My kingdom is not from this world (John 18.36)

Dear All Saints and St Mary's

This Sunday we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. In our readings we have various images of kingship. In Daniel, we hear of the "one like a son of man", to whom God gives power and glory, and whom all the people of the earth serve. In Revelation, John reminds us that we are citizens of Christ's kingdom now and that there will be a time when all will see and know him.

In the reading from the Gospel according to John, we get a very different image of kingship. Jesus is on trial before Pilate, who asks him if he is king of the Jews. This is a loaded question. Being or claiming to be a king could be considered rebelling against the emperor. Jesus response is simple, yet loaded with meaning. "My kingdom is not from this world".

The Greek word translated as "world", does not mean the earth or creation. Rather it means the way things are arranged or ordered. In our current passage, it specifically refers to the way that human political and economic systems work. This is why Jesus says that if his kingdom was of this world, then people would be fighting for him. That is the way the "world" works. But Jesus' kingdom is different.

Christ rules in those who do the will of God (Matthew 7.21–23) and follow the teaching of Jesus (Matthew 7.24–27). It is way of humility (Matthew 5.3, Matthew 18.1–5), healing and wholeness (Luke 10.9), endurance (Matthew 5.10), and of sacrifice (Luke 18.18–30).

In baptism we offer our allegiance to Christ as our king and commit ourselves to follow in his service. His rule is not restricted to a time or a place. It is within us, both as individuals and as a Christian community (Luke 17.20–21). As his subjects, he calls us to bear witness to his truth and follow in his way.

This Sunday, there will be opportunities to reflect further on the rule of Christ at the 8.00 am Holy Communion at All Saints and at the 10.00 am service at St Mary's. At 10.30 am at All Saints, we continue our look at Paul's letter to the church in Rome, using the material from the Bible Society. This month we will be looking at what sin is and how it harms us, our society, and our world. In addition, we have the Christingle service at All Saints at 4.30 pm, in aid of the Children’s Society.

This gives the following services for Sunday 24th November:

8.00 am All Saints Holy Communion (said)
10.00 am St Mary’s Holy Communion
10.30 am All Saints Café church
4.30 pm All Saints Christingle

We have our usual midweek services with Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints on Wednesday at 9.00 am and Holy Communion at St Mary’s on Thursday at 10.00 am. Next week is the Guides Toy Service at St Mary’s at 10.00 am. At All Saints there is Holy Communion at 10.30 am. As it is Advent Sunday, there will be Advent Carols at St Mary’s at 6.30 pm.

This gives the following services for the coming week:

Wednesday 27th November 9.00 am All Saints Celtic morning prayer
Thursday 28th November 10.00 am St Mary’s Holy Communion

Sunday 1st December

10.00 am St Mary’s Guide Toy Service 10.30 am All Saints Holy Communion 6.30 pm St Mary’s Advent Carols

So, let us pray that we might hear the call of Christ the king and respond to that call in loving service:

God the Father,help us to hear the call of Christ the Kingand to follow in his service,whose kingdom has no end;for he reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, one glory.Amen.

Yours in Christ

Mark