Shorter Catechism Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king? A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.
Commentary: That Jesus is a king is a point that is emphasized throughout the New Testament. When the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would conceive and bear a son, he said that her son “will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:32-33).” Jesus was born to be king, and he is now “the King of kings (Rev. 19:16).”
There are at least three ways Jesus rules as our king. First, he subdues us to himself. As the great king, Jesus has cast out the ruler of this age and is drawing all peoples to himself. He has bound the strong man so that he might rob his house. God has exalted Jesus to his right hand to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:31).
Second, Jesus rules and defends us. He does this by providence, by the church and by his Word and Spirit. The Larger Catechism expounds upon this point thus: “…and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them…rewarding their obedience and correcting them for their sins, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings.”
Third, Jesus restrains and conquers all his and our enemies. As the King of kings, Jesus is destroying every rule and authority and power. And he will reign until God has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Cor. 15:24-25). We are, therefore, more than conquerors through him who loved us (Rom. 8:37).