Christ The King

The meaning of the title Christ or Messiah is “king”, literally “anointed one”—chosen and set apart to rule. And we know that in Christ’s first Advent—Christmas—he was far from recognized as such by all but a very few. Rather than being crowned with “a royal diadem”—as the great hymn All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Namedeclares—he was crowned with thorns while soldiers mocked him “Hail, King of the Jews”; and Pilate cynically tried to “end” him by condemning him to death, labeling him with those same sarcastic words.

We believe, though, that his death wasn’t an ending at all, but rather, when God raised him from the dead he proved that he was indeed the king of a powerful and eternally enduring kingdom. And we believe that he has, for that reason, been exalted to the highest place.