Christ the King

Jeremiah 23.1-6 Colossians 1.11-20 Luke 23.33-43

King Charles III is being kept busy with a full diary which takes him to almost every corner of the world where he acts as an ambassador for this country. He does not go defaming his hosts but building up connections to the mutual benefit of all.

Now imagine the situation if there was another king also doing similar work. Unless they were of the same mind can you imagine the diplomatic confusion that would arise? If they were both in the Palace at the same time would they sit on thrones, side by side?

You cannot have two kings ruling the same country at the same time. Here is where we have a problem. Before this passage in the gospel reading we had the verses detailing how Jesus had entered Jerusalem. The Jews had long been expecting some person to come along to save them from the Roman power. When Jesus entered the city on the back of a donkey crowds descended upon him proclaiming him as the one who was to free them from the Roman occupation. He was acclaimed as a king to lead the push to rid them of the Romans.

Ever since the times of King David the promise of a descendent who would establish a kingdom and rule with justice and righteousness had been deeply rooted in their faith. It was the messianic expectation that drove them to acclaim Jesus as the promised King.

When questioned by Pilate, Jesus states, "My kingdom is not of this world. You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth." His kingship is spiritual and transcendent, not limited to earthly realms.

Jesus was explaining how a kingly leadership of a terrestrial nature was not for him.

The crucifixion of Jesus is a time when his kingship is proclaimed. When on the cross that kingship is displayed with a notice, “This is the King of the Jews." A public declaration for all to see. It may have been put there in mockery but at the same time we can see his love, his sacrificial love, being given for all.

Seeing Jesus hanging there on the cross has great meanings for us as followers of him. As we believe in him as the Son of God we see in him control over our life such that we should bow down before him. Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father is our confession as we see in him full authority.

We have a part to play in his kingship because we are ambassadors of his and we are to go out and demonstrate his values of justice, mercy, and love. In all that we do our actions should embody these virtues. There should be no room in our heart for hatred. Not to love our neighbour goes against the very commandment that Jesus gave us. To allow even the smallest of feelings of animosity within us removes from us a little bit of that love that has been poured down upon us. Instead, showing mercy is allowing that love, given to us in abundance, to be shared. These are kingly qualities that come to us through Jesus and which govern us in our relationships.

The kingship of Jesus is the base of our Christian faith. It is also the base of all that we do. In the life of Jesus we see the fulfilment of the prophecies set out in the Old Testament and in his teaching we learn of the heavenly kingdom where he rules eternally. As he promised to the criminal who was crucified with him, and who asked to be remembered when Jesus entered into his kingdom, he will be in paradise. That promise is made to us today as we proclaim in our hearts that Jesus is Lord. He rules as King for ever.