Growing up in the Philippines, the image of Jesus that surrounded me was always tender, soft, and often helpless. I saw Him in Sto. Niño statues—chubby, smiling, childlike. Or I saw Him bleeding, limp, and nailed to a cross. These images were deeply ingrained in Filipino religious culture, and they served a certain emotional and devotional purpose. But over the years, I began to wrestle with a difficult but necessary question: Is this the full picture of Jesus according to Scripture?

The answer, of course, is no.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Jesus was a child. And He did suffer immensely for our salvation. But if we stop there—if we only worship the baby or we only reflect on the suffering—we miss the full glory of who Jesus truly is. And perhaps more importantly, we rob ourselves of the victorious hope He offers as the risen and reigning King.

Looking at the Whole Story

When we apply deeper study and understanding, we learn that every text of Scripture must be read in its context. That includes its literary context, cultural background, and place within the larger narrative of the Bible. The Gospels don’t end with the crucifixion. They continue into the resurrection and the ascension. And the New Testament doesn’t stop with the Gospels—it moves toward Revelation, where we see Jesus as the conquering King.

So why do so many of us still hold on to an image of Jesus that is either perpetually in a crib or perpetually hanging on a cross?

I believe part of it is because these images are familiar and emotionally accessible. A baby is non-threatening. A suffering man draws out our sympathy. But a King—a conquering Lord—that demands submission, obedience, and reverence. And perhaps that’s what we, as a culture, often shy away from.

What the Bible Actually Says

If we look at Revelation 19:11–16, we get a breathtaking image of the risen Christ:

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True… He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God… On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

This is not a soft, sentimental Jesus. This is not the baby Sto. Niño or the bloodied statue in a glass coffin. This is Jesus in power, majesty, and dominion. This is the King who has conquered sin, death, and the grave. This is the Jesus we need to know in order to walk in victory.

And yet, He is the same Jesus. The same one who was born of a virgin. The same one who healed the sick and wept at Lazarus’ tomb. The same one who was mocked, beaten, crucified—and rose again. The difference is that we are now invited to see Him in His full glory.

Why This Matters for Us

A faith that only sees the baby Jesus might never grow in maturity. A devotion that only focuses on the suffering Christ might remain stuck in guilt. But a faith that sees the whole Christ—from the cradle, to the cross, to the throne—can walk in resurrection power.

When I think about my own life, my challenges, and the brokenness in the world around me, I need more than a tender child or a dying man. I need a King. I need someone who has overcome and who empowers me to overcome. And that’s who Jesus is.

In a nation like ours that is still very much influenced by traditional religious imagery, I believe it’s time to rediscover the biblical Jesus—the conquering, reigning, and soon-returning Lord. This isn’t just a theological shift. It’s a personal one. It changes how we pray, how we live, and how we hope.

A Final Thought

Let’s honor the fullness of Christ. Let’s remember the Incarnation. Let’s never take for granted the suffering of the cross. But let’s also lift our eyes to the heavens and see the Lamb who is also the Lion—the one who reigns, and who is coming again in power.

And when we do, our worship deepens. Our faith strengthens. And our lives begin to reflect not just devotion—but victorious living under the reign of our King.

Soli Deo Gloria.