Most people frown when they hear about the feast of Christ the King. Because most people would say that it takes a lot of grit to call someone born in a stable, wandering as a poor man, and finally being crucified and killed a king. First of all, the king is an anomaly and anachronistic image. Because not only does it not fit with the historical Jesus, but kingship and monarchy are relics of the past. However, like many other concepts, the kingship of Christ is a very mystical concept.

Mary, who says, “He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly,” and Zechariah, who says, “He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,” have clear nuances of kingship.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the city of King David and as a descendant of David.

At his birth, the Magi who followed the star from the east inquired, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” King Herod was disturbed because a new king had been born to the Jews and therefore ordered the killing of the infants in and around Bethlehem.

Taking cues from the Old Testament, the Jewish people had long believed in and hoped for a king, the Son of David, would ascend the throne of David, who would deliver them from their enemies and shepherd the nations with an iron rod. This concept and hope are reflected throughout the Gospels too.

He is often addressed as "Son of David," and at least once Jesus responds by saying, "Not the Son of David, but the Lord of David." However, on the occasion of his royal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus enters the temple amidst a crowd shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David."

His entire message revolves around a political theme: the "Kingdom of God."

When the people try to make him king after he had fed the multitude by multiplying the loaves, he scoots away from their midst.

Why, then, do you think that the Jewish leaders accused him before Pilate, saying, "He claims to be the King of the Jews?" Couldn't it be that they somehow got the message that he claimed to be the King through his words which also declared that he was the Messiah, the Savior, the King- the people had been waiting for? We can rightly presume that it was for this reason Pilate repeatedly asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” His answer is that he is a king, but not the kind of king you think about. “My kingdom is not of this world,” is the clear statement he makes. He is saying that his kingdom is not an earthly kingdom with limited territories, nor is it in any earthly forms of power. Not just in one line, but in every word he spoke he said this. His will be the kingdom - the Kingdom of God, where the poor, the sorrowing, the oppressed, the mocked, the humble, the hungry, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peaceable will inherit the earth. It's when the entire existing world order will be turned upside down. These stones that the builders of today's world have rejected will become the cornerstones of the new world.

When the soldiers who heard had their turn, they made a crown of thorns and thrust it on his head.

They also gave him a reed in his hand. Even before that, Herod had put his kingly purple robe on him, the symbol of his royalty. Now he just had to assume his throne. And they did that too. It had the shape of a cross. They crucified the king of the poor, the despised, the oppressed, the mocked, and the rejected on his throne - the Cross.

Above his head they nailed an inscription written by Pilate in three languages: Hebrew, Latin, and Greek:

"Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews"!!!