The King

Throughout history, many societies have been ruled by a king.  This type of government is known as a monarchy.  Sometimes the monarch shares rule with others such as a queen or a legislative body.  Then there are times when the king has complete rule and power.  When this scenario exists, it is referred to as an absolute monarchy.  It might surprise some individuals, but the church of Christ is an absolute monarchy.

Christians do not serve a king of kings, but rather we serve the King of kings.  While writing to Timothy, Paul stated, “I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no many can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see:  to whom be honour and power everlasting.  Amen” (1 Tim. 6:13-16).  The term “Potentate” might not be understood due to the fact that we rarely use that word in our society.  It simply means “ruler” or “monarch”.  Jesus is the only “Potentate”, which means He is the only ruler over the church of Christ.  That fact is described in many other verses.  First of all, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18).  Notice, “all power”, not just some.  Jesus is an absolute monarch.  His authority is superior over any other.  Paul wrote, “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his might power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:15-23).  The terms that are used to describe Jesus and His rule are definite.  There is no room for another monarch in Christ’s kingdom.  Paul further stated, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church:  and he is the saviour of the body.  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing” (Eph. 5:23-24).  Contrary to what many believe, a man in Rome, Italy/Vatican City is not the head of the church.  That position belongs to Jesus, and only to Jesus.

While on the Earth, Jesus did not shy from acknowledging His position.  John recorded, “And Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world:  if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews:  but now is my kingdom not from hence.  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then?  Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king.  To this end was I born, and for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.  Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” (John 18:36-37).

Knowing all of this, it is truly heartbreaking to know that our King has been mistreated and ridiculed so terribly.  His authority was, and is, ignored by so many.  It is written, “Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.  And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews!  and they smote him with their hands” (John 19:1-2).  While they meant it for humiliation, the crown of thorns is still a symbol of the kingship of Jesus.  His authority and rule should be observed and obeyed.  We are commanded, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3:17).  The reason for such is Jesus is indeed “…KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:16).
~ Corey Barnette