The King Among Us: Power, Mercy, and Resistance

Nov 17, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Forgiveness in the Face of Injustice

Even as Jesus suffered on the cross, surrounded by cruelty and dehumanization, he looked upon his oppressors with compassion and pleaded with God to forgive them. This act was not a simple pronouncement but a deep recognition of the humanity of those who harmed him, offering mercy even when none was shown to him. In moments of pain and injustice, the call is not to ignore the reality of suffering, but to hold onto the possibility of forgiveness, even if all we can do is ask God to help us see our enemies as people capable of change. This is an exercise of love that resists the cycle of violence and opens the door to transformation. [41:07]

Luke 23:33-34 (ESV)
And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Reflection: Who is someone you struggle to forgive, and what would it look like today to pray for God to help you see their humanity, even if you cannot yet forgive them yourself?

Day 2: True Power Is Found in Vulnerability and Shared Suffering

Jesus, nailed to the cross and mocked as “King of the Jews,” revealed a different kind of kingship—one that enters into suffering, stands in solidarity with the oppressed, and refuses to wield power through violence. The criminal beside him recognized this paradoxical power, asking to be remembered in Jesus’ kingdom, even as Rome sought to display its dominance. In Christ, we see that true authority is not about domination but about presence, vulnerability, and the willingness to share in the pain of others, offering hope where the world sees only defeat. [44:12]

Luke 23:39-43 (ESV)
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Reflection: Where in your life are you being called to stand with those who suffer, even if it means embracing vulnerability or risk?

Day 3: Bearing God’s Image Means Choosing Mercy Over Domination

To be made in the image of God is to reflect the character of a king who shares power, confronts evil with mercy, and enters into human suffering—not one who lords over others. When we misunderstand God’s kingship as domination, we risk justifying our own misuse of power. But when we see God as the one who leads through love, vulnerability, and justice, we are called to imitate that way in our relationships and communities, working for justice and mercy rather than control. [44:57]

Micah 6:8 (ESV)
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Reflection: In what situation this week can you choose mercy or humility instead of asserting your own power or control?

Day 4: Courageous Love Resists Dehumanization and Injustice

The story of King Christian X and the Danish people during World War II reminds us that true leadership and love are shown by standing with the vulnerable, resisting injustice, and refusing to let fear or hatred divide us. When faced with the demand to mark and isolate their Jewish neighbors, the Danes chose solidarity and risked their own safety to protect others. This kind of courageous love is a reflection of God’s reign—a kingdom where all are valued and no one is left to stand alone. [22:51]

John 15:12-13 (ESV)
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

Reflection: Who in your community or world is being marginalized or dehumanized, and what is one concrete step you can take this week to stand in solidarity with them?

Day 5: Following Christ Means Risking for Justice and Blessing Enemies

To follow Jesus is to imitate his way of using power—not for self-protection or violence, but for forgiveness, mercy, and blessing, even in the face of opposition. The examples of those who protest injustice, who risk arrest and harm to stand with the oppressed, show us what it means to challenge dehumanization and embody the gospel’s demand for justice. This is the way of Christ: a love that holds nothing back, that even blesses enemies, and that calls us to be agents of hope and transformation in the world. [49:31]

Romans 12:14-18 (ESV)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Reflection: What is one risk you can take this week to stand up for justice or to bless someone who has opposed or hurt you?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered to reflect on the nature of God’s power and what it means to call Christ our King. From the opening prayer, we acknowledged God’s majesty not as distant or domineering, but as a love that redeems, shapes, and walks among us. The language of kingship, so prevalent in scripture, can feel foreign in our modern context, yet it remains a powerful metaphor for God’s authority—if we understand it rightly.

To help us reimagine kingship, I shared the story of King Christian X of Denmark, who, during the Nazi occupation, became a symbol of solidarity and resistance. The legend of the king wearing the yellow star, though not fully documented, points to a leader who stood with his people, sharing their risks and refusing to rule from above. This is the kind of kingship that echoes the way God reigns: not by coercion, but by presence, vulnerability, and shared suffering.

We then turned to the image of Jesus on the cross—mocked as “King of the Jews,” stripped of power, and crucified alongside others. Here, the paradox of Christ’s kingship is most clear: the one who is called King is also “poor little Mary’s boy,” broken and humiliated. Yet, even in agony, Jesus extends mercy, praying for the forgiveness of his executioners and offering hope to the criminal beside him. This is not a king who dominates, but one who loves to the end, who confronts evil not with violence, but with the strength of vulnerability and forgiveness.

This vision of kingship challenges us deeply. If we are made in the image of this God, then our power must look like Christ’s: standing with the vulnerable, resisting dehumanization, and loving even our enemies. We see this embodied in those who protest injustice today, who risk themselves in nonviolent resistance, and who refuse to let cruelty have the last word. The reign of Christ is not about lording over others, but about sharing in their suffering and working for justice and mercy.

