Right now, I’m a few weeks into preaching the entire book of Esther. The book opens with a man named King Xerxes/Ahasuerus (the Greek and Persian names, respectively).
He’s quite a piece of work. In his mid-30s, he sits on a throne, even has it carried to battle so he can sit on it to watch his army, just as they showed in the movie 300 (which I’m not recommending, just mentioning). When passing before his throne, you had to bow. If you sat on his throne, stood on the rug in front of his throne, or even simply approached his throne without him inviting you, then you were killed. Simple enough.
We learn from an inscription archaeologists uncovered that Xerxes had this to say about himself: “I am Xerxes the Great King, the only king, the king of all countries which speak all kinds of languages, the king of this entire big and far-reaching earth.” He got an A+ in self-esteem pretty much every year from kindergarten to grad school.
The truth is Xerxes was a wretched, perverted man. And, I doubt you or I would be any better if we had his life. Born to royalty, reared in luxury, and treated like deity, he lived for his own glory. We tend to do the same thing but with far fewer dollars and soldiers to help us get our way.
Thankfully, Jesus is a better King with a better kingdom. It struck me as I prepared to preach recent sermons on Esther that you can see this so clearly when we compare the two side-by-side:
- Xerxes was the son of Darius, but Jesus is the Son of God.
- Xerxes never tasted poverty or humility, but Jesus tasted both poverty and humility to identify with us.
- Xerxes used his power to abuse women, but Jesus used his power to honor women.
- Xerxes spent his entire life being served, but Jesus spent his entire life serving others.
- Xerxes killed his enemies with an army of millions, but Jesus died for his enemies, saving billions.
- Xerxes sat on a throne in Susa, but Jesus sits on a throne in heaven.
- Xerxes was the most powerful man on earth, but Jesus made the heavens and the earth and he rules over all creation.
- Xerxes said he would rule wherever the sun set, but only Jesus made the sun and rules over all of creation.
- Xerxes died and today no one worships him as god, but Jesus conquered death and today billions worship Jesus as the only God.
- Xerxes thought he was a man who became god, but only Jesus is God who became a man.
- Xerxes’ kingdom had subjects from many nations, but Jesus’ kingdom has joyful worshipers from every nation.
- Xerxes threw enormous banquets, but the one Jesus is preparing for us in heaven makes Xerxes’ pale in comparison.
- Xerxes’ kingdom came to an end, but Jesus’ kingdom has no end.
- Xerxes declared himself king of kings, but he died. He stood before and was judged by the one and only King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the West, I do think we struggle sometimes to see Jesus as a King. After all, we prefer to vote for our leaders, and the thought of royalty is not one most Americans in particular relish—after all we rebelled against royalty. But the Bible is repeatedly clear that Jesus is our King and we are citizens of his kingdom. Jesus is our great King. He is a better King than any and every king.
He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Mark Driscoll is the founding and preaching pastor of Mars Hill Church.
