Second Presbyterian Church

"Who Are We Anyway?"
November 23, 2003

Upcoming Events

Worship Schedule

Sermons

About the Church

• Accessibility to the Church

• Directions to the Church

• History of the Church

Church Staff

Groups & Organizations

• Boy Scouts of America - Troop 175

• Choirs

• Presbyterian Women

• SPY (Second Presbyterian Youth)

Committees

• Building & Grounds

• Church Growth

• Congregational Care & Fellowship

• Education & Nurture

• Finance

• Office & Personnel

• Stewardship

• Witness & Service

• Worship & Celebration

Ad Hoc Committees

• Architectural - Engineering

• Building Fund

Presbyterian Internet Sites of Interest

Virginia Links

• Virginia Cities

Web Site Statistics

Site Map

Second Presbyterian Church Homepage

Sermons Homepage » Sermons for 2003 » Sermons for November 2003

Christ the King Sunday, Year B
by The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.

• 2 Samuel 23: 1-7
• Rev. 1: 4b-8
• John 18: 28-37

Is not this a rather curious text, from John, for "Christ the King" Sunday? From a world point of view, Jesus doesn't look like a king; no, he is in real trouble! Jesus is in big trouble. The leaders of the Jerusalem Temple, the Sanhedrin, have finally succeeded in having him arrested. Jesus has been brought before the High Priest. The Sanhedrin has held a kangaroo court, in order to place a mask of legitimacy upon their rage and jealousy toward Jesus, so that they could execute him.

There was one minor problem; the religious leaders could not execute anyone; only a Roman court could execute a person. They had no choice, but to haul Jesus over to Pilate's residence and try to convince him to crucify Jesus. These leaders were so enraged and obsessed with Jesus that they were willing to hob-knob with their hated conquerors. They were doing whatever it took to have Jesus killed and out of their life and out of their religious style.

He has been captured, tried by a sham of a court, and now he stands before the representative of the mightiest human power in that time, The Roman Empire, which really represented kingship and power, did it not?

Pilate seems to play with Jesus and the temple leaders. You can sense his disdain, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." You can sense the impotence of the Sanhedrin, "But we have no right to execute anyone." They wanted Jesus dead. They did not have the authority to crucify him, so they had to "kiss up" to the authority that could crucify Jesus. The Jews hated, despised the authority of the mighty, powerful Rome - represented by Pontius Pilate.

Then Pilate calls Jesus and asks him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" And Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" Pilate answers, "Am I a Jew? Your own people and the Chief Priests have handed you over to me; what have you done?"

Now, realize, Pilate had already heard of Jesus. He also had probably wondered if he was a Zealot, someone who would try to organize and lead a rebellion against Rome. This was common. In fact it would be only a few years later that the Jews organized a massive rebellion. And Rome responded by destroying Jerusalem and destroying the temple.

So, Pilate asked, "What have you done?" And Jesus responds, "My kingship is not of this world. If my Kingship were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from this world."

Pilate seems more curious than threatened, "So you are a King!"

Jesus answers, "You say that I am a king, for this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice."

Of course, Pilate asks his famous question, "What is truth?" This question informs the reader of John's Gospel that Pilate does not have the slightest clue concerning who Jesus really is. Throughout John' Gospel, he refers to the truth, or some form of the word, truth, at least 52 times! We have read already, by the time we are here in the Gospel, Jesus say, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free"(8:32). We have read in Chapter 14 the words of Jesus, "I am the way, the truth, the life, no one comes to the Father but by me." Over and over Jesus is quoted as saying, "very truly I say to you…."

So, as I see it, our scripture passage presents two questions for us to consider. First, How do these verses describe Jesus as a King, or a ruler? Second, as Christians what difference does it matter for today?

1. First of all, to confess Jesus Christ as King means to confess the man who lived in Nazareth and who taught us about the love and mercy of God. It means to confess that what Jesus did: died on the cross and removed all the barriers that exist between God and us human beings. With his crucifixion He removed the barriers that sin placed in the way of our fellowship and communion with God.

To confess Jesus Christ as King means that we believe that Jesus died on that cross and then rose again from the dead, on the third day. We believe that Jesus is alive and with God, even today. And we believe that some day Jesus shall return and bring all of us to him to live with him forever.

To confess Jesus Christ as King means that we adhere to a rule of service, not a haughty lording it over others and oppressing other people. Just as Jesus, God himself in the flesh, came and served humanity. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, healed the lame, and gave hope and good news to the persons in society who were considered trash.

2. So, even as we say what we mean that Jesus Christ is King and that he rules even now, we are also answering the second question as to what does it mean about who we are.

We are, as Christians, those who accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We seek to follow Jesus in all that we say, think and do. We seek to be faithful to Christ's commandment to Love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

As Christians it means that we accept as true, although it is not yet empirically evident, that Jesus Christ is Lord of history. Ultimately history shall culminate exactly as our God, through Jesus Christ, planned for history to culminate. This is not yet evident; we cannot perceive it with our eyes and minds, yet. It is something that we accept on faith; it shall come to pass, because the Scriptures say so.

As Christians it means that we treat with love and respect those that society disdains. It means that we invite them to come and be a part of who we are, as part of the family of God, so that they can experience the love and hope and joy of our savior, Jesus Christ, who is the real ruler.

That, in part is what it means as to Just who are we, anyway? We are people who love when hated; people who bless when cursed; and people who care when no one else bothers to care. Amen.

The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.