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2 Samuel 23:1-7, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, West Valley City, UT
The Rev'd W. Lee Shaw
All of our readings today make no mistake about it: Today is the Feast of Christ the King. It is not “just” the Last Sunday after Pentecost. No, today is something special.
We have some of the last words of King David looking at what makes a just king: “…like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.” Even the psalmist recalls the king: “Lord, remember David…” The Book of Revelation points to something greater however than a king of Israel, “…the ruler of the kings of the earth….the Alpha and the Omega.” There is now a truly cosmic sense of this kingship theme.
Then we come to one of the more awkward conversations in all of Scripture: Jesus and Pilate. Jesus has been arrested and is undoubtedly chained as he stands before Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea. Pilate is interested in only one thing – sedition. Is this man really a king who could threaten Rome’s dominance? Pilate is clearly uncomfortable in this conversation.
I am also uncomfortable in this conversation with this language of kings and royalty regarding my God. Oh, I like to read about the British royalty. But they are not part of anything in my life. I have no connection with royals. Perhaps if I had lived in Great Britain or Spain or Denmark with royal families it would be different; or if I had lived in France or Greece with a tradition of royalty. But not here in the United States of America. I am uncomfortable with this kingly imagery, as is Pilate; but for totally different reasons.
Pilate is looking for sedition. I am looking for a metaphor for the primacy of God. In the conversation with Pilate, it seems that even Jesus is a bit uncomfortable with Pilate’s language: “Do you say this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” In other words, what is your source? And, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Jesus hedges a bit as well it seems.
How do we see Jesus? As King? King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s….humming a tune by Handel? How do you see Jesus? King? Lamb? Brother? Son of God? Sacrifice? Teacher? Rabbi? Prophet? Messiah? Ah, there’s a term I like, Messiah, the anointed one of God. We know in the ancient world there were others named as a messiah, including King Cyrus in freeing the Jews from Babylon. But Jesus is “the” Messiah, God’s truly anointed, God’s Son.
I recently read of a presentation by a rabbi to a seminary class of up and coming Christian clergy. He asked them, “If Jesus is the Messiah, where is Shalom?” Shalom the peace of God. The rabbi raises a most valid question.
In other words, how does your image of Jesus make a difference in your life? Is he King? Then how do you serve him? Is he the Lamb of God or a sacrifice? Then how do you honor him? Is he a brother/teacher/prophet? Then how do you follow him? Is he the Messiah, the anointed of God, the Son of God? Then how do you show the Shalom, the Peace of God?
Who is Jesus to you? Messiah? Prophet? Rabbi? Messiah? Son of God?
Who is Jesus to you?
Do not answer that.
Live that.
Live into who Jesus is for you. Our language of God is metaphor and
symbol.
Who is Jesus for you? Find the language that works for you. Then live
into it.
On this Feast Day of Christ the King, who is Christ to you? Who is Jesus to you? This is not a question to be answered. It is not about the terminology we use to describe Jesus. It is about a possibility to be lived into.
Who is Jesus to you? Now live into that vision of Jesus, your vision of the Christ.
For me I have found a surprising image for that. An image I had not heard of before I started work on this sermon. It is the image from King David: “One who rules over people justly…is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.” There is where I will meet Jesus, my friend and my savior, the Messiah, the Son of God. It is there in the light of a new day and a new life in His Name. Such as today.