Dn. 7:13-14, Rev. 1: 5-8, Jn 18:33-37)
Jesus in Scripture and the teachings of the church has some major titles: MESSIAH, PROPHET, PRIEST and KING. He receives these through God, His Father and through His accomplishments while on earth. Today on the last Sunday of the Church year, we celebrate the PINNACLE of these titles: JESUS is KING.
Our Judeo-Christian understanding of KINGSHIP which leads us to proclaim Jesus as King, began with the Covenant established with David, the 2nd King of Israel. The understanding for the Israelites was that a Mortal Man chosen by God would fill an Earthly kingly position. It evolved for Christians to where a Son of Man, who is Son of God, fills a COSMIC position. (Cosmic meaning King of CREATION)
This TRUTH in the Church has always been there. But the DE FACTO celebration as a feast came along only in the last 100 years. The Church had sensed a DIMINISHED feel for this TRUTH in the lives of the faithful and therefore, IGNORANCE of it in the rest of the world.
In the early 1900’s many countries that were considered Christian, were being lead or forced to turn to atheistic beliefs. Communism, Fascism, and Nazism PERVERTED the truth of God and in many cases took Jesus out of society and did not allow religious practices. That’s when Pius XI who reigned from 1922 to 1939 promulgated the Feast of Christ the King. He did this so Catholics would revitalize the way we live this TRUTH and then also to raise the awareness to the rest of the world. The all important TRUTH is the sovereignty of Jesus Christ as the KING over ALL peoples, ALL kingdoms and ALL earthly powers.
The need for this Feast today, seems all the more EVIDENT. The modern world continually adds INSULT TO GOD, with its’ constant parade of infidelities. One of the biggest INSULTS today, is that many people and leaders actually acknowledge Jesus. It’s just that now, Jesus should OK what the world wants to say is the TRUTH, rather than the world follow Jesus who is the TRUTH. Each infidelity or sinful action, in no way diminishes the GLORY of the KING , but they do underscore the need for the salvation that He provides as Messiah, Prophet and Priest.
In the reading from Daniel we hear some of the prophetic words written 2 centuries before Christ came on earth. Daniel foretells then that a ‘SON OF MAN’ would receive from his Father DOMINION and SOVEREIGNTY over all peoples, nations and languages. He would be the KING of KINGS and the LORD of GLORY and his kingdom would LAST FOREVER.
There are other Old Testament messianic prophecies that give Jesus the Messiah the title of King. And some New Testament as well.
- The prophet NATHAN promised King David (c. 1000 B.C.) that a descendant of his would come “who would establish his throne forever” (2 Sm. 7: 16).
- ISAIAH says of the future Messiah: “he will sit on David’s kingly throne to give it lasting foundations of justice and right” (Is. 9: 6-7; see 1-5).
- In the prophet JEREMIAH we read: “a time is coming, the Lord says, when I will raise up from the stock of David a faithful descendant at last” (Jer. 23: 3).
- In Luke’s Gospel, to crown and confirm the Davidic typology, the Virgin Mary is told by the angel that the child she is to conceive “shall be known as the Son of the Most High; the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David . . . and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Lk. 1: 32).
The understanding that needs to be attached to today’s Gospel is that His Kingship and our salvation didn’t come without a PRICE. For other Old Testament prophecies in Isaiah predict the ‘Servant must Suffer’. This Gospel while seen as the fulfillment of Daniels prophecy, actually shows Jesus in the moments of His greatest Humiliation, God being condemned to death by the creatures! But yet he still asserts the TRUTH, “I AM A KING”.
The Sanhedrin the highest governing body of the Jewish people, had condemned Jesus as guilty of BLASPHEMY, because he claimed to be the Son of God. For this crime they judged him deserving of death. Because they wanted him to die the most SHAMEFUL and PAINFUL of deaths, they brought him to Pilate who would pass the sentence of crucifixion. To do this they use a trumped up political charge that he was a Revolutionary. Here, Enemies collaborate to dishonor a king. His FINAL humiliation was death on a cross. And I say FINAL, because He WILL NOT be Humiliated again.
Our reading from Revelations reminds us that our Kings total VINDICATION before man is yet to come at the end of the world. It also reminds us that it was through the shedding of his blood that we were made apart of that Kingdom he PROCLAIMS to be King of.
Pope Pius XI was right. The world has very often neglected to give the KING of the COSMOS His due. But we as church are members of that Kingdom and have a NEED, an OBLIGATION and a CHANCE to rectify this travesty. We must testify to the truth, ‘That glory only comes through Jesus: Messiah, Prophet and Priest’. Prayerfully and hopefully soon, the rest of the world will collaborate with us in HONORING Jesus the KING of the COSMOS.
Prophesies of Messianic Kingship
Old Testament messianic prophecies that give Jesus the Messiah the title of King.
- The prophet NATHAN promised King David (c. 1000 B.C.) that a descendant of his would come “who would establish his throne forever” (2 Sm. 7: 16).
- The prophet DANIEL foretold that a “One like a SON of MAN coming on the clouds of heaven. …His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, His kingship shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7: 13-14)
- ISAIAH says of the future Messiah: “he will sit on David’s kingly throne to give it lasting foundations of justice and right” (Is. 9: 6-7; see 1-5).
- In the prophet JEREMIAH we read: “a time is coming, the Lord says, when I will raise up from the stock of David a faithful descendant at last” (Jer. 23: 3).
Partially fulfilled in New Testament scripture:
- In Luke’s Gospel, to crown and confirm the Davidic typology, the Virgin Mary is told by the angel that the child she is to conceive “shall be known as the Son of the Most High; the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David . . . and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Lk. 1: 32).
Ultimately fulfilled in New Testament scripture:
- Jesus stands before Pilate and he said, “ Are you the King of the Jews?” …Jesus Answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world….” (John 18:33-37)
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