November 26 – Christ the King Sunday
John 18:33-37
Pontius Pilate was the Roman
perfect of the
It was just another work day
for Pilate when they brought Jesus to him.
It was an annoying interruption to what he was doing. And then the Jewish leaders insisted that he
come outside to speak to them, because entering his house would make them
ritually unclean. Insulting
to a noble Roman, but he’d bite his tongue - go along with it - because it’s
another day to keep the peace – and thus keep his post.
Keeping the peace was at the
top of Pilate’s to-do list. But keeping
the peace isn’t always the same as doing what’s right – sometimes it’s the
opposite.
Maybe you’ve noticed that in your life.
Keep the peace by not bringing up some topic. If it came up, then someone might have to
apologize. Maybe that would lead to
reconciliation, but someone else might choose not to forgive. Better to avoid the subject – keep the peace
and let the wrong fester inside. At what
cost this peace – at home, at work?
Sometimes peace is the wrong choice.
Maybe it’s better to take the risk.
In the gospel, did Pilate lose sight of what was important?
Do we?
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When Pilate heard the charges and saw the accused, he smirked at the
irony. A rather ordinary looking
powerless peasant accused of claiming kingship.
Pilate asks “Are you a king?”
It wasn’t a serious question.
Obviously this Jesus was not a king.
He wore no royal robes. He had no
weapons, no army. He had nothing.
Jesus responded to Pilate’s question with a question of his own,
“Governor, why do you ask your question.
Do you think I am a king, or were you told I am a king?”
Pilate may have wondered. “Is
this insolence, or strength?” But he
plays the situation with skill. With
slight irritation he replied: “How should I know?
Am I one of your people? Your
people, your leaders, brought you to me.”
Getting to the point, he asks: “What have you done?”
He expects Jesus to answer directly.
He has the power to condemn or acquit.
But Jesus does not answer the question about what he did.
Instead he replied that he is a king, but from a different world
“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...
But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”
Another world. This man is harmless. There is
no justification for killing him.
So Pilate continues the interrogation: So you are a ling.
Jesus said to Pilate:. "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 must have been confused by the conversation. Jesus claims to be a king – but his kingdom
is not from this world. Who then is a
part of the kingdom? Jesus claims everyone
who belongs to the truth and listens to His voice is a part.
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Jesus declares that the members of his kingdom are precisely those who
listen to his voice.
Could he be talking about us?
When Jesus said that he was the Good Shepherd, he said he leads the
sheep because they hear and know His voice, but do not know the voice of a
stranger. My sheep listen to my
voice... and they follow me.
(see John 10:3,4,5,16,27)
On Easter morning, outside the tomb, Mary Magdalene had already been
looking for Jesus, but when she does see the risen Lord, she doesn’t recognize
him. She thinks he is the gardener until
she heard his voice speaking her name.
Another time, speaking prophetically, Jesus said “the dead will hear
the voice of the son of God, and those who hear will live.’ John 5:25
The voice of Christ – His Word – is powerful and life giving. Those who listen to His voice hear the
truth. They listen to his call and
follow, thus becoming part of kingdom.
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Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice. John 18:37
We gather to listen to his voice speak to us in the words of
scripture - for we belong
to the one who is the way and the truth, and the life.
The truth is finally not an abstract ideal. Although many today think truth is relative -
that there is no absolute truth, we know there is an absolute truth – Jesus
Christ who is the way, the truth and the life.. His truth shows is the way to live. His truth guides us into abundant life.
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Jesus says:
You are my disciples if you live as
I tell you to,
and then you will know
the truth and
the truth will
make you free. John 8:31
His liberating truth
will transform the way we live
and, Christ says, others will be able
to see that we are
citizens of His kingdom in how we act
and speak.
For example,
instead of staying angry with
family members, we will seek to be
reconciled with them.
That we belong to Christ will be shown by our forgiveness of those who sin
against us – even loving our enemies,
and turning the other cheek.
Those can be hard things. Learning to forgive when we’ve been hurt. Apologizing when we really
would rather not. Raising children with love, kindness and direction everyday. Loving your enemies. Having courage and faith at
times of loss.
Unfortunately
Pontius Pilate’s way is a
temptation. To choose the expedient
rather than do what is ultimately right.
Making the right choice isn’t always easy – even if you know it’s the
right thing to do.
But remember Jesus’ teaching is the truth.
The way He teaches us to live-
to speak and act - is the right
way – the best way to get along
with others.
It
makes you the kind of person others want to have around.
It improves relationships with your family and friends
and co-workers.
Why?
Because his word is truth.
The more you try to follow in His way,
the
better you understand that it is truth.
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Jesus said, “My kingdom is not from this world.”
John 18:36
Jesus taught that the
People live in the kingdom whenever and wherever Christ rules in their lives.
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What does it mean to be a part of his kingdom?
Our second lesson answers in this way:
He “loves us
and freed us from our sins, and
made us
to be a kingdom,
priests serving his God and Father...” Revelation 1:5,6
We are all
priests who serve
the Lord God.
Just as Christ the King came not to be served
in the manner of earthly kings, but rather was a
servant. So he empowers us, as His followers, to
be servants of others, especially those in need.
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One example of serving others is our “Daily Bread” ministry. Many of you regularly contribute food and
money so we can distribute groceries to those in need each Tuesday. Then you generously responded to our recent
appeal to provide thanksgiving baskets.
Last Tuesday there were more than 100 people waiting in the parking lot
- representing 58 families - all received the fixings for a thanksgiving
dinner. Before we distributed the boxes
of food, we had prayers and the children of the Day Care sang to them. It was a beautiful moment.
Christ has made us to be a
kingdom, priests serving
his God and Father... and we serve God by serving others. We have been blessed so we can be a blessing
to others.
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Luther explained that we are
to be “little Christ’s” to one another, ministering as Christ
to our neighbor. As we serve, we are
letting Christ rule.
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Christ the King Sunday is a
good summary of our long study of Jesus’ teaching, because in the gospels,
Jesus talks more about the
On Christ the King Sunday, we
are reminded of the point of the
teaching of Jesus - his teaching is more than helpful advice on how to live a better life,
it is the call to
accept the rule of God in our lives,
to acknowledge Christ as our Lord and King.
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Pray that in the power of the Spirit, His Word - His teaching -
would rule your mind
today
and through out the coming week
That His way - the way
he shows us in the gospel - might be your way
That His love would
fill your heart
That His spirit of loving service might be your spirit
So that Christ might dwell in you
as Your Lord and King.