For Christ the King Sunday, we had two terrific ballet dancers dance as part of the sermon. when the sermon manuscript indicates "dancers dance," it means the dancers expressed the mood of the king described with my words through their dance. We had some really good feedback, despite the sanctuary having very difficult sightlines for seeing all of the dancing. I hope the dancing helped the congregation imagine Christ the King in new and fuller ways.
Colossians 1: 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
“Pick a King” SAPC, November 24, 2019; Colossians 1: 15-19; Luke 23: 33-34
Introduction: Today is Christ the King Sunday. the last day of the liturgical calendar.
“Christ the King Sunday is not an ancient high and holy day. It began being observed in the mid-1920s, a practice instituted by Pope Pius XI out of a concern for the growing secularism and the rise of fascism in Europe. Pope Pius instituted Christ the King Sunday with this hope: "When once men recognize, both in private and in public life, that Christ is King, society will, at last, receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace, and harmony.” (Jill Duffield, Looking into the Lectionary, Presbyterian Outlook email, 11/18/19).
Almost 100 years later, his hope has not quite been realized.
Here we are this morning invited to reflect on Christ the King. As part of our reflection, Trinity Ball and Annie Griffin will dance as we imagine Christ the King in new ways.
As you watch them dance, as you listen to the music, as you hear the words preached, ponder the question, “if you were going to pick a King for your what your life needs and what our world needs today, what kind of king would you pick?”
Move 1: If asked in the time when Jesus arrived on the scene what kind of king they wanted, many of the people, particularly God’s people, would have asked for a warrior.
a. Their desire was driven by the force with which the Romans.
1. Roman rule grew out of its mighty power to defeat and conquer, often in brutal ways.
2. Escape from Roman rule needed a mighty warrior who could match them on the battlefield and defeat them.
b. the need for a mighty warrior was nothing new to God’s people.
1. Israelites had conquered the Promised Land through battle.
2. Israel became a world power during the time of David. Why? Because King David was the mightiest of warriors who defeated and conquered the enemy.
3. Israelites also knew what it was like to be conquered and then exiled by the enemy.
4. Their view of God saving them was wrapped up in the expected savior, who would be a mighty warrior.
c. It was not uncommon to have someone who claimed to be “king of the Jews” to rise up from different regions.
Typically, these self-proclaimed “kings” would take on the upper-class leaders of the Jewish temple, or take on the Roman government, or take on both.
These kings were noted for their zealous approach to overthrowing the religious and Roman authorities and for their brutality (Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, by Reza Aslan).
When they put a sign over Jesus as he was crucified that announced him as “King of the Jews,” it linked him to those others who had come forth claiming to kings. FPC, Troy; Christ the King, 2013
d. The people wanted a warrior king.
1. Power and might.
2. In our world today where the one with all the worldly power seems to control thing, maybe that’s what we need - a conquering king
Imagine that kind of warrior king -
dancers dance
Move 2: the people were looking for a warrior king, but Jesus often acted more like a servant, a servant king if you will.
a. Jesus was still something of a king.
1. Or at least he had a kingly presence.
2. the crowds gathered to greet him.
3. he healed the sick and performed miracles.
4. He taught with new understandings and confounded the religious authorities.
b. but he also modeled and taught serving others.
1. Remember the image of Christ washing the feet of Peter.
2. Peter tried to refuse. “You should now be on your knees before me doing the work of a servant.”
3. But Jesus insisted - not just on washing Peter’s feet, but making it into an object lesson of what it means to follow Christ.
4. To follow Christ means to live as a servant among the people.
5. Jesus redefining power - not power to overcome by force, but the power to serve with love.
6. but it means bowing down, giving yourself over to another.
Imagine that kind of servant king
- dancers dance
Move 3: more than a servant - the king who hangs from a cross.
a. The inscription written over his head as he hung on the cross read, “King of the jews.”
1. An ironic vision of power - the son of God, the one who ushers in the kingdom of God, hanging from a cross, put to death by the powers of the world.
2. Think about the times we see royalty - crowds gather to get a glimpse and pay honor to the king or queen. not unlike the crowds that lined the streets of Jerusalem to welcome Christ.
3. But you do not see many kings hanging from a cross.
b. Jesus transformed the image of power. C
1. When we speak of Christ’s reign, we must acknowledge that it is established through the crucifixion (Feasting on the Word, Year C, Vol. 4, David Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, 328).
2. The power of God defined by Christ on the cross.
Imagine that kind of crucified king -
dancers dance
Conclusion: So if you could pick your king, which one do you want?
The mighty warrior king to rescue the world by defeating all other worldly powers?
the servant king who serves others?
the crucified king, who dies on the cross?
Or, perhaps a mix? a reflection of how Jesus bound those images of kings together, defying our understandings.
so, can you pick some modified version of Christ the king?
Hear the good news we proclaim today - Jesus Christ has not only come as king to reign over God’s kingdom, but Christ the King has already picked you.
dancers dance
Amen.
