Bristol Lutheran
Christ The King – B
John 18:33-37
November 25, 2012
You plan your schedule months in advance.
You line up hours or days before the doors open... just to have a chance at something special.
When the day arrives... you push and claw your way to the front... with little regard for other life.
You get up at odd hours and operate off of very little sleep... because this may be a once in a lifetime
opportunity.
And millions of people from across the county and maybe world... take part in this tradition.
When the day is over you are either completely satisfied or unfortunately disappointed.
This could be your story from Black Friday.
But is also may have been your experience from April 2011... and the Royal Wedding of William and
Kate.
The two events are eerily similar. Plus at the end of the day... little girls got to become princesses (or
at least get a princess for Christmas).
I don’t think that I have a very good handle on what happens within real life monarchy’s – with Kings
and Queens... Princes and Princesses... Dukes and Duchesses – but the world is fascinated by them.
That’s why 30 million plus watched William and Kate get married... either waiting in line at
Westminster Abbey... or watching on TV early in the morning.
That’s why so many movies like Game of Thrones or books like CS Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia... and
others things people bought for Christmas presents... are centered on a Royalty theme.
It’s why kids play pretty... pretty princess... get crowns for birthdays and at Burger King... or wear a
tiara for weddings.
Why our schools still hold votes for homecoming courts... with Kings and Queens.
And even for our four-year old niece who visited over Thanksgiving... came to the church and thought
she saw a castle and thrones.
Most of our encounters with royalty is fairy tale stories and games... and make believe. We really
don’t see a lot of kingly or queenly rule normally.
It is more of an outdated leadership model... as nations are controlled more by Prime Ministers...
Presidents... Parliaments...or versions of congress and civil rights activists like MLK Jr. or Nelson
Mandela control headlines...
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Ancient Kings are ancient. Because someone like Queen Elizabeth is so outdated... may be the very
reason we are captivated by stories of her family’s reign and rule.
So when we pretend to be a queen... or we hear stories of Princess Diana and Prince Charles... what
do we think of?
What makes a good King?
I am not sure we are as captivated by Jesus as King... as we are with pretend royalty or British
Royalty. Jesus as King also is outdated... unfashionable... and a tough message to preach. We have
such a different idea of what it means to be King and what makes a good King... it just doesn’t make
sense that we celebrate Christ as King... Prince of Peace.
In the same way that Jesus never wanted there to be Christians... I don’t think he ever wanted to be
called King. He got that unfortunate label when some wise guys from the far east... after hearing
about this baby born in Bethlehem... go on a two year journey... following a certain star in the sky...
and end up worshipping a toddler with expensive Black Friday treasure – gift cards... perfume... and
medicine (or better known as gold... frankincense... and myrrh.)
And throughout his life... Jesus ran into powerful kings... like Caesar and Herod or their subordinates
like Pilate... on more than one occasion.
But Jesus never calls himself a King.
Pilate asks Jesus if he is the King of the Jews... but Jesus doesn’t affirm nor deny. You say that I
am…is his response.
The thing is... he isn’t the Jewish King... but his own people from the beginning have wanted him to
be.
They wanted Jesus to be their political and military leader... but he wasn’t.
They wanted him to take over the Kingdom from Herod... and over power the Roman Empire – but he
wouldn’t.
They wanted Jesus to be their ruler... and they his servants – but Jesus refused for that to happen
that way.
What really makes a good king?
Kings dress is fancy silk capes and gold crowns – Jesus was in a simple tunic.
Kings dictate and delegate - Jesus brought a different message.
Kings declare war – Jesus declared peace.
Kings make people pay more taxes – Jesus forgave and ate with the tax collector.
Kings rid the streets of problems – Jesus picked prostitutes off the ground.
Kings are driven by ego – Jesus was driven by humility.
Kings rule a kingdom – Jesus described the kingdom in heaven and on earth.
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Kings demand to be served – Jesus frees us to serve him.
Kings keep good order in society – Jesus upset the order.
Kings are beheaded – Jesus was crucified.
Kings are powerful – Jesus exhibited power in gentleness.
Kings condemn – Jesus forgives.
Kings give great speeches – Jesus is often confusing.
Kings communicate their ideas – Jesus couldn’t always get through to the disciples.
Kings build walls – Jesus tears walls down.
Kings fight with neighboring kingdoms – Jesus helps us love our neighbor.
Kings have a never-ending to-do list – Jesus said “It is finished.”
Kings control the kingdom – Jesus gave us the keys to the kingdom.
Kings have family successors – Jesus is the one who was... who is... and who is to come – and never
needs a successor.
Jesus didn’t call himself King... because he was more than that.
He came to earth to save us... to teach us... to show us a new reign.
Jesus was beyond the characteristics and expectations that the people had for a king.
And that got him killed.
We celebrate Christ the King... even though Christ never was the king the people intended him to be.
Sometimes we try to make Jesus the King or the God that we want him to be.
We want him to answer prayers... the way we think is best.
We want God to meet our demands and take care of the problems... so that we can live happily everafter.
We want God to create a kingdom that doesn’t have bad things happen to good people.
But God knows what God is doing, God is here with us, even if it isn’t what we except and God
doesn’t act like an earthly king.
No king would give dominion of creation over to the people... but God did.
No king would trust the people to carry out the mission of the kingdom... but God does.
No king would watch his servants fail... and still give them more responsibility... but God will.
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Kings always have requirements for their subjects – in order to remain part of the kingdom.
Jesus tells us... his disciples... that we are enough.
You are enough.
I am enough.
We have done enough to be loved... and forgiven and accepted by Christ our King….even though we
have done nothing at all.
Simply being created by God... already makes us worthy.
Kings and Queens intrigue us so much... we sometimes forget we don’t live in that world... and we
forget the world that God created for us.
We don’t live in a world where we need to impress others.
We don’t live in a world where worthiness is based on gifts we are told we need to buy.
Our value isn’t about deals on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
Our importance isn’t measured in gifts we receive... just like Jesus’ importance was more than what
he got in gold... frankincense... and myrrh.
And our significance in this kingdom isn’t pretend or make-believe... idealistic or imagined.
God’s love and care and use and need for us in this world is very real.
Even though Jesus was opposite of so many earthly kings...
and didn’t do what the Jews wanted... he was and is the perfect King... the one we all will honor and
worship one day.
Kings often will refer to the kingdom as “my people.”
Jesus is the only one who refers to us as individuals………………………………….you are mine.
That makes a pretty good King.
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