Is it still relevant to call Jesus a 'King'

Have you ever wondered why we still apply the word “King” to Jesus? When the Romans fastened to the Cross the inscription “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” their purpose was to taunt the Jewish people, as if to say, “You call this man a king? Look at him, helpless, defeated, and utterly powerless” (Luke 23:36).

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Ironically, their mockery revealed a deeper truth about Jesus. Without intending it, they declared to the world that He reigns not through power or domination but through a radical acceptance of His vulnerability. He conquered sin and death not by evading suffering but by entering fully into its darkness and transforming it through His self-giving love. Even in the resurrection, Jesus retains His wounds to show that His authority is inseparable from His crucifixion.

Jesus models a leadership that prioritizes the dignity and well-being of others, even at great personal cost. Indeed, Jesus overturned every conventional notion of kingship. So why do we persist in according Him a title that is burdened with historical and cultural meanings far removed from the Gospel?

The Gospel is ever ancient and ever new. Its truth does not change, but human understanding does. If the Church hopes to be heard in an age shaped by algorithms, global crises, and scientific wonder, she must rediscover the boldness of the apostles and Mary during Pentecost.