King of Kings.

Christ the King Sunday, Year C; Luke 23:33-43

“King of Kings” is a title we as Christians say often about Jesus Christ. Because it is repeated so frequently, we tend to rush right past its weight, meaning, and authority. To call someone the King of Kings or Lord of Lords is not just to compliment them, but to crown them as the one King who stands above all rulers who have ever lived or could ever live. It is to declare that their authority supersedes every kingdom that has come before or will come after. Scripture gives us an example of this kind of language in Solomon. In 2 Chronicles 1:12, Solomon is described as a king who received wisdom unlike any before him or after him. In that sense, we could say he was the “wisest of the wise.” When we apply this same structure to Jesus and call Him King of Kings, we are not using poetic language — we are making a theological declaration. He is the greatest King to ever live or ever reign. We may say it. We may believe it. But do we understand why it is true?

As we arrive at the final Sunday of the church year, the Church celebrates Christ the King Sunday. Throughout the liturgical year, we have walked with Jesus from His birth, through His life, ministry, death, and resurrection. Now, before we begin again with Advent, we are called to pause and confess what all of this has been leading toward: Jesus reigns. He is King. This rhythm is not accidental. It trains the heart of the believer to end the year not with exhaustion but with confidence, and to enter the new year not with fear but with trust — because King Jesus rules and reigns.

Luke’s Gospel draws our attention to the Kingship of Jesus in a powerful and deliberate way. He shows us that Jesus does not simply claim a crown; He ascends to it. We are given a picture of a King whose throne is not made of gold but of wood, and whose victory is not won by taking life but by giving His own.

First, we see that Jesus is a Valiant King. Everyone wants to follow a king who can protect them. A king who does not hide behind soldiers, but who goes out to battle himself. Not a fragile king, but one strong enough to fight and win. This is what we long for in a ruler. Luke tells us that Jesus is led to the place called “The Skull.” That detail carries extraordinary weight. Golgotha is not just a geographical location — it is a theological announcement. It reaches back to the story of David, who cut off the head of Goliath and brought it into Jerusalem. It also reaches further back to Genesis 3:15, where God promised that the Seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent while being wounded in the process. At the Place of the Skull, Jesus stands as the true Son of David and the promised Seed, entering into battle with Satan and death itself. Like a true King, He conquers the enemy not by avoiding suffering, but by walking directly into it and emerging victorious. This is why He is King of Kings — because He defeats what no other king could defeat.

Next, we witness Jesus as a Generous King. No one wants to serve a ruler who hoards power and resources, who takes from the people to build himself a treasure. We know what that kind of king looks like — like Prince John in Robin Hood, fragile, greedy, cowardly. We long for a King whose heart is turned outward toward the good of His people. On the cross, Jesus offers not only His life, but everything He has. He prays forgiveness over those who are killing Him. He allows His clothing to be stripped from Him and divided by lots, fulfilling Psalm 22. He lives out His own teaching from Matthew 5 — turning the other cheek, giving the coat with the shirt, going the second mile. Even in suffering, even in betrayal, even in torture, King Jesus gives rather than takes. His generosity is not weakness. It is royal authority expressed through mercy. A King who gives everything to His people is not a failed king — He is a glorious King.

Luke also shows us that Jesus is a Tested King. A true King must be proven, not just appointed. Jesus is tested first as a Prophet when Satan tempts Him in the wilderness. He refuses to manipulate power, refuses to worship false glory, and refuses to test His Father. In this, He is verified as the true Prophet who trusts the Word of God above all things. He is tested as a Priest when He is confronted by the religious authorities in the temple. The scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and the whole Sanhedrin challenge His authority. He proves Himself greater — understanding the law, exposing hypocrisy, declaring resurrection, and revealing His divine authority. He stands as the true High Priest who does not merely represent God to the people, but brings the people to God.

Finally, He is tested as a King. The people mock Him. The soldiers ridicule Him. A criminal challenges Him. “If you are the King, save yourself.” This reveals the world’s false understanding of kingship — that a true king never suffers. But Jesus reveals that a true King saves by sacrifice. He does not step down from the cross to prove His power. He stays on it to display it. It is in His death that He is crowned. It is in His surrender that He reigns. Even a hardened centurion bows in recognition. And even a guilty criminal hears from the lips of this dying King a promise of paradise. That single promise changes everything. It shows that Jesus’ authority does not end at death — it extends beyond it. He does not just rule the living; He commands eternity.

This leads us to see Jesus as a Dependable King. A good king does not abandon his word when situations grow dark. He does not betray his promises when it becomes costly. Jesus makes good on His word even while hanging on a cross. The promise of paradise to a dying sinner is not just a moment of compassion — it is a revelation of the nature of His Kingdom. A man with no record of righteousness, no resume of obedience, no religious credentials, no sacramental history, and no time to prove himself was given access to paradise for one reason only: the word of the King. The power was never in the man. The power was in the promise. If the word of King Jesus was enough to carry a guilty sinner into paradise, then how much more should it steady those of us who live daily under His covenant promises?

This is what makes Jesus dependable. He does not lie. He does not exaggerate. He does not revoke what He says in weakness or pain. What He declares becomes reality. If He says there is a Kingdom, there is a Kingdom. If He says He will prepare a place, a place is prepared. If He says we belong to Him, then no accusation can rewrite that truth. The only question left is this: do we cling to His promises, or do we cling to the opinions and accusations of other people?

Christ is King. He is a Valiant King who conquers our enemies. He is a Generous King who gives Himself for His people. He is a Tested King whose authority has been proven. He is a Dependable King whose word never fails. Jesus is King of Kings. The only question that remains is not whether He reigns — but whether you will bow in allegiance. Will you let Him rule your life? Will you follow Him into His Kingdom? Will you live as a citizen of His reign?

Christ is King.

Peace be with you,

Pastor Bruce