King Jesus and King Xerxes

Question
Jesus is a better king. Can you compare Xerxes and Jesus in the book of Esther?
Answer
Jesus is indeed a better king than Xerxes was. Though there are many, below are a few comparisons.

King Xerxes
King Jesus
Reigned from India to Ethiopia (Est. 1:1) Reigns over all the entire universe (Zech. 14:9; Psa. 11:4)
Sat on a throne in Susa (Est. 1:2) Sits on a throne in heaven (Isa 6:1; Rev. 3:21)
Never left his royal throne (Est. 1:2) Left glory of heaven to become a man (Phil. 2:6-7)
Nickname: king of kings In Reality: The King of kings (Rev. 19:6)
Fashioned himself a god Is God (Col. 1:15-19)
Surrounded himself with a private guard – the 10,000 immortals (Est. 1:3) Could have called more than twelve legions of angels, but didn’t (Matt. 26:53)
Threw a party to show how great he was (Est. 1:3-4) Instituted a meal to remind us of the importance of his sacrifice (1 Cor. 11:23-26)
Wanted people to show off his riches (Est. 1:4) Pours out his riches (Eph. 2:7)
Extravagantly wealthy (Est. 1:4-7) All things belong to him (Psa. 50:10) – immeasurable wealth (Eph. 2:7)
Wanted people to show off his riches (Est. 1:4) Pours out his riches (Eph. 2:7)
Desired to parade Vashti, his bride, naked (Est. 1:10-11) Clothes his bride in fine linen (Rev. 19:8)
Couldn’t make decision on his own, so surrounded himself with advisors (Est. 1:13-14) In eternal counsel of Trinity, ordained all things that come to pass (WSC 7)
Punished all who disobey him (Est. 1:15; 3:8; 7:7-10) Loves his church even when we were dead in sin (Eph. 2:4-5)
Banishes his bride, Vashti, from his presence forever (Est. 1:19) Will spend eternity with his bride, the church (Rev. 21:2-3)
Makes laws that can’t be repealed (Est. 1:19) Came under the law (Gal. 4:4) to fulfill the law (Matt. 5:17)
Declared male headship through men domineering their wives (Est. 1:20-22) Demonstrated headship giving his life for the church, and calling husbands to do the same for their wives (Eph. 5:25)
Commanded royal edicts to go to people in their own language to rule over them (Est. 1:22; 3:12) Commanded the gospel to go to people in their own language (Matt. 28:18-20; Rev. 7:9-10; Est. 8:9)
Killed those who entered his presence uninvited (Est. 4:11) Died and rose again that the church might come boldly into the presence of the Father (Heb. 4:16)
Honored those who saved his life (Est. 6:1-3) Honored by the Father for giving his life to save others (Phil. 2:8-11)
Reigned for 20 years and then died Died, rose again, and lives and reigns forever (Dan. 4:34-35)

I hope this helps.

Related Topics

Overview of the Book of Esther

Answer by Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr.

Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr., D.D., M.Div. is the Theological Editor at Third Millennium Ministries (Thirdmill).