Who is King Jesus?

The heavens and the earth and everything in them was made through Jesus. And he is equal with God the Father, enjoying glory, joy and exquisite relationship together with him since before time. Still, Jesus willingly obeyed his Father’s will and, out of love for us, found himself stripped of his power and privilege, to become one of us. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary from Nazareth and born as a human being, unrecognized for who he was by virtually all.

Jesus’ primary passion was his relationship with his Father. He loved to follow his lead and be involved in all that his Father was doing. Learning obedience through what he suffered, Jesus took up the role of a servant, first as a manual laborer, then as an itinerant prophet and teacher.   

Jesus taught God’s ways openly, fearlessly, yet with kindness, with mercy – faithfully interpreting the books of Moses, the Prophets and Psalms and the rest of Scripture. His message was simple at its core. Humanity is embroiled in sin. All of us should turn from our evil ways in order to enjoy God’s embrace. We can freely receive the Father’s forgiveness, surrendering to his good reign, living in close relationship to the him, through Jesus. There is no greater news.   

Yet, his teaching touched on all areas of human life: from human origins at creation and human history, through marriage and sexuality, family relations and child rearing to fiscal responsibility, proper governance, jurisprudence and beyond.   

In relation to other humans, Jesus’ passion was this. Serve, rather than be served. Love everyone, including those who hate you. He practiced what he preached, to its ultimate, logical end: mass rejection, followed by an unjust execution.   

He brought his teaching and the signs of power he performed to all, including the “nobodies” on the fringes of society. He relieved masses of people from demonic oppression and healed all their diseases.   

He was a faithful teacher and companion to his close followers, who clung to him, but still frequently dropped the ball, tripped, misspoke, acted arrogantly, misunderstood Jesus and disbelieved him. He patiently taught and modeled his teachings, personally, over and over, until his students began to catch on.   

He was often opposed by religious leaders, by the powerful, at times by commoners. More than once, opposition reached a fever pitch. Still, he treated his critics, even his enemies, with kindness. He sincerely believed that they could be brought out of whatever deception they had gotten themselves into. Overall, though he was little honoured, little recognized, he tirelessly served all around him.   

He was finally captured by a cowardly mob at night, while abandoned and denied by his inner circle of friends and students – even betrayed by one. Then he was taken before unfair courts, falsely accused, deprived of justice, beaten and mocked by those commissioned to uphold the law. Hung by nails like meat on a wooden post in full view of others, he suffered the jeers of passersby and the tortuous taunts of national religious leaders. Even the criminals hung alongside him mocked him. On the cross, King Jesus took upon himself the sin of the entire world – past, present, future. He felt the agony as though of a ruptured relationship between him and his Father. (In fact, though, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself on the cross.)   

It was an explosion of love, like never before. The greatest concentration of love that ever has been or ever will be known to humanity poured out of the Messiah, during the events leading up to and during his hanging on the dead tree. He forgave all for their mistreatment of him. It was just such kindness. He showed the deepest of love to his tormentors and friends alike, until he expired. Jesus displayed his love for us, while we were at our very worst.   

For this reason, the Father exalted Jesus – taking up again the place Jesus had had beside him, prior to his humiliation. Risen from the dead and seated far above all power, rule, authority and dominion – and every name that can be named – Jesus now has all things in subjection under His feet. Now the King is at his Father’s right hand for all time, as a bridge between all who will choose to have a restored relationship with their Creator.   

Wouldn’t you want to be embraced by his love and give yourself over completely to this gracious King? His call is costly. But it is the most enriching – indeed, there are no riches to compare it to. Putting our faith in King Jesus, we have his own Spirit come live within us and we take on the nature of Jesus, step by step, while we also work in his power to bring about reconciliation between God and people.