Submitted by Rev. David Klappenbach, Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Rock Port

Another presidential election has come and gone. Some folks are pleased with the outcome while others are not so pleased. In the midst of the post election aftermath my Facebook news feed is littered with posts declaring that no matter who got elected to preside in the Oval Office for the next four years that Jesus is King. Perhaps you have seen similar posts on your news feed if you are on Facebook. All these posters have stolen my thunder. What has been posted is most certainly true. Jesus Christ is King.
This Sunday, November 20, is Christ the Sunday. Christian Church Bodies who follow a “Church Year” calendar, the day completes the Church year. I came across an article on the origin of the observance that I found interesting. The festival has its origin in the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Pius XI set the day for the last Sunday of October in 1925, to give light to the coming feast of All Saints (November 1). Some have speculated that the day came about to combat the Lutheran observance of Reformation on the same Sunday. But in 1969 the day was moved to the last Sunday of the Church Year toward the end of November. Lutherans (the church body I serve in) picked it up when the Lutheran Book of Worship was Published in 1978. This day so named, “Christ the King,” for this last day is the goal of the Church Year, as well as, our earthly journey of Faith. Is Christ the King of your life? Do you let His life rule your life?
Of course, thinking of kings turns our attention to royalty with all the pomp and circumstance that goes with it. The thrones, the crowns, the carriages, the royal guard, the admiration that comes from an adoring public. It all sounds so glorious.
All who are followers of Jesus Christ know of a King who will come, who is more glorious than human royalty. He is a King whose splendor is vast and far reaching. He will not come in a horse drawn carriage, but He will come in the clouds (Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 24:30). This King will not be surrounded by royal attendants and guards, He will be attended by thousands of saints robed in white shining like the sun. This King will rule not one country, but all the nations as king of Kings and Lord of Lords. He has the power over the wind and waves and he will never die and His Kingdom will not pass away. He will come suddenly and all who believe in Him and have made Him their Lord and Savior will certainly rejoice.
Yes, he will come again. He is the Son of Man, the Ancient of days who Daniel sees in His vision. This one who is coming on the clouds is the one who is stands before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. He is Jesus (John 1833-38). Already, Pilate a governor in the most powerful Roman Empire of the day is questioning Jesus and is figuring out that is no ordinary King. He is alone, his followers are not fighting to save Him. His followers have not staged a raid to overcome Pilate’s headquarters to free Him. In fact He has been betrayed by one of His followers for 30 pieces of silver, hardly a king’s ransom.
Pilate is perplexed by the whole thing. Jesus has told Pilate His Kingdom is not of this world, all the Power that Pilate has been given to him from above. But Jesus does not look like a king at least to Pilate’s eyes. He may not even look like a King to our eyes. “Are You the King of the Jews? Really? You? Yea, right!” But Jesus answers, “My Kingdom is not of this world,” not another dusty kingdom that comes and goes, rises or wanes, and ends in dusty heap of history.
Jesus continues by saying this His kingdom is one that lasts forever and it is one where no one is pushed around by force.
He surely doesn’t look like a King. Where’s the golden chair? Where’s the jeweled crown? His throne is a cross, His crown is a wreath of Thorns. By His strips and bruises we are healed and we are saved. This is the kind of King we have. We have a King who willing to lay down His own life for His subjects so that we can have life and have life forever in a Kingdom not of this world, but in heaven.
So, Jesus is speaking us just as loving parent speaks to His child. “For this I was Born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone of you who listens to this truth belongs to the truth listens to His voice.” (John 18:37)
His birth as a baby, that we will look into in the coming weeks in December, and that coming as a baby is the eternal Son of God–Our King that is both human and Divine comes to tell you the truth. He calls us into His life, to give up those earthly allegiances which we let rule our life. To turn to Him and listen to His voice who declares the truth. He calls us to listen to His voice and he will lead us into all truth.
What a glorious King we have. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the one who was to come, who is to come and who will come (Revelation 1:8). He is the Almighty. Yet, He came as a Baby born of the virgin Mary. Taking on our flesh so that He can die to take away our sins and to show us the love of God. No other king would do such a thing but Jesus. No other king would turn his throne to a cross, and a wreath of thorns into crown. No other king would take the insults and the spitting of a mob and turn it into an act of love. No other King would die for and pray for the forgiveness of those who crucified Him. He put aside His heavenly crown to come down to us to testify to the truth. He allowed Himself to be turned over to a bunch of liars. To take power and glory, Jesus humble Himself even to the point of death. Because of His sacrifice all dominion and power and authority has been given to him. And His kingship is forever and ever, Amen.