King Louis XIV

What does a King look like? If we want to know we can see an image of one of the most powerful monarchs who has ever reigned. Louis XIV the Sun King who reigned as absolute monarch in France from 1643 to 1715, an incredible 72 years, on the throne from the age of 4 until his death at the age of 72.

The portrait by the court painter Hyacinthe Rigaud in 1701 shows Louis at the height of his powers, regaled with all the pomp and circumstance of monarchy. He held the staff of power alongside the hand of justice and the Crown of France placed on the dias to his left. He is clothed in ermine, and stands in a way which suggests style and grace. Looking down at us with a disdain with which, I imagine, he regarded lesser mortals, ready with his sword to put down his enemies.

His reign is justly famous for the building of the palace of Versailles in which he obliged all his noble families to live so he could keep an eye on them. He is justly infamous for the slaughter of Huguenots on St Bartholomew's day, after the revocation of the Treaty of Nantes in 1685. Rigaud’s gives us an idealised portrait that became a model for other European painters to copy. It is what the 18th century expected its monarchs to look like.

King Jesus

The expectations of the crowds that greeted Jesus on his triumphal entry into Jerusalem were that Jesus would demonstrate his power by marching with the crowds who greeted him to the Roman fortress of Antonia.

Jesus, hailed as ‘The Son of David’ chose not to march on the fort of Antonia where he could have confronted the military forces of Rome, instead he marched on the Temple where he confronted the Religious authorities.

He chose not to put himself at the head of the crowd, but instead retired to Bethany. Instead of resisting arrest he allowed himself to be captured. Instead of defending himself at his trial he allowed himself to be accused falsely. Instead of calling on a legion of angels to rescue him from the cross, he allowed himself to be crucified.

Paul gives us a clue to the reason behind the choices he made.

‘The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength’ 1Corinthians 1: 25.

The crowds who came to Jerusalem that week were looking for a wonder worker. They wanted a military leader who could take away their shame and defeat. Someone who would give them back their pride. Someone with the power to solve life’s problems. Today we look for answers to our questions about the world’s injustices from those who exercise power.

The expectations of world peace and universal happiness were not fulfilled then and have not been fulfilled since. The answers to life’s riddles remained unsolved. Suffering and poverty remain with us now as they did then. Disease and death it appears remain with us still, and the struggle against injustice and oppression continue to dominate our world.

Many reject the ‘Messiah’ for the same reasons as they did then; he has not fulfilled our expectations! Jesus chose not to exercise his power, but his authority is not in doubt, in his encounter with power it is Jesus who is in control of his destiny for he knows from where all power comes. As Pontius Pilate asks him ‘Do you not know that I have the power of life and death’ he answers, ‘ All power is given by God’.

The Easter journey takes us through all the disappointments and defeats of life’s journey. It confronts us with all the questions of suffering and injustice that face us today. However if we stay with Jesus on this journey we discover the way of God. In his weakness Jesus confronted the military and religious powers and overcame them. Through the foolishness of the cross with its shame and defeat Jesus opened up a new way of peace and healing for mankind.

There is no easy road to Easter, there are no easy answers to life problems, only the ‘Way of the Cross’. To travel that road we need first to come to terms with our own weakness and foolishness when we follow our own ways. The way of the Cross is indeed a humbling experience but through the Cross we come to recognise in Jesus the wisdom of God and the power of God who chose ‘The foolish things of the world to shame the wise and the weak things of the world to shame the strong’ 1Corinthians 1: 27.

Power and authority are two very different things. Power is exercised by the sword, authority is the acknowledgement of those who exercise their power by the gift of God.

Rev. Simon Brignall

Services in Holy week

Maundy Thursday 28th March 6.00 pm.

Passover supper. Vicarage Cottage Barn

Good Friday. Readings and Hymns with the Coln choir.

6.00 pm ST Swithin’s

Easter day. St John the Baptist.

10.30 am Easter Holy Communion

A prayer for peace in the Holy land.

O God of all justice and peace we cry out to you in the midst of the pain and trauma
of violence and fear which prevails in the Holy Land.
Be with those who need you in these days of suffering; we pray for people of all faiths – Jews, Muslims and Christians and for all people of the land.
While we pray to you, O Lord, for an end to violence and the establishment of peace,
we also call for you to bring justice and equity to the peoples.
Guide us into your kingdom where all people are treated with dignity and honour as your children for, to all of us, you are our Heavenly Father.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I am contactable from Thursday to Sunday.