As we sang and prayed together, we were reminded that Christ goes before us, beside us, beneath us, and within us—calling us to courage, hope, and love. May we be imitators of this Christ, who is both the suffering servant and the King of kings.

Key Takeaways

1. Kingship as Shared Vulnerability, Not Domination True kingship, as seen in Christ and echoed in the story of King Christian X, is not about ruling from above but about standing with and among the people, sharing their risks and burdens. This challenges our assumptions about power and invites us to lead through presence, solidarity, and self-giving love, rather than control or coercion. [22:29]
2. Mercy in the Midst of Suffering Jesus, even while suffering on the cross, extends mercy to his executioners and hope to the criminal beside him. This radical act of forgiveness is not a denial of pain or injustice, but a refusal to let cruelty define reality. It is a call to see even our enemies as human, capable of change, and to entrust ultimate justice to God. [41:07]
3. Bearing God’s Image Means Bearing Christ’s Way To be made in the image of God is to reflect the character of Christ: a king who shares power, enters into suffering, and confronts evil with mercy and nonviolence. This stands in stark contrast to worldly models of power, and calls us to resist the temptation to dominate, instead choosing the costly path of love and justice. [44:57]
4. Faithful Witness Requires Risk and Resistance Following Christ’s example means challenging dehumanization wherever we find it, even at personal cost. The stories of modern-day pastors risking arrest and violence for the sake of justice remind us that public witness is not just symbolic, but healing and necessary. Our faith compels us to stand with the marginalized and to confront systems of cruelty. [48:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[14:00] - Opening Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
[14:57] - The Language of Kingship
[15:50] - Introducing King Christian X
[16:53] - The Legend of the Yellow Star
[18:36] - Acts of Resistance in Denmark
[19:41] - The Riddle of the Yellow Star
[22:29] - Kingship as Shared Risk
[23:53] - Denmark’s Rescue of the Jews
[30:56] - Prayers for Justice and Courage
[32:10] - Confession and Idolatry
[35:28] - Reign of Christ Sunday
[36:19] - “Who is Jesus?”: A Black Church Dialogue
[37:38] - Jesus on the Cross: Power and Vulnerability
[40:24] - Mercy from the Cross
[42:52] - The Absurdity of Christ’s Kingship
[44:57] - Bearing God’s Image
[46:34] - Modern Examples of Faithful Witness
[49:31] - Bad Theology Kills
[51:03] - Singing for Justice
[56:31] - Benediction and Sending Forth

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Kingship of Christ—Power, Presence, and Shared Suffering

Bible Reading

Luke 23:32-43 (ESV)
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Observation Questions

In the story of King Christian X, what specific actions did the king take to stand with his people during the Nazi occupation? ([19:09])
According to the sermon, what was the purpose of crucifixion in the Roman Empire, and how did it relate to the way Jesus was treated? ([37:38])
What did Jesus say to God about his executioners while he was on the cross, and what does this reveal about his character? ([41:07])
How did the people of Denmark respond to the threat against their Jewish neighbors, and what was the outcome? ([23:53])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon describes Jesus as both “King of kings” and “poor little Mary’s boy.” What does it mean for Christ’s kingship to include both power and vulnerability? ([36:19])
When Jesus prays, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” what does this teach about how we are to view those who hurt or oppose us? ([41:07])
The criminal next to Jesus asks to be remembered “when you come into your kingdom.” What does this request say about hope and faith in the midst of suffering? ([42:52])
The sermon mentions that bearing God’s image means bearing Christ’s way—sharing power, entering into suffering, and confronting evil with mercy. How does this challenge common ideas about what it means to have power? ([44:57])

Application Questions

The story of King Christian X shows a leader willing to share risk and stand with the vulnerable. In your daily life, what would it look like for you to “stand with” someone who is at risk or marginalized? Can you think of a specific situation where you could do this? ([22:29])
Jesus forgave those who were hurting him, even as he suffered. Is there someone in your life who has wronged you, and what would it mean to extend mercy or forgiveness to them, even if it feels undeserved? ([41:07])
The sermon talks about resisting dehumanization and standing up against injustice, even when it’s risky. Are there places in your community, workplace, or school where you see people being treated unfairly? What is one small step you could take to challenge that? ([48:49])
The example of pastors risking arrest for protesting injustice was shared. What risks, big or small, might God be calling you to take for the sake of justice or mercy? ([48:49])
The sermon warns against using power to dominate or control. Are there areas in your life—at home, work, or church—where you are tempted to use your influence to get your way? How could you instead use your influence to serve or lift up others? ([44:57])
The image of Christ as a king who is present, vulnerable, and loving challenges us to rethink leadership. Who is someone in your life who models this kind of leadership? How can you learn from their example?
The closing blessing reminded us that Christ goes before us, beside us, beneath us, and within us. When you face fear or uncertainty, how can you remind yourself of Christ’s presence and draw courage from it? ([56:31])

Sermon Clips

“Sometimes we don't have enough words or the right words to talk about who Jesus is. And in biblical times, the most powerful being that people could think of was a king. So they would say that Jesus or God is king of kings, like the biggest, the best over all, the king over all the kings. But that gets difficult for us when we want to talk about God being the most great. Because we don't have a king. We don't, that's not a concept that we use in our time like they did in biblical times. But sometimes we still steal it from biblical language or we steal it from other countries that have kings.”

“And the reason I tell it is because it is about someone who led, not from the top down, but by being among people and putting himself at risk. And if we're going to talk about God being a king, then that's the kind of king I would like us to imagine when we use that word for your attention.”

“So, as I said, parts of this story we can't document. But we do know that Jews were not forced to wear the yellow star within the country of Denmark. And that of all the Nazi-occupied countries, only Denmark rescued the overwhelming majority of its Jewish population. Over 7,000 Jews from Denmark were smuggled to Sweden in a fishing boat operation in groups of 12 to 14 at a time by a group of Danish people who called themselves the Helsinger Sewing Club. So, it is a wonderful story.”

“The intent of adding this to the church calendar at that point was to affirm the authority of Christ as the truest, highest ruler of the world. So today we're invited to consider this vignette of Jesus on the cross within the context of his whole life and ministry.”

“Who is Jesus? King of kings cannot be the only answer, because poor little Mary's boy is there too. And the answers clash. Well, in our text that Tom read, Poor little Mary's boy is probably easiest to see. He is being executed by crucifixion, a form of death by torture, meant to humiliate the condemned and intimidate the masses and project imperial power.”

“Jesus has been forsaken by most of his friends and mocked by his enemies. He has been beaten. He is in pain and afraid. And a sign over his cross sarcastically proclaims him King of the Jews. It's a warning about what happens to people who pose a threat to petty tyrants. Those tyrants who abuse their power. Poor little Mary's boy is subject to the rule of domination, terror, and contempt. The cruelty is the point.”

“Jesus on the cross is physically close to other supposed insurrectionists. He is associated with them because the authorities have lumped them together without any care for guilt or innocence. He is forced into a kind of intimacy with these strangers because of their shared suffering and dehumanization.”

“In the midst of this pain, this awfulness, Jesus says, Father, forgive them for they don't know what they're doing. He offers mercy even while absolutely none is being offered to him. He continues to see his oppressors as humans even while they seek to strip him of every shred of dignity and humanity. He gives them the biggest benefit of the doubt. Surely, if they understood what they were doing, they would stop. And for that failure to understand, he asks God to forgive them.”

“Now, these words from Jesus are often held up as an example for us to follow. But for victims of violence and trauma, that may not be helpful. It may increase a sense of guilt and pain. And so it might be helpful to see this nuance. Jesus does not instantaneously pronounce forgiveness on his executioners. But he pleads with God to forgive them. Sometimes that's all we can do.”

“But even if that's what we can do, to continue to recognize our enemies as humans, as people who could make better choices and might yet do so, that seems to me to be an exercise of love.”

“Somehow, in his last moments, this man comprehends that Jesus is something more than he appears. This man understands that Rome, for all its power and violence, is not completely in control of this situation. Remember me when you come into your power. We know this, and simultaneously, we resist knowing it.”

“The God that we worship chose to reveal God's self most completely in two ways. In the vulnerable helplessness of an infant, and in the brokenness of an executed man. So somehow, here we see not just poor little Mary's baby, but also, somehow, the king of kings and Lord Almighty.”

“We affirm that we are made in the image of God. Whenever we make that affirmation, we need to be mindful of who that God is, of what that God is, and of how it is that we bear the image of God.”

“So if we say that God is a king, and by that we mean an earthly dictator, then we may be tempted to see ourselves as co-rulers, equal with God, and to lord it over others. But if we mean the God is the king who shares power, the one who enters into human suffering, the one who confronts evil with strength, but not violence, with mercy and power, if that's what we mean by God as a king, that implies a whole different thing for us.”

“Now we have a lot of bad models today. A lot of Christians casually or intentionally adopting violence as a way of life. a public theology that holds up a punitive, violent God which leads to a lot of Christians who defend horrific treatment of others in God's name. But there are others who don't do that. And I think we need to allow ourselves to be inspired by them.”

“For me, it's really important to take some risks. While I'm in my clerical collar, it's important because it's not just about the public witness part. It's actually healing for people to see the people who represent the church and represent God in public really care about this and that they're not going to shrink from the violence, that they're not afraid of what's going to happen. And it's so important for us to gather there. We have to challenge dehumanization at every single point we find it as people of faith. It's so vital that we do that.”

“Friends, this is the way that our God chooses to use power with forgiveness and mercy and the strength of vulnerability and love, a love that holds nothing back and even blesses enemies. May we be imitators of Christ and not the ways of power in this world who is Jesus, poor little Mary's boy and King of kings and Lord Almighty. Thanks be to God.”

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