Reflection for 24th November 2024
Christ The King
Daniel 7.9-10, 13, 14. Revelation 1.4b-8. John 18.33-37
This Sunday, we reach a triumphant end to our journey through the church’s year from last Advent Sunday to this Feast of Christ the King. This journey has guided us through the story of Jesus and the Kingdom of God, as narrated by Mark. Now we’ve reached the highest peak on our journey, with the imminent return of Christ as King and Judge, as shown in the readings today. Next week, it will be Advent Sunday, and we’ll begin again to prepare the way of the Lord by waiting and watching in penance and reflection.
Keeping this in mind, it can be challenging to follow Christ when our society is already focused on Christmas. The first Christmas ad appeared at the end of October! Christmas will be far more financially challenging than ever due to high inflation and increasing energy bills. I already know of some people who are forced to choose between food and heating. How can we, as Christians, show life has more meaning than having “the best Christmas Eva”?!
As we worship Christ the King, we celebrate the gospel being a message of hope and certainty to a society facing incomprehensible instability. Christ’s kingdom is both now and not yet, as His reign will be more visible in the time to come when He returns with the clouds and all will see Him. This is the hope that lies at the centre of our faith—for a once and future king whose reign is not fully obvious, even to the eyes of faith, but who nevertheless rules overall and lasts eternally throughout all time.
However, Christ’s rule is, and will be, unlike anything the world has experienced before. The disciples and Pilate struggled to comprehend Jesus' purpose, as he was not the King they had anticipated or desired. The Kingdom of God, so 'unworldly', so unexpected, and all-encompassing, is also unfathomable.
This explains why Pilate found Jesus' response so confusing. Like other political leaders, Pilate struggles to envision a world devoid of violence or a kingdom triumphant without the use of destructive force. In v. 36 of John's passage, Jesus comes closest to declaring himself king when he says, "My kingdom is not of this world." His obscure language avoids stating that kingship is a political fact. Working for the emperor, who was a king in all but name, Pilate could never comprehend the powerlessness of the Lamb of God. Jesus’ truth is that he dies for all people, a direct opposite of Pilate’s sense of truth born from his corrupted desire to rule at the expense of others. Jesus also reveals God’s purpose in his response: “The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." Jesus, as King, rules in a divine way that is gracious, merciful, and grounded in love. His life, death, and resurrection demonstrate His truth. His truth unveils our true nature and the path we need to take to become like Christ.
Daniel, both prophet and visionary, gives a glimpse of Jesus’ enthronement as the Ancient One surrounded by fire. In his glorious vision, fire is the element that accompanies deity, being the source of both light and purification. When Jesus returns, He will bring judgement and purify the world from all that is not of God.
Until that day comes, God’s kingdom is not completely visible or acknowledged by the entire world. However, Christ is the King for all people, as His reign, although not originating from the world, affects the entire world. Christ rules with love, mercy, truth, and justice. Christ is our pattern for fighting the spiritual war raging around us through not being embarrassed by the one we love, who loves us. God commands us to speak about Him. How He has changed our lives, healed wounds, and released us from oppressions and addictions. As followers of Christ, by the grace of God, we live as people freed to see this world with His eyes. No longer blinkered by a world that demands violence to be met with more violence and where self-preservation is king.
The assured hope that Christ’s reign will become more visible is the substance of the Advent season that this feast introduces. Advent celebrates Christ’s second coming and the fulfilment of all things, not as the end of a process but as a fresh act of grace.
By exposing the meaninglessness, inhumanity, and contradictions of this world's empires of consumerism, financial greed, and unethical practices, this grace challenges us to bear faithful witness. Jesus invites us to speak and live as those under God's rule, as children of His kingdom. A kingdom that stands strong with hope and certainty in a world that ignores Christ. The Christ is our King, our Saviour, Lord, and ruler of all. May today’s stir-up Sunday stir us up to being even more wholehearted followers of Christ!
Blessings and prayers,
Emma