Calvary Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Debra May Cerra
November 22, 2009 – Christ the King

Revelation 1:4-8 (NRSV)
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

John 18:33-37 (NRSV)
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" 35 Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." 37 Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

What Did I Do?

It had been a horrific night. Jesus was betrayed by Judas, arrested by the soldiers and police, taken before the High Priest, denied by Peter, one of His own, questioned and slapped in the face, and finally taken to Pilate’s headquarters.
Pilate called for Jesus and asked Him: “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?” Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?" Pilate said, "Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?"
In that moment, it is possible that Jesus’ life flashed before His eyes. “What did you do?” Pilate asked. “What did I do?” Jesus thought as his mind raced backwards in time. He saw himself as a toddler and could smell the wood shavings in the work shed as he played at the feet of his father, Joseph. He heard his mother’s voice as she beckoned him, a child playing in the courtyard, to come home for dinner. He remembered the many hours he spent with his peers as they practiced drawing their Aramaic letters in the dirt with a stick. “What did I do?” Jesus thought.
Jesus recalled the time he wandered off in Jerusalem to discuss religion in the temple with the teachers. When his parents finally tracked him down, he was surprised that they were frantic over his whereabouts. He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” “What did I do?” Jesus thought.
Jesus was reminded of the time he stood before his cousin, John the Baptist, and was baptized in the Jordan River. “The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God's Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life." “What did I do?” Jesus thought.
Immediately “this same Spirit pushed Jesus out into the wild. For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by Satan. Wild animals were his companions, and angels took care of him.” “What did I do?” Jesus thought.
Standing there before Pilate, Jesus’ thoughts were drawn to his 12 disciples and the teachings he shared with them and the multitudes of people who followed Him. His focus had been on the “kingdom of God” and he used parables, drawing on familiar images, to explain this concept. He taught the importance of love and kindness, even to one’s enemies. He remembered his miracles: turning water into wine, walking on water, cursing a fig tree, healing the sick, multiplying a small meal to feed a crowd, casting out demons, brings sight to a blind man, and even raising a man from the dead.  “What did I do?” Jesus thought again.
Jesus remembered that, just hours ago, he had washed the disciples’ feet  and together, they had shared the Passover feast. It was there that he gave them insight as to what was about to happen. Then he had gone into the garden to pray.
Just then Jesus’ thoughts were jarred back to the present as Pilate cleared his throat. Jesus remembered the dialog that had taken place just moments ago. Pilate had asked: “Are you the 'King of the Jews'? and Jesus had replied: " Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?" Angered over the mordacity of Jesus’ question, Pilate said, "Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?" (33-35)
Thoughtfully and prayerfully, Jesus answered: "My kingdom doesn't consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. But I'm not that kind of king, not the world's kind of king." (36)
Perhaps you have heard this story. It's a great story:  Many years ago, when Hitler's forces occupied Denmark, the order came that all Jews in Denmark were to identify themselves by wearing armbands with yellow stars of David. The Danes had seen the extermination of Jews in other countries and guessed that this was the first step in that process in their country. The King did not defy the orders of Hitler. Not only did he have every Jew wear the star; he himself wore the Star of David. He told his people that he expected every loyal Dane to do the same. The King said, "We are all Danes. One Danish person is the same as the next." He wore his yellow star when going into Copenhagen every day in order to encourage his people. The King of Denmark identified with his people, even to the point of putting his own life on the line.
It's a wonderful story with a powerful point. The only problem is – it isn't true. It's an urban legend. It's been around for a long time and told thousands of times over. And now, with the internet, we are getting a lot of these legendary stories retold. Too bad it’s not true! What an image for a king, identifying with his people.
Today we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the liturgical year, before a new year begins with the First Sunday of Advent. It is the day when we remember the all-embracing authority of Christ as King and Lord of the cosmos; as King and Lord of our lives!
But sometimes this is not an easy concept to embrace. It is true that some see the model of kings and queens as dictatorial. Others even reject the titles of "lord" and "king" for Christ because they believe that such titles are borrowed from oppressive systems of government. However valid these statements might be (and yes, some monarchs have been oppressive), these individuals miss the point: Christ's kingship is not like any on earth. Christ’s kingship is one of humility and service.
"Are you the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked Jesus. "Is that your idea," Jesus said to him, "or did others talk to you about me?" Friends, that's how these legends get started. Other people talking about what other people have said. Jesus was essentially crucified on gossip and rumor. An urban legend had developed around his ministry that he was going to lead a revolt against Rome.
In his conversation with Pilate, Jesus finally does imply that he is a king. "My kingdom," he explains, "is not of this world." Not of this world. That's what it takes. That's what it takes to find a King who identifies with Hs people.
Jesus Christ is that King. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. This morning our reading from Revelation says it well: “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. (5-7)
Yes, Jesus might have questioned, “What did I do?” but we know the answer. We know what Jesus did! Jesus gave his life for us. He identified with His people. Though sinless, He wore our sins so that we can have life – life abundant, life eternal. That’s what a heavenly King does! Praise be to Jesus Christ, our Lord and our King!
Amen and amen!