Day 40: King

We may make Jesus essential to our Christmas, but is he King of kings over our entire lives?

“On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of Lords.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19‬:‭16‬)

In the new heavens and new earth, Jesus will be wearing a kingly robe while riding a white horse. Jesus will be called “Faithful and True.” On his robe and on his thigh where the leg bends while riding the horse will be stitched into the fabric, “King of kings and Lord of lords.” It is a robe and title for only him.

The Christmas story reflects the human experience: longing, suffering, joy. There is longing—Herod longed to protect his rule, Simeon longed to see the Messiah, and the Magi longed to worship the king. There is struggle—Joseph had to escape with his family, Zechariah went mute, and Anna lived as a widow. There is joy—Mary praised God, John leapt in the womb, and the shepherds ran to the baby. In the Christmas story, all of the characters’ attention and action was focused on the king.

At the center of the human experience is also Christ the King. You joined this series so that Jesus would become essential to you this Christmas season. But not essential like the “We’d better put out milk and cookies” essential or the “Don’t mention politics at the Christmas party” type of essential. Rather, the essential where there are no equals, where Jesus and cookies and politics are not equivalent priorities. A better word is supreme.

You were seeking a Christmas where Jesus was supreme. Maybe that’s because you are seeking a life where Jesus is supreme. To be “supreme” means to be of the highest rank, order, or importance. It means to be above all things, ahead of all things, and before all things. To be supreme is to be final, absolute, and ultimate. Jesus is supreme.

The longing of the human life is to know God and enjoy him forever. The struggle of human life is to find peace with God and keep Christ supreme. The joy of human life is to render Jesus irreplaceable. The Christmas story reflects the human experience because in the end, we’re all racing for the King.

But sometimes, our desires get the best of us. They start innocent, but gain too much ground. We want to feel comfortable or shape the image others have of us; we want to seek pleasure or be the envy of the neighbor’s heart; we want to master our craft or earn more than we need.

Or we want to surpass our forebears or leave a legacy behind; we want to feel worthy or remain fully self-sufficient; we want to be loved or extravagantly admired; we want to be content or under no one’s control. Suddenly, we find we have put ourselves on the white horse. Where Jesus was supreme, now our self is in his seat.

Alas, the Christmas season is over and has delivered a baby. That baby is Christ the King. In this new year, let us be constantly vigilant, pondering often the state of supremacy in our lives.

Is Christ still the center? Do we find him irreplaceable? Is Jesus our King of kings?

Reflection Questions:

• What does it mean for Jesus to be “supreme” in your life—not just essential, but above all else?

• Which desires or priorities most often compete with Jesus’ place as King in your heart?

• How can you keep Christ at the center and on the throne in the coming year?

Extended Reading: Colossians 1:15–20; Revelation 19:11–16

Song: “King of Kings” by Brooke Ligertwood, Scott Ligertwood, and Jason Ingram

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Day 39: Faithful