The Kingship of the Lamb
by Fr. David M. Knight
Sunday, November 23, 2024
Thirty-Third Sunday of the Year
Feast of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Dn 7:13-14/Rv 1:5-8/Jn 18:33b-37 (Lectionary 161)
We think of Jesus as Savior and Lord. How often do we think of him as King? And what does “king” mean to us when used of Jesus?
Jesus quoted Daniel 7:13-14 at his trial before the Sanhedrin. In answer to the question, “Are you the Messiah...?” he replied:
I am. And “you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power," and “coming with the clouds of heaven.”
In the context, this amounted to declaring that he was God himself. All signs of God’s support had been withdrawn from him; there was nothing left to tell him or anyone else he was the Messiah. So when Jesus said, “I am” and claimed the prophesy of Daniel for himself, he was saying he could not not be the Messiah. Like God, whose name is “I AM” because it is his nature to be, Jesus was claiming to be Messiah by nature; that he had no need of any affirmation from God. That said he was God. The high priest recognized this immediately. He tore his garments and said to all, “You have heard the blasphemy!”
What we who have faith hear is:
He received dominion, splendor, and kingship; all nations, peoples and tongues will serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed.
“Not of this world...”
John 18:33-37 makes clear that Jesus did not come to be an earthly ruler. He relies on no power but truth and love.
“You say I am a king. The reason I was born and came into the world, is to testify to the truth. Anyone committed to the truth listens to my voice.”
Whenever we in the Church rely on anything but truth and love to establish his reign, we are no longer serving Christ the King.
“Loves us, freed us, made us...”
Revelation 1:5-8 characterizes Jesus as a King who loves us, frees us from our sins by his own blood, and has made us a “royal nation of priests.” No wonder we say, “To him be glory and power forever and ever.” We don’t mind giving “glory” to a King who has set aside all prestige; or “power” to one who only uses it to serve us. Jesus:
emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death--even death on a cross.
Jesus is a King who shares his kingship. He has made us “kings.” At Baptism, when we “became Christ,” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 792-795) we were solemnly anointed and consecrated to be what he is as Priest, Prophet and King. We are all “royal,” and we are all “priests.” But if we want to use either of those titles for prestige or power (except the power of the Holy Spirit) we are rejecting what we have received.
It is still good to know that, in the eyes of God, we are immeasurably more royal by Baptism than those called “royals” in monarchical countries like England, or those pretentiously called (and robed as) “princes of the Church” because of their political (non-sacramental) appointment as “cardinals” in service to the Pope. The kingship of Christ has nothing to do with such foolishness. It is the “kingship of the Lamb who was slain.” We reign with him by dying to ourselves to live for others in love. The Lord is king. He is robed in majesty, but you wouldn’t know it to look at the way he serves us! He is our role model as “kings.”
Insight: Does the image of Christ as King move you to reject all human prestige?
Initiative: See your royalty as “noblesse oblige”: an obligation to serve every way you can.
Reflections brought to you by the Immersed in Christ Ministry
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