Good Morning Friends,
Today is Christ the King Sunday. It will be the culmination of the liturgical year. The roll of the holiday season is upon us with Thanksgiving followed with Advent and the Christmas rush. So, let me wish you a Happy New Year if you follow the “Church” calendar. But before we are taken up in the whirlwind of the season, I thought it wise to consider in advance this time without glossing over something important to get to the “feel good” events of all for which we should be thankful. I want to linger for a moment now in preparation to better understand the two Messiahs…the Servant and the King…Ben Yosef and Ben David. Friends, life is full of questions. They are everywhere and run from the mundane to the heavenly.But as Christians I am convinced that we need to be asked, and we need to share answers to some basic questions and even some difficult ones that we like Peter should be able to answer… So today we ask about the Alpha and the Omega and its connection to Christ on the Cross. Today we ask each other who we say Jesus is. Today we ask: Who Is Our King?
Scripture: Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:13-18 (NRSV)
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:33-43 (NRSV)
Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him.
John 18:28-38a (NRSV)
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NRSV)
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, ‘Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.’ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.
2 Samuel 5:1-3 (NRSV)
giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:12-20 (NRSV)
Message: For the most part, we have a very cynical view of kings and royalty. Most of the Kings in the Bible were a sorry lot. Today that system seems to have outlived its effectiveness. Still, we have a fascination with royalty in England. The word King is often used as a term in the entertainment industry as well. For example, Elvis was called the King of Rock and Roll and Michael Jackson the King of Pop. But if we consider Jesus the Super Star of Super Stars then we miss the mark of what it means to be the King of Kings. Shame on us for not seeking to understand what a King and servant leadership is really about. Here is the deal. If we think Hebrew, and we should, then today’s scripture and the thought of Jesus being King should make us a little uneasy. If God is in Jesus, then we have to ask, why does God do what He does? No, I cannot understand the mind of God. I search for answers and the realization that pulls it all together and find that all I can do is stand in awe of God. All I can do is worship God, praise God, and fall down on my knees before Jesus. And yet here I am also left with the image of a Jesus who left people wondering as to who he was and the reality that despite all the opinions He has somehow made sure that I know Him and His heart. And in this tension…in the binding and the loosing of whatever God has already willed in us, He is revealed. In our obedience to His will His message is proclaimed. Instead of ruling from a throne, Christ the King reigns from a place of love that extends from the cross to the grave and beyond time. And here with and through the power of his love, Jesus invites our allegiance to join His heavenly kingdom that extends to earth. Yes, Jesus is a different kind of King. Most Kings rule by force. But Jesus rules by love.
And So, Jesus is a different kind of King who rules as a Shepherd watching out for us and providing for our needs. Jesus is the King of the universe…of everything so I am glad my kids are getting married to spouses that love them and that they love and that they are doing it during this time of the year. On this final weekend of the church year, as my children get married, I trust that they like our relationship with Christ will be one that is more than an allegiance with our lips, but reflective of desires for a fundamentally different way of being in relationship with God and with one another. Friends, Christ our King is right there with us and has committed to be in solidarity with and both our suffering and joy. Kind of sounds like love. And our role in this regard is more in humbly submitting to God’s grace than exerting our own will. And what is amazing about such a faith is that it is not based on our present situation, but it looks forward to the future with hope in the authority of Christ. When we love our faith is made strong and permeates our being.
Pray we crown Jesus in our lives with many crowns of mercy shared. Pray we stay awake and are focused on what is happening in our relationship with God. Pray we spread Jesus’ kingdom in this world. Pray with thanks that Jesus loves us and rules in our hearts. Pray that our marriages be a little of heaven on earth. Pray we ask questions that help us to experience Christ and the renewing Spirit of his forgiveness and love. Pray we realize that the King is returning but that he still can rule in our hearts now. Pray in the mystery of it all that we allow God to be God. Pray that we experience Him with awe and wonder and pray that we want others to know Him too. Pray that we pass it on with each person we meet. Pray that we find ourselves in the newness of relationships with one another because our relationship with Jesus Christ is constantly being renewed. Pray that we be moral in an immoral world. Pray that we take up the challenge of revealing God’s truth in us. Pray that we have the courage to make a commitment. Pray we emulate the love of the King of Kings. Pray that we commit now to being part of a new Kingdom ruled by love. Pray we offer Thanksgiving for the Faith, Hope and Love in our lives. Pray our prayers request and reason for results which honor God. Pray that our faith in Christ’s authority is forming our love for others.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 