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Christ
the King
Last
Sunday after Pentecost
Then those who went before and
those who followed cried out, saying:
Hosanna!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!"
(Mark 11: 9,10)
How can we know Jesus as King?
The place to look for meaning in Christ the King is in that meal that we
normally call Holy Communion or the Holy Eucharist.
There are two primary ways to experience the Lord's presence in the Holy
Communion. One way might be described as "an audience with the
King." In this way of being in the presence of the Lord, we emphasize
dignity, beauty and formality. The protocol of the ritual is very
important. The phrase "decency and order" comes to mind as a way
to describe being present with the Lord. Many of our church buildings are
designed to enrich this understanding of what Holy Communion means. Music
for celebrations of the Holy Eucharist can be extremely important - it is
often formal, sung by a choir, and accompanied by an organ. Worship is the
primary feeling of those present. Silence and reverence are the virtues
practiced prior to the actual service.
In the context of the Eucharist, the personal experience of Jesus
can be intensely private, personal, and deeply felt. Christians often
leave the Eucharist with calm souls.
This is an authentic way to know Christ the King.
The other way that we experience Jesus in the Holy Eucharist might best be
described as "supper with our friend who is also our Lord and
Saviour." The model for this is the Last Supper. In this way of
experiencing the presence of the Lord, we emphasize intimacy, community,
and joy. This way of doing Holy Communion