Sermon for Last Sunday of the Church Year: "Christ the King"

 + Last Sunday of the Church Year – Christ the King Sunday – November 24^th, 2024 +

Series B: Daniel 7: 9-14; Revelation 1:4-8; John 18:33-37

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Milton, WA

 

 

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Human history is one tragic story after another of man’s attempt to put something or someone on the throne other than the one rightful and true King, Christ. 

 

Adam and Eve were the first to usurp God’s rule and reign. With the help of Satan’s lies, they thought they could be their own king and queen instead of the stewards and servants God created them to be. But all they could find to clothe themselves out of Eden’s wardrobe was a disastrous royal robe of fig leaves. In trying to overthrow God from the throne, they were thrown out of Eden and all people and history were thrown into sin and calamity.

 

Later on in Genesis, the attempted architects of Babel had regal designs. They wanted to build a tower and make a name for themselves. They were trying to do what Adam and Eve had done just on a larger scale. Fallen humanity always has delusions of grandeur, especially when it comes to God.

 

In the days of Exodus God’s own people – rescued from the wicked hands of Pharaoh and their bondage in slavery in Egypt – grumbled that they much preferred to be slaves than to be God’s people on their way to his promised land where he would be their King. They even went so far as to fashion their own golden bovine king and set it up on a throne for worship.

 

In the days of the judges, things did not fare much better. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes – is the infamously repeated phrase of that book. In other words, every sinner thought they were their own king or queen. 

 

They wanted a king. Why? So they could be like all the other nations. Only Israel wasn’t supposed to be like all the other nations. YHWH alone was their King. It’s a classic lesson in be careful what you ask for. Throughout the time of the kings in the OT things are so awful it makes an episode of Game of Thrones look like an episode of Bluey compared to the mess they made of things.

 

Now, with all of this Old Testament history, you would think Jesus’ disciples would know better, would have learned their lesson, would have realized that God’s kingdom is not at all like the kingdoms of this world. And that when God comes in the flesh that his kingdom is far different – indeed the very opposite – of all the kingdoms of the earth. Not one of power, fame, wealth, and glory. But one of weakness, suffering, humility, and the cross. Not something that is grand and glorious, but a kingdom that has as its king the crucified and risen Lord Jesus.

 

But that’s not what the disciples think. More than once they squabble about who’s the greatest, or who will sit on Jesus’ right and left hand in his glory (his glory in the gospels, by the way, is his cross!), they get on a power trip thinking their own discipleship is something grand and glorious, and even at Jesus’ ascension they still want an kingdom restored to earthly Israel.

 

Now, we may think we’re different. That we’ve learned our lesson. That we wouldn’t make the same mistakes as Adam and Eve and Israel and the disciples. But we would be wrong. Truth is, there’s a little tyrant just waiting to take the throne within each of us. Our old sinful flesh is just as foolish and prideful as Simba in the Lion King shouting out, “I just can’t wait to be king!” The prayer of our sinful flesh is the opposite of the prayer King Jesus gives us: my kingdom come, my will be done.

 

But this is not the way, Jesus says. Not even close. My kingdom is not of this world, Jesus tells Pilate. How true that is. The kingdoms of this world and the kingdoms we build within our hearts are all built on the same thing: ascending, building a name for ourselves, power, strength, wealth, glory. But not the kingdom of Christ the King. 

 

What kind of King descends his royal throne to save disloyal subjects? Christ the King, that’s who. 

What kind of King steps down from his throne to crown you with glory and honor? Christ the King.

What kind of King who is greatest of all becomes the least and last of all for you? Christ the King.

What kind of King would leave his heavenly realm and home to make his home with you in the manger, in your flesh, on the cross, and in the tomb? Christ the King.

What kind of King is the Son of Man, born of Mary and descended from great kings like David, and yet is the Son of God, who is also David’s Lord and ours? Christ the King.

What kind of King lays down his life for sinners and usurpers like you and me? Christ the King.

 

That’s the kind of King you have in Jesus. Jesus is the kind of King who takes your sinful garments off your back, puts them on his himself instead. He’s the kind of King who takes his royal robes off of his own back and gives them to you. He’s the kind of King who is mocked and beaten into a bloody mess for you. He’s the kind of King who suffers and bleeds and dies for you. He’s the kind of King who wears a crown of thrones pressed into his forehead so that he can crown your head with everlasting glory. He’s the kind of King who takes our foolish fig leaf clothing and replaces it with baptismal garments and armor of God fit for a king.

 

His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed. Which means that all this King has done for you will not be destroyed. And that his mercy and grace toward you will never pass away. And his kingdom which he has given to you is an everlasting one. 

 

And that’s the great difference between all the kingdoms of this earth and all the kingdoms of our sinful heart. One way or another, they all come to a tragic end. But not King Jesus, nor you in his kingdom. Because of Jesus’ dying and rising for you, his kingdom is the one kingdom that doesn’t end in tragedy, but goes on to triumph over sin, death, hell, the grave…all for you. On this Last Sunday of the Church Year, sometimes called Christ the King Sunday, we live and rejoice in Christ our crucified and risen King. The King of Golgatha’s hill and the cross his banner. The King under the mountain resting for three days. The King over the grave as he rose triumphantly. The King on the throne even now in these Last Days. 

 

Today, Christ the King sends out his gracious decree in his holy absolution: “You are forgiven all your sin.” Today, Christ the King clothes you in royal robes of water and word and promise. 

Today, Christ the King prepares a feast for you this day in his holy body and blood. Today, tomorrow, and forever, Christ is your crucified, risen, ascended, reigning, and one day soon to return King.

 

To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

 

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.