November 25 – Reign of Christ

 

2 Samuel 23:1–7

David’s last words.

 

Psalm 132:1–12, (13–18) (VU pp. 854–855 Parts One and Two)

God will bless with abundance.

 

Revelation 1:4b–8

I am the Alpha and Omega.

 

John 18:33–37

Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Spark

Project images associated with being a king (e.g., images depicting scenes of pomp and ceremony, a crown, jewels, a golden carriage) interspersed with images of people in humble circumstances. Or arrange a display with gold, silver, and richly coloured cloth on the one end and simple, homespun cotton clothing with a pair of sandals, crown of thorns, and shepherd’s staff on the other.

Theme Engagement Question

Where do you feel caught between this world’s kingdom and Jesus’ kin-dom?

With the Children

Sing with the children and congregation “Jesus the Friend” (see page 33) by the late Frederik Styles, a United Church minister also known for his “Worship for an Easter People.” The words of this song seem particularly pertinent to the story of Jesus’ courage in the face of the raw power of the Roman Empire.

Sermon Starter

David’s last words don’t glorify God. They glorify David. He is full of himself—a king-size ego. No humility here. God has made with him an everlasting covenant, and he is proud of himself. Empire is on display for all to see. Now skip to Jesus’ conversation with Pilate in the judgment hall. Two things need to be emphasized:

 

1. Jesus is portrayed as the victim of “the Jews.” These texts portray Jesus in conflict with “the Jews” as though he and his disciples and virtually all the actors in the stories were not also Jews. Such texts have been used to uphold anti-Semitic views. In reading these texts in public worship we must address this issue. The author is dealing with Jesus’ conflict with the religious authorities and with the established Holiness Code, and we must say so. To do otherwise is to build on the prejudice and evil that resulted from this early misuse.

 

2. Note the preposition change between the Revised Standard Version (1952) and the New Revised Standard Version (1999) in verse 36: “of this world” (RSV) and “from this world” (NRSV). This verse has been quoted to indicate that Jesus’ concerns were other-worldly, which was particularly important for those who wanted Jesus’ concern to be “pie in the sky when you die” so that what happened to the world, including to the environment, was not relevant. The change in preposition restores Jesus to his place in the heritage of the Hebrew prophets of the 8th and 6th centuries BCE. The source of Jesus’ kingly authority is not from this world but from the Creator and Source of all.

Hymns

VU 167            “Christ is risen from the dead”

VU 210            “You, Lord, are both lamb and shepherd”

VU 212            “Eternal Christ, you rule”

VU 356            “Seek ye first the kingdom”

MV 126           “Are you a shepherd?”

MV 137           “Welcome, Jesus, you are welcome”

MV 140           “As long as we follow”

MV 146           “The kingdom of God”

MV 162           “Christ, within us hidden”

MV 166           “Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ”

MV 186           “Because Jesus felt”

 

Prayer

VU 214            “A prayer for the Reign of Christ”