Jesus as “King”
Yes, we could say that Jesus is the king of the Kingdom of God. But it would be more accurate to say that he is the elder brother in the family of God. He is our exemplar:
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
– Matthew 16:24
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
– John 14:6
He is commissioned by our Father to bring us to perfection:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
– Hebrews 12:1-2
And he is generous and shares his inheritance with us:
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
– Romans 8:16-17
Jesus is a qualified and well-equipped elder brother who deals with us as would our heavenly Father:
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
– Hebrews 1:3
By means of his earthly sojourn, Jesus knows and understands his earthly brothers and can act in a priestly capacity (Malachi 2:7) as a sympathetic teacher and administrator:
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
– Hebrews 4:14-16
But Jesus is more than a mere king, and more than our elder brother. He is, in fact, our Creator by the Father’s will:
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”
– Colossians 1:15-16
