Christ the King (2)

Royalty-spotter’s guide

How would you spot the queen?

Wait for ideas?

July 2005, royal garden party. Did see the queen, off in the distance - very small, bright colours

No crown, no robes, no red carpet being rolled out before her.

Everything revolved around her - people, but of course a constitution as well!

What was Pilate looking for?

He already had one revolutionary under arrest - Barabbas.

Jesus asks whether Pilate is asking on his own account, but it’s clear that he’s been given an account by the chief priests, that Jesus is setting himself up as a rival to the emperor.

It’s ridiculous - a dusty northern rabbi whose followers have all run away at the sign of trouble. A working man, with calloused hands from the chisel and the saw. No robes. No jewels. No crown. No army. No rival.

The true King

Pilate plays games with Jesus. Almost taunting him, ‘so, you are a king then?’

But the world actually does revolve around the man standing in front of him.

This is the creator of all things. In a few weeks we’ll hear again that wonderful passage from 18 chapters earlier in the same gospel, about the Word of God becoming a human being.

This is the one whom angels serve and demons fear.

This is the one who John wrote about in the book of Revelation, coming in glory at the end of time.

This is the one who is our King.

True citizens

And what that means comes back to Revelation again

Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

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

Looking for the King

Back in 2005 at Buckingham Palace, I spotted the Queen in the distance.

If I’d been anywhere else, at any other time, I might have missed her - if she was in Stretford Mall without all her attendants, I might not have paid any attention to a small, elderly lady seen at a distance. But I was looking for her. I knew she must be there somewhere, and I was hoping to see her.

It might be easy to look for Jesus when you’re here in church, expecting to meet him; looking for a glimpse of him, because you know he’s here somewhere.

How about the rest of the time?

The Queen isn’t just the queen of Buckingham Palace. She rules the United Kingdom - the clue is in the name.

Jesus isn’t just the king of the church, or even just of heaven. He’s the ruler of the rulers of the earth. Of all nations and all people.

So look for the signs of his rule, and join in.

Moments of love, peace, hope, forgiveness, justice

Moments to challenge oppression, injustice, prejudice

Moments to know that we are working with him in his kingdom, priests serving his God and Father

How about the rest of your life?

Jesus isn’t just the king of the holy bits of your life - prayer, church and so on.

He also rules over your working life, your family life, the way you use your money, what you watch on TV

Take some time this week to look at your life as the kingdom where Jesus reigns, and ask him to help you to be indeed a good and faithful servant and subject of Christ the King.