Sermon 21st November 2021 – Christ the King Sunday
Text: John 18:33-37 – King of
the new Kingdom
Throughout this pandemic and
even before with many tragedies our world has faced people have asked – where
is God in all this – or – why has God allowed this to happen. When we face
personal tragedies such as sickness or death we too may have been led to ask –
why? Why if God is a loving God does he allow this to happen.
A Jewish Rabbi author, Harold
Kushner has written a book “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”.
The conclusion he came to was
that God was either unwilling or unable to help in those situations.
However, there is another
conclusion that we consider and it comes in Jesus’ answer to Pilate in our
Gospel reading. Pilate was confused by this person in front of him whom he had
heard was claimed by many to be “The King of the Jews”. He didn’t look like a
King. He was rejected by his own people. His disciples did not fight for him
when he was arrested but of frightened. Jesus didn’t live in a palace or have
servants but declared himself to be a servant even washing people’s feet. He
may have even heard that his dear friend and chief disciple, Peter, had denied
even knowing him.
Are you the King of the Jews? Really?
Maybe Jesus doesn’t look like
much of a king to you at times. So what was Jesus response? 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. It was a similar response to Peter when Peter did in fact
stand up for Jesus at his arrest by drawing his sword and cutting of the ear of
one of the soldiers. Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for
all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my
Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of
angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen
in this way?”
As Christians we need to understand
that we are in a spiritual battle, not a worldly battle. The struggles we are
going through, even though they are worldly struggles, they are part of a world
that has fallen away from God. A world that we live in but do not belong in. As
Paul reminds us - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against
the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. So as Christians
we don’t ask what is God doing – we ask – what has God done. And John, in the
Book of Revelation saw exactly that: John was banished to the Isle of Patmos
because of his faith in Jesus. He refused to bow down and worship the Emperor
and as a result was persecuted. He didn’t ask why. He didn’t see God as either
unable or unwilling to help him. But he saw a different perspective when he
wrote: To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us
to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen. Just as Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world, neither is
ours. In fact John says that God has made us a Kingdom.
That’s what St Paul also saw. Again,
persecuted because of his faith in Jesus, he did not complain to God about the
unfair treatment he got but instead was strengthened in his faith knowing that
Jesus would soon return and vindicate him and judge his persecutors. He was
reminded, as Jesus said, that his kingdom was not of this world but rather – We
are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly
waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies
and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with
which he will bring everything under his control.
We are preparing for our home
in heaven and that’s what we need to understand in order to make sense of what
we are going through now. Peter really struggled with that when Jesus revealed
it to him: Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem
and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the
teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised
to life. Peter didn’t understand how Jesus could be the Messiah he just
proclaimed him to be and yet this is what is in store for him. So Peter took
him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never
happen to you!” And then Jesus reveals the difference between the worldly
kingdom and the heavenly victory he has won: Jesus turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind
the concerns of God – the heavenly Kingdom, but merely human concerns or, the
worldly Kingdom.”
As Christians we need to
remember that we are citizens of Heaven now and that our true home is with
Christ who HAS won the battle already. Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world
because this world is coming to an end.
Jesus’ Kingdom is heaven so
it’s not a case of God being unable or unwilling to help but rather God has
already defeated this world and prepared our new home in Heaven. That’s what he
was explaining to his disciples in John 14: I am going there (Heaven) to
prepare a place for you. And I will come back and take you to be with me that
you also may be where I am. St Paul in Colossians reminds us of that fact and
to not be distracted by what is happening around us in this world. He reminds
us in Chapter 3 - You have been raised with Christ, so set your hearts on
things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds
on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now
hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you
also will appear with him in glory. Our citizenship in Heaven has begun already
even if it doesn’t seem it.
Friends the day is coming when
Jesus will return. It’s one day closer today than it was yesterday. And when
Jesus returns, we will be vindicated as we appear with him in glory. St John
also saw that day and that not everyone will see it as a glorious day, in
particular those who rejected Jesus and persecuted his followers when he says: Look!
He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced
him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. Let us stay
strong in our faith and not give up. Jesus is coming and he is coming soon. Jesus
is the one who is and who was and who is to come. Our world continues to live
in fear and concern particularly with the Delta strain of Covid19 But let us
remember that while the world remains in fear of Delta – we have the Alpha and
the Omega - the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Jesus
Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
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