Jesus as King of kings and lord of lords

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In the US, at least since Vatican II, there hasn’t been a huge emphasis on Jesus as King in the Catholic church. It comes up in some hymns and some praise and worship songs (“King of Glory” was a big one when I was young) but that’s about it.

One reason is likely the obvious one that the USA doesn’t relate well to concepts of monarchy outside of fairy tales and “King Arthur”-type legends.

A second reason is the watering down of catechesis generally and the emphasis on Jesus being one’s friend or brother rather than one’s authority figure. To the extent God is seen as an authority figure, that role usually gets identified with God the Father.

The idea of “King Jesus” is more identified with Protestant churches, especially African-American churches, that are more culturally accepting of “king” as a positive concept.

I don’t recall ever being taught that Jesus was an earthly King. It came up in some prayers and songs but we never sat down in religion class and explored the idea at all. I don’t doubt that he is indeed the King of Heaven and Earth, just saying it’s not what springs to mind.
 
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Yes, the Irish have a grand old tradition of kings and even when the English took over obviously they still supported the concept of monarchy.

The US is very anti-authoritarian generally. The biggest problem that people have with the Church always comes down to the same thing: people don’t like being told they can’t do something, or told this is how it’s going to be and you don’t get a vote. We fought wars over that sort of thing. So, Authoritarian Jesus is straight out.
 
And, thanks be to the Lord, the depths of His Mercy is spotlighted in these times!

Thanks be to the cooperation of St. Faustina with the grace of Our Lord, she is now known as the “Apostle of the Divine Mercy” all over the world.
 
Yes this thread is spotlighted on Jesus as King of kings and lord of lords.

I hope you didn’t think I derailed the thread. Many need to hear of Him as the King of Mercy.

Peace,

Dorothy
 
Tis_Bearself said:
The US is very anti-authoritarian generally. The biggest problem that people have with the Church always comes down to the same thing: people don’t like being told they can’t do something, or told this is how it’s going to be and you don’t get a vote. We fought wars over that sort of thing. So, Authoritarian Jesus is straight out.
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And this is the way the people in the United States make up their own religions. (see 35,000 + protestant denominations). Many of the so called mega-churches, a recent fad in the US, are now teaching religion of success and wealth. Your wealth, according to that narrative, indicates God’s approval.
 
Well, it’s also the way a whole lot of Catholics on this forum spend all day long complaining that their bishops and pastors won’t do what they want, such as holding public Mass in the middle of a pandemic.
 
ontheway1 said:
I am just wondering if we have still retained the understanding that Jesus, the Christ, the Annointed One of God, is the authority above all other authority? Do we still acknowledge Him as the Savior of the world?
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Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

Philippians 2:9-10 “** For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow**, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth“

1 Peter 3:22 “(Jesus Christ) who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Revelation 15:4 “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Revelation 22:3 “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”

Acts 5:31 “ He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified”

Yes He is and will always be above all and King of all.
 
ontheway1 said:
There are many hymns in the church hymnal where “Jesus is our brother”. How can he be lord of lords at the same time?
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He’s a friendly Lord and King, not adverse to coming down and mixing it up with us common folk here on planet Earth.
 
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“Authoritarian Jesus” isn’t out in my household. And we’ve been here in the US since 1670 on my Dad’s side.

While it is true that some people in the US tend to have a ‘my way or the highway’ attitude, it isn’t limited to the US, and it tends to be very situational. There is still a huge segment of the population which is not, for example, rioting to go back to work, heading to the beaches, defying state and federal orders, etc. etc., even if the people are very tired of stay at home, haven’t seen family members except on Zoom for weeks and weeks, are going nuts trying to get unemployment, or for that matter, are on the front lines working 20 hour days helping the sick.

So despite the revolutionary narrative, there is a concomitant longing for somebody to ‘take care of things’ and an obedience to that someone. Right now for example, pretty much everybody loves Dr. Anthony Fauci even when he says, “Don’t go too fast too soon’.

People know the difference between somebody who truly cares for them and someone who does not. A caring monarch /shepherd/lord of lords will, in the end, draw all to Him save for those (and it won’t be only the U.S. ‘rugged individuals’) who will insist that NO ONE can tell them what to do.

Myself, I submit that if God Almighty is telling me, “I want you to enjoy eternal bliss with Me all you need to do is accept Me as your Lord and God (that good old 1st commandment)”, I hope I will have the sense to say, “Yes” and not, “oh wait you’re not the boss of me!”
 
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The best way to think about his kingship is the words of Jesus himself: ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’
 
Yep. The bishop is the Anointed “king” of the local Church. People need to get over this and accept his God-given authority. Obedience is part and parcel of Catholicism.
 
twf said:
Yep. The bishop is the Anointed “king” of the local Church. People need to get over this and accept his God-given authority. Obedience is part and parcel of Catholicism.
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I don’t know if I would be comfortable with the idea of annointing the bishop as king. The head of the local church is here to serve rather than act as ruler. I can imagine that some bishops do see themselves in the role of king and ruler and many have acted that way in the past. But, with multiple “kings” running the church we can lose sight of what we believe and whom we follow.

One of pope’s titles is servus servorum Dei, servant of the servants of God.
 
Bishops are indeed kings. In fact, all the baptized are anointed King, Priest, and Prophet at our confirmation. This is a participation in the kingship, priesthood, and prophethood of Christ Himself. The bishop participates in this three-fold office of Christ more perfectly. When he sits upon his cathedra, his throne, he is a living icon of Christ the king. It’s not about the individual bishop as a man… it’s about Christ whom the bishop simply represents.

Of course, in a Christian context kingship is about service. Kings are meant to sacrifice for their people. In the Christian tradition, a king is a shepherd.

The Pope is both a monarch and the servant of the servants of God. There is no contradiction.
 
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