Christ as King

I was listening to Andy Stanley's opening big session talk at the Drive 2022 Conference last month. He was sharing the thought that we have lost the idea of Jesus as King - a king who has authority over us, not just a savior who saves us. Part of the reason is that we have translated the word "messiah" - which means "anointed one" and had the idea of a king - as "Christ," which doesn't really have any significance for us as English speakers in the 21st Century. It seems like a lot of people just think Christ is Jesus' last name, like "Joseph Christ and Mary Christ had a son, Jesus Christ." We'd be better off if it was just translated consistently as "messiah", although for non-Jewish people that is not a lot better.

I wonder if for Americans some of that has to do with us not really having a clear concept of what a king really is. Not that other modern monarchies really do, either, in this respect. But for us in the US, we think in terms of a president who has some power and authority in political circles, but doesn't really command our allegiance in daily life. In fact, usually at least half of the people in the country don't even respect the person, no matter who is in the White House.

What would it take for us to recapture that idea of Jesus as our ultimate authority who is worthy of our allegiance and obedience? I mean, we pray that all the time in the Lord's Prayer: "Your will be done..." - as opposed to what? My will! 

We pray that, but do we really follow that? Even when we don't agree with Him?