Tag Archives: King

What’s a King?

Palm treeLent
March 19, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 19:28-40

As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
‘Blessed is the king
   who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
   and glory in the highest heaven!’ –Luke 19:37-38

Luke once again takes us back to Psalm 118 as he describes the adoration of Jesus entering Jerusalem with the words of celebration from the enthronement of a king in Hebrew history. In this 21st century the role of King has changed markedly in those countries that still use the title. They are more often ambassadors of goodwill or heads of state who oversee the work of an elected legislative body or what we now call a dictator. Because of this paradigm shift in the roles of leadership over the centuries, we are left somewhat befuddled trying to make sense of Jesus as King. I think we are much more comfortable with the term Savior for that is what the people wanted in a world held in oppression by the Roman conquerors.

At some point in time there was another shift, one that personalized the Savior aspect of Jesus’ work to the individual. While there is no more important relationship in my life than my relationship with God through Jesus Christ and I am sure that is true of all of his followers, we limit his purpose markedly when we limit him to our personal salvation. Jesus’ incarnation relates to justice for everyone. Such justice can build from each of Jesus’ followers truly doing justice as partners in the creation of a world where all are freed from both personal and societal oppression.

Prayer: Lord, hone us as tools for planting and growing your justice throughout the world. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.