Many people have a love-hate relationship with power and authority. We recognize that we need it but it is so often abused. People suffer the consequences of unjust rule. We call Jesus the king of the universe but he is a different sort of king and reveals to us how power and authority is to be used. Colossians indeed describes his kingship as being first in everything but not in an oppressive or domineering manner. He holds everything together and reconciles the entire world and its people to himself and thereby to God. Being first means exercising unity, harmony, and reconciliation - in other words, it is about compassion and service. It's a fine model for our own world. The sign placed above Jesus on the cross was ironic - it called him the king of the Jews with the intention of mocking him, but it actually spoke a much deeper truth. The crowd taunted him by urging him to save himself if he were indeed a king - after all, kings exercise power and force and don't allow themselves to suffer. But his kingship was not one of violence or force but of love. He remained on the cross not because he was unable to save himself but because he was intent on saving all of us. The world around us urges us to be combative and aggressive and to push to get our way. Instead of trying to force our will on others or throw our own weight around, perhaps we can use a far more effective power - that of love. We can use this in any situation and it is far more effective!