Christ is the King of the Universe
By Abba Jimmy
This article is an exercise to contemplate the divinity of Jesus Christ and to understand and remember what God expects us to do before the second coming of his Son, Jesus Christ. Read it slowly and reflect on each passage of Scripture since these passages reveal how we can be saved.
In the book of Daniel 7:10, we read: “A river of fire broke out and ran before him. Thousands served him, and hundreds of thousands stood in his presence. The court sat down, and the books were opened.” In this passage, we read a prophecy about Jesus as the Judge of the living and the dead. In Joel 3:4, we read: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the Day of the Lord comes, a great and terrible day.” In the book of the prophet Malachi 3:19, we read: “For the Day is coming, hot as an oven. All the arrogant and those who do evil will be like chaff; the Day that comes will consume them, says the Lord of hosts, until they leave no root or branch.” And in Matthew 3:7–12 we read: “When he saw that many Pharisees and Sadducees were approaching to receive their baptism, John said to them: You brood of vipers, who taught you to escape the impending wrath of God? Produce the fruit of a sincere conversion, and do not be content with saying: ‘We have Abraham for our Father.’ Because I tell you that from these stones, God can raise children of Abraham, the ax is already laid at the root of the trees: the tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize them with water, so they convert, but he who comes after me is more powerful than me, and I am not even worthy of taking off his sandals. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. He has the pitchfork in his hand and will clear his threshing floor: he will gather his wheat into the barn and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
In all these passages, the prophets of God declared at different times and locations the divine authority of Jesus Christ to rule, govern, save, and judge the nations. The true King, the Sun of Justice, is Jesus Christ the Lord. Although today it seems that the enemies of Jesus Christ are winning souls and fighting the final battle, it is not so. They have not earned it. Jesus Christ, who is alive and seated at the right hand of the Father, will come with glory to judge the living and the Dead, and his kingdom will have no end, so we declare in the Creed.
Also, Jesus himself announced with the proclamation of his Word the judgment of the Last Day. Yes, on the last Day. There will be a day that will be the last.
What will happen then on the Last Day, when Jesus returns as sovereign King, just and merciful Judge? All will come to light, and the conduct of each one will be made public. This is how we read it in Matthew 12:38–40: “Then some scribes and Pharisees said to him: Master, we want you to show us a sign. He answered them, ‘This wicked and adulterous generation claims a sign, but it will be given no sign other than that of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, so will the Son of Man be in the bosom of the earth three days and three nights.’” And in Luke 12:1–3, we read: “Meanwhile thousands of people gathered, to the point of trampling each other. Jesus began to say, addressing his disciples first: ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing hidden that should not be revealed and nothing secret that should not be known. Therefore, everything you have said in the dark will be heard in broad daylight; what they have spoken in the ear, in the most hidden rooms, will be proclaimed from the top of the houses.’” And in John 3: 20–21, we read: “Everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come near it, for fear that his works will be discovered. On the other hand, he who works according to the truth approaches the light, so that it may be revealed that his works have been done in God.” And in Romans 2:16, we read: “Until the Day that God will judge the hidden intentions of men through Christ Jesus, according to the Good News that I preach.” In I Cor 4:5, we read: “Therefore, do not make premature judgments. Let the Lord come: he will bring to light what is hidden in the darkness and manifest hearts’ secret intentions. Then, each one will receive from God the praise that corresponds to him.”
Let us conclude this reflection by reading how those who rejected the grace of God will be condemned. Open your Bible to Mt 11:20–24; and Mt 12: 41–42.
And what does God say about the attitude towards our neighbor that reveals the acceptance or rejection of God’s grace and divine love? Again, look for Mt 5:22 and Mt 7:1–5.
And finally, Jesus will say on the last Day: “Whatever you did to one of these least of my brothers, you did it to me” (Mt 25: 40).
May the feast of Jesus Christ, King of the universe, help us comprehend the greatness, power, majesty, and glory of the Son of God.
