Christ The King
I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie
down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back
the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek
and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
Ezekiel 34:15-16
Through the early life of the church, particularly what we call the Middle
Ages, few people could read or write and so teaching was done by daily rituals
as well as seasonal festivals. What we call The Christian Year was devised
to give regular instruction on the life of Jesus. Events in the life of Jesus
were taught seasonally beginning of course with His advent and birth. His
death and resurrection come only a few months afterward, so a teaching regime
was devised to take a believer through the life of Jesus in a calendar year.
We still follow the lectionary readings which are the basis of this
regular pattern. It is based on a three year cycle with gospel, Old Testament,
Psalm and other New Testament readings for that week. If you haven't
noticed, this year's gospel has been the gospel of Matthew.
And this has been Year A, in the three year, A, B, and C cycle. The coming
liturgical year is Year B, and Mark's gospel is the focus.
The first Sunday in the Christian year is the fourth week before Christmas,
called the First Sunday in Advent. Because there are several events that lead
up to the birth of Jesus, we celebrate the different events for four weeks,
and then comes Christmas, the birth of Jesus. Following the birth, we celebrate
the first and second Sunday after Christmas and then Epiphany, the coming
of the magi. That makes a very long season to sing Christmas carols and so
we tend to work into it and taper off quickly after Christmas. Even
Silent Night can become boring if you sing it for seven weeks.
Next Sunday is the first sunday in Advent, the beginning of the liturgical
year, and that makes this week the last week in the liturgical year.
The last sunday is Christ the King--the final chapter in the drama of faith,
and so we celebrate Jesus as our King and ruler forever.
I don't know about you, but one of my prayers is that Jesus come soon. I
think our world with its head rush to self destruction ecologically and morally
needs either a full blown revival or the return of its rightful King. We don't
have a vote on which, but we can pray for either.
And this morning we will conclude by giving everyone an opportunity to give
thanks for our King and Lord.
The prophet Ezekiel who we read this morning was wasting away in Babylon
with his people until the spirit of God came and showed him a vision of what
God was up to. God was doing a total overhaul of the nation Israel, and when
the repairs were complete, they would return home.
He is also given a vision of promises that are yet to be completely fulfilled,
promises we look forward to.
God says to him:
I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will
bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong
I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
The Kings and religious leaders have been poor shepherds for the people
and God is promising that He, Himself will be their shepherd.
We see this fulfilled initially by Jesus, God in the flesh. We see the kind
of shepherd that God has promised--a shepherd who is not content to remain
in the temple with the religious establishment, but a man who walks the pathways
with the people and finds the lost and broken and restores them with authority
and with gentleness.
But we still wait for the final act, when as promised, The King will return
and take ownership of his realm.
The last few weeks we have looked at what Jesus has said about that event--don't
take it for granted and make sure you are doing what you need to be doing.
Keep your lamps filled with oil, make use of the opportunities that God
gives us, and if we were to look at the last part of Matthew 25, pay attention
to the people around us needing help--because when we do, it is as if we were
doing it for Jesus personally--and we will be measured by how we do on that
score.
But this morning I want just to look at the simple idea of Jesus as our
King and Lord forever, and to offer our allegiance and give our thanks.
This past week on PBS, the American public broadcasting network, they have
been featuring the life and work of the British monarchy.
I have watched a couple of episodes and am reminded of the role it plays
in defining British history and practice.
This past week, they recorded, the Queen opening parliament and all the
pageantry that attends it.
I loved seeing her entering the house of lords with the regal state crown,
and all the other vestments of royal pomp.
If you have been to the Tower of London, you have seen that magnificent
crown among the crown jewels. It is the purple crown covered in jewels. It
is a sight to see.
As they showed Elizabeth entering parliament with the Imperial state crown
and all her regal trappings, I was reminded how absolutely impressive it all
is.
And then I wondered. I wonder how much more impressive Jesus will be in
his full glory.
I wonder what kind of crown He will wear on that day that is described in
Revelation when all of heaven and earth finally bow before Him in his royal
and divine splendor.
And then I had another thought-- I am going to be there to see it.
And so will you--if you so choose.
We will be there someday.
Imagine!
All of heaven and earth witnessing the full glory of the King of Kings.
I don't want to miss that for anything!
I was listening on the radio to a woman who has been on the crew of the
space shuttle. She described the thrill of arriving at the launch site on
the day of the launch. Everything is electric for those blasting off.
The interviewer asked what was the most amazing moment...the blast off,
the weightlessness, the view of earth from space...
She said that for her it was the moment the solid rocket boosters were lit,
the surge of power, the roar and rush of acceleration.
She said they all knew that was the point of no return. Nothing could turn
them off and they were on their way.
Very few ever get to experience that.
But all are invited to something far more spectacular.
Being there when the King of the universe is crowned for eternity before
the angles and all humanity.
Now that is something worth waiting for.
That is something worth praying for.
That is something worth living for.
Ezekiel saw a glimpse of it, but did not see its fulness.
We have seen a glimpse but the reality awaits all those who keep their lamps
lit.
And now, join me in prayer as we honor our king and lord, anticipating that
incredible day.
Jesus, our king and our lord: Accept this our deepest thanks and our adoration.
You are our lord and we pray for the day when you will finally be king and
ruler of all. Until that day we pledge ourselves as your servants.
Come Lord Jesus.
Come soon.
Amen
Preached November 23, 2008
Dr. Harold McNabb
West Shore Presbyterian
Church
Victoria, British Columbia
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