was both fully man and fully God.
Embracing Christ’s Humanity
God’s divine love was demonstrated through Christ’s acceptance of our humanity. Jesus was not an ideal, textbook human but a Galilee carpenter and freelance rabbi, navigating life step by step and relying on His Father’s guidance— yet, always without faltering.
What often remains underemphasized is the social aspect of Christ’s humanity. To be truly human is to need others.
Like us, Jesus was shaped by His relationships—His mother Mary, His earthly father Joseph, the village rabbi, His disciples, and the poor He served. Had they been different people, Jesus would have been a different person too.
To exist as a man, He had to become one with them, and to continue as a man, He remains connected with them.
Unity in Christ
In Jesus, the life of God became incarnate and expanded into a complex web of personal relationships centered around Him.
Heaven, I believe, must be a state free of the barriers between human beings. It is where Christ becomes Himself by embracing us, and we become our true selves by embracing Him.
Thanks be to God, for His love knows no limits and reaches beyond titles and traditions to touch the heart of every individual.