Loving God, you take the things that are valued in this world and turn them upside down, making your power perfect in weakness.  Strengthen our hearts this day in faith and in trust, helping us to see beyond the selfishness in this world; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

    This morning I’d like to invite you to think for a moment about the kings and queens that you know about.  What can you tell me about kings and queens? [Live in palaces - rich - powerful or figurehead - others serve them - fancy clothes] Given what we know about kings and queens, it is a pretty revolutionary statement to say that Jesus is a king and to say that Jesus is “the ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:5).  After all, does this look like a king? [show images of Jesus]

    When Jesus was crucified, the sign on the cross said, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.  Particularly in the gospel of John, this is seen as Jesus’ coronation, in an odd sort of way.  It speaks about Jesus being lifted up – as in, lifted up on the cross – and drawing all people to himself (Jn. 12:32).  It also speaks about Jesus being glorified and giving glory to God through the cross (Jn. 12:27-28).  In Jesus, there is victory over sin and death in the midst of apparent defeat, there is redemption in the midst of suffering, and the power of God is made known in the face of what looks like weakness and humiliation.

    By the world’s standards, Jesus seemed to be weak and pathetic and defeated.  However, when viewed with the eyes of faith, Jesus submitted himself to human hands in humble obedience to God, thereby breaking the power of sin and death for all those who would put their faith in him.

    And so, we have this king who doesn’t look like a king who is declared in today’s readings and in other places to be an everlasting king who rules all peoples and nations and languages (Dan. 7:14).  He is King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 17:14).  He is the ruler of the kings of the earth.  And then we look out at the world around us, and it doesn’t look like Jesus is king at all.

    Really, it is an audacious and daring statement of faith to proclaim that Jesus is Lord.  How can Jesus be Lord when there is so much suffering in the world?  How can Jesus be Lord when violence continues and people trample one another in greed?  How can Jesus be Lord when people just do whatever they want, glorifying themselves rather than giving glory to God?

    In order to be able to answer these questions, it is important to understand what kind of a kingdom Jesus came to inaugurate.  As we heard Jesus say in today’s gospel, his kingdom is not from this world.  In other words, it doesn’t operate like worldly kingdoms.  People are not forced to obey.  People are not forced to believe.  People have the freedom to be part of God’s kingdom or not to be part of it.  People have the freedom to make their own choices.  And so, until every person on this earth opens their heart to the Holy Spirit and lives in a loving relationship with God through Jesus Christ – until that happens – this world is not going to look anything like the kingdom of God.

    However, at the same time it is important to ask what difference it would make if every one of us were to live as if Jesus is Lord – in other words, live with Jesus as our Lord.  In the kingdom of God, you do not have to be big and powerful in order to make a difference.  The kingdom of God is like a tiny mustard seed that gets planted in the ground and grows into a large bush that gives shelter for the birds (Mt. 13:31-32).  The kingdom of God is like a tiny bit of yeast that leavens the whole batch of dough (Mt. 13:33).  Even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.  And so, not one of us is too small or too insignificant or too weak to make a difference.

    So... how do you live with Jesus as your king – with Jesus as your Lord?  Matthew 25 offers some very practical things to do.  If somebody is hungry, give them something to eat.  If somebody is thirsty, give them a drink.  If somebody doesn’t have any clothes to put on, give them some.  If somebody is sick, go and visit them.  If somebody is in prison, go and visit them.  If somebody is a stranger or a newcomer, welcome them and make them feel at home.  These are the kind of things that show that Jesus is your Lord.

    Galatians 5 also gives us a description of some of the things that will be produced by the Holy Spirit in somebody who lives under Christ as king.  They will be joyful and loving.  They will give generously and will have peace in their hearts.  They will be patient and kind to others.  They will be gentle and faithful.  They will practice self-control so that others will see Jesus through them.  This is what happens when we live under Christ as king.

    Last, but not least, normally when you have a king you would obey him!  In Jesus’ case, there is not a long list of commandments to remember.  Instead, there is something that many people find far more difficult: the commandment to love.  There are the two great commandments that get combined into one by Jesus: Love God with your whole heart and soul and mind and strength and love your neighbour as yourself (Mk. 12:29-31).  At the same time, there is the new commandment given by Jesus, which is also a command to love: Love one another as I have loved you (Jn. 13:34).  In other words, love and serve one another.

    If every person were to live in this way – to live with Jesus as their Lord and King – the world we live in would be a far different place.  However, as you probably already know, you and I are not going to change everybody else.  The only behaviour that we have any control over is our own, and even then we cannot do all these things on our own.  It is only the Holy Spirit at work within us who empowers us to live as citizens of God’s kingdom.

    Unfortunately, this world will probably continue to look as if God is not in control at all.  However, looks can be deceiving.  I keep thinking of the passage in Luke where Jesus is speaking to people about the kingdom of God.  He says:

The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or “There it is!”  For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you (Lk. 17:20-21).

The same passage can be translated “the kingdom of God is within you.”  Within you or among you – the kingdom of God is to be found in and among God’s people.

    For our part, we are called to give the Holy Spirit free reign in revealing God’s kingdom in and through us.  In this world, little glimpses are the best that we can hope for.  However, make no mistake – Christ is king.  The one who serves - the one who loves us - the one who humbled himself for our sake - is the same one who will judge the living and the dead.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Christ the King(B)                            John 18:33-37
November 25, 2012                        Revelation 1:4b-8
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church                    Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2012 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved