Christ

The word “Christ” is simply the Greek translation of “Messiah”: the anointed one, the king. Jesus from Nazareth – the son of a carpenter, killed on a cross – is king to such a degree that the royal title has become his name. When we call ourselves Christians, we confess ourselves to be people belonging to the king, people who acknowledge Christ as their king.

However, in order to understand the kingship of Christ correctly, one has to turn to its origins in the Old Covenant. These origins are somewhat surprising. It would seem to be clear that monarchy was not part of God's original plan for Israel. The origins of the monarchy in Israel are to be found in a rebellion of the people against God and his prophets, as a result of apostasy from God's original plan. After they had taken possession of the land, this people – which had grown together into a sort of confederation from various tribes – knew only judges, not a ruler. The judge was not the fount of the law, it was not for him to make laws; rather his task was to judge according to the law that was given. The rule of Israel was located in the law, the holy law given by God. The law should be the king of Israel, and through the law, God himself. Everyone was equal and everyone was free, because there was only one Lord, God, who by virtue of the law held his hand over Israel.

But Israel became envious of its neighbouring peoples with their mighty kings. Israel wanted to be like them. Samuel warns the people in vain: If you want a king, then you will become slaves. The people rejected the freedom, the equality, and the special election which they enjoyed through having God as their only king. They wanted to be like everyone else; they conformed to the logic of Esau – the privilege of election has to give way to vanity and covetousness. Monarchy in Israel is originally an expression of rebellion against the rule of God – a rejection of the privilege of election, a return to a place amongst the other peoples. But then something astonishing happens: God plays along with the stubbornness of Israel but creates simultaneously a new opportunity for an encounter. The Son of David, the king, bears the name Jesus; through him God appears amongst men, and unites himself to mankind.