Sermon 23rd November 2025 – Christ the King Sunday
Title – a King and Kingdom reverseed
Today we celebrate Christ the King, a phrase that
might surprises people when they read Jesus’ coronation as King: This King wears not a golden crown but a crown
of thorns. He marches to war but finds his victory by death on the cross. Who
conquers his enemy not by physical force but by love and humility. Who enters
with a parade in his honour not in a chariot but on a donkey. If the world sees
kingship in power and dominion, then Jesus invites us to look again at the
kingship that he reveals. A klng, who, being in very nature God, did not
consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather,
he made himself nothing.
He is King not having forced his way into leadership
with spin-doctors and political donations, but by self-giving mercy; God
exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth
and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father Not by
status, but by service; not by the triumph of human might and weaponry, but by
the victory of his love. When Pilate asks, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answers, “My kingdom is not of this world.” If my kingdom were of this
world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from handing over to the Jews.
But now my kingdom is from another place.
So Jesus admits that he is a King – but his kingdom
is very different to how we perceive a Kingdom should be. It’s very similar to
what he said to Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night Jesus was
arrested. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, Peter reached for
his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off
his ear. 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?
Even the crowds don’t understand – the one they
wanted to crown as King looks nothing like what they expected: The crowd taunts
him; You call yourself a King – come
down from the cross and we’ll believe in you. But one of the most unlikely
people does recognise Jesus as King- a thief dying on the cross next to Jesus: Jesus,
remember me when you come into your kingdom.”, To which Jesus replies: Truly, I
say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.
That is Jesus’ Kingdom. Maybe this reveals that
sometimes it is when we are in the depths of despair when we truly see God’s
true kingdom. Isn’t that what Paul says – when I am weak then I am strong –
because Christ’s power rests on me. Paul, when writing to the Colossians speaks
about that unseen realm: 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
The ultimate triumph of Jesus is not a political
victory but the universal reign of divine mercy. Jesus is a king who reveals
himself through love. Jesus’ kingship turns the usual tests of greatness on
their head. He wears a crown, but it is
a crown of thorns; his throne is a cross; his sword is the word of truth spoken
with compassion. Even as we read Jesus
sermon on the mount it’s all about showing signs of the opposite in his
Kingdom.
Turning the other cheek.
Loving your enemy.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
Blessed are
those who mourn,
Blessed are the meek,
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness,
Blessed are the merciful,
Blessed are the pure in heart,
Blessed are the peacemakers,
Blessed are those who are persecuted
These are all opposite kingdom qualities in Jesus’
Kingdom.
So, as Paul says, his signs of rule are not to be
served but signs of service—washing feet, forgiving sins, welcoming the
outsider, feeding the hungry, inviting the sinner into fullness of life. So if
we fully want to understand Jesus’ kingdom then it can only be seen when we
participate in Jesus Kingdom qualities: With signs of service—washing feet,
forgiving sins, welcoming the outsider, feeding the hungry, inviting the sinner
into fullness of life.
This mystery we are invited to embrace is this: true
Kingship is exercised in self-emptying love. True power is shown in mercy that
keeps no records of wrongs. The one who is King rules by reconciliation, not by
dominating over others; The one who is King rules by justice that heals, not by
vengeance; by truth that sets free, not by fear that binds.
Where is the kingdom today? Well, St Paul reveals where that Kingdom is
today - He is the head of the body, the church; If Christ’s kingship is
present, we should see it enacted in his body – the church: Where mercy
overrides pride; Where integrity and
fairness prevail; Where the stranger is
welcomed; Where reconciliation replaces
division. Jesus’ kingship asks us to
examine our own hearts:
Do we live as if we were merely subjects of a
powerful master, or as people who share in his reign by serving others? Do we
seek to build up, or to gain advantage? Are we bearing witness to the Kingdom
of love here and now? We are called to surrender our own agendas for the sake
of our neighbour. The cross shows that mercy is not weakness but courage. To follow Christ means forgiving as we have
been forgiven, and offering mercy even when it costs us.
Jesus’ Kingdom prioritises justice that protects the
vulnerable, the poor, the outsider, the elderly, the sick, the needy. Our faith
moves us to work for systems and structures that reflect dignity and care for
all. Christ’s Kingdom invites reconciliation within families, parishes, and
nations. Our allegiance to him should break down walls, not build or deepen
them.
We can do that with a listening ear, a helping hand,
a word of encouragement. Showing forgiveness rather than harboring resentment;
seeking reconciliation rather than revenge or working out who was right and who
was wrong. In welcoming the “other”: the stranger, the poor, the outsider, we
let hospitality be a sign of the Kingdom.
As this reversed King, Jesus seemingly goes against
our expectations. Like John the Baptist – the one who prepared the way for
Jesus finds himself in jail. He sends a delegation to see if this was the one
he was preparing the way for. Are you the one or should we expect someone else
– someone more powerful, perhaps. To which Jesus reveals his true power: He is
the one who brought good news to the poor, proclaimed release to the captives,
and set free the oppressed.
Jesus continued to defy expectations. As his life on
earth was ending, he brought compassion even to the repentant thief. Here was
our king: gasping, choking, yet filled with mercy as he prayed, “Forgive them.”
To the one who was able to see the way God is at work and wanted to be part of
his Kingdom, he said, “Today you will be with me in paradise. As our King,
Jesus extends that same promise to you – you will be with me in paradise. That,
is our King.
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