Advent Day 36: King of Kings

Adoration of the Name of Jesus, El Greco, 1577 and 1580. Oil on wood, 55.1 × 33.8 cm. National Gallery, London, England. Public Domain.

“What a Beautiful Name” performed by Stephen McWhirter, composed by Brooke Gabrielle (Fraser) Ligertwood.

“Crown Him” (Christmas), performed by Chris Tomlin with Matt Redman, lyrics by Chris Tomlin and Matthew Bridges, Music by Sir George Job Elvey.

Poetry:

“Everything Holds Together”
by Malcolm Guite

Everything holds together, everything,
From stars that pierce the dark like living sparks,
To secret seeds that open every spring,
From spanning galaxies to spinning quarks,
Everything holds together and coheres,
Unfolding from the center whence it came.
And now that hidden heart of things appears,
The first-born of creation takes a name.

And shall I see the one through whom I am?
Shall I behold the one for whom I’m made,
The light in light, the flame within the flame,
Eikon tou theou, image of my God?
He comes, a little child, to bless my sight,
That I might come to him for life and light.

King of Kings

Today’s Scriptures point to Jesus as “King of Kings.” What does this title mean to us? We might think of kings from the Bible (sometimes good, but often very wicked), kings from fairy tales (sometimes noble, but often foolish), and kings from more modern history (who imposed tariffs on the colonies, for example, or who offer ceremonial functions and plenty of drama for tabloids). What if we switch “king” for “president” or “prime minister”? Now what might come to mind is dismay that a leader can’t accomplish much for our good, disgust at their corruption, or anxiety about their short-sighted decisions which might negatively impact our future. We long for a leader who will bring us righteousness, justice, peace, and abundance (see, for example, Psalm 72).

Our music for today reminds us that Jesus is this one we long for. The lyrics of the first piece include “Jesus Christ my king…beautiful, wonderful, powerful…forever you reign.” In the second piece we hear that Jesus is a “matchless king,” “king of grace and love,” deserving of “many crowns” offered by “all the earth” and “all the world” “for all eternity.”

The painting we see today was commissioned by Philip II, King of Spain and later Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and more. El Greco featured him prominently in the painting, one of the figures in the bottom left, along with some of his pals: a pope, a duke, and a lord. This painting illustrates Philippians 2:10—“at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth.” El Greco has divided the painting into several sections. At the top, in golden light representing heaven, we don’t see the figure of Jesus, but instead his name, the letters IHS. (This symbol is the first three letters of “Jesus” in Greek, ΙΗΣΟΥΣ (Iēsous).) Angels are in postures of worship. Separated from heaven by gray clouds is hell at the bottom right. Its gate looks like the jaws of a sharp-toothed monster. People there are kneeling before the Name, but in positions of agony. At the bottom left are people on earth, including the richly attired rulers. They are nominally bowing a knee, but they obviously felt they deserved special attention in the painting. While they are supposed to be adoring the name of Jesus, it is unlikely that these powerful men really understood Jesus as King of Kings.

Jesus is not just a regular king multiplied a hundred times. The new verses added by Chris Tomlin & Matt Redman to the traditional hymn “Crown him with many crowns” remind us that Jesus is the Creator of the universe and to come to earth he left a throne beyond our imagining. (Malcolm Guite’s poem for today also expresses this: “the first-born of creation takes a name,” and sends us back to Colossians 1 and the reflection from December 6.) Rather than choosing a prominent position like King Philip II, Jesus chose to humble himself. Rather than being a domineering ruler seeking to bend all to his will, Jesus is a “lamb upon his throne.” Rather than maintaining a distance between heaven and earth, like the gap El Greco painted with heavy gray clouds and vague purgatorial figures in brown, Jesus comes to bridge heaven and earth.

During this season we sing many carols referring to Jesus as king: “let earth receive her king,” “glory to the newborn king,” “born a child and yet a king,” “this, this is Christ the king.” Each time that word crosses our lips, let us remember that our allegiance is to no one but King Jesus. He is not like a human king. Instead of enslaving his subjects, Jesus the sacrificed Lamb is our redeemer. Instead of enriching himself, Jesus gives himself to us. Instead of insisting on deference, Jesus receives our glad worship. Instead of an earthly rule that will inevitably come to an end, Jesus will reign for eternity. Instead of a world of cruel divisions, Jesus’ kingdom is one of grace, peace, justice, and love.

Do you have time to linger a bit longer here today? I suggest that you read the reflection one more time and then, while looking at El Greco’s painting, listen again to “What a Beautiful Name.”

Prayer:
Jesus, our King, help us to daily ensure that our loyalty is to you. And help us to live in such a way that draws others to your Kingdom.
Amen

Dr. Kitty Barnhouse Purgason
Professor Emerita
Department of Applied Linguistics and TESOL
Biola University