If you follow national news at all, you’ve probably heard about the “No Kings” protests. The participants are voicing their disapproval of the way the president is running the country.
But when I see signs that read “No Kings,” I think of another issue—a much deeper, spiritual problem. We humans don’t really want any kind of authority telling us what to do or not do. We want to reign supreme in a kingdom of our own making.
So, when the Bible talks about Jesus being king, we may pull back a bit. Aren’t kings authoritarians who do want they want to do, regardless of the cost to others? Aren’t kings so powerful that no one can place any restrictions on them? Throughout history, some kings have acted with that kind of impunity, which often led to horrific injustice and oppression. As British historian John Dalberg-Acton famously said, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
But Jesus isn’t that kind of king, and there’s no reason for us to fear His absolute rule in our world and in our lives. Yes, as Hebrews 1:3 says, Jesus “upholds the universe by the word of his power” (ESV). And as Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:15, Jesus is “the King of kings and Lord of lords.” However, King Jesus is also the one who “loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood” (Revelation 1:5). His rule is characterized by justice and righteousness (Isaiah 9:7), and because He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3), every aspect of His reign is governed by what is in our best interest as citizens of His kingdom.
So, what does Jesus’s kingship mean to you and me on a personal, daily basis? First, we have access to His presence. The King of the Universe welcomes us anytime, day or night, to bring our requests to Him. He is never too tired or too busy to listen to what’s on our heart and respond. What a privilege!
Second, the King of the Universe invites us to participate in His reign by advancing His kingdom values and plans. He has also equipped us with everything we need to do what He has assigned us (Hebrews 13:21). What a responsibility!
Third, the King of the Universe is the most forgiving boss we’ll ever have. “His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning,” Jeremiah tells us (Lamentations 3:22–23). What a blessing! No matter how many times we mess up, King Jesus says, “I forgive you. Try again tomorrow.”
In other words, Jesus’s kingship is one of the best gifts we could ever receive. It means that we can become the people God designed us to be. We can also live the abundant life Jesus made possible by coming to earth as a human baby, modeling godliness for thirty-three years, dying to pay our sin debt, and then rising from the dead to reign as our king.
I don’t know about you, but that makes me want to hold up a sign that says, “Yes, Kings!”—as long as that king is Jesus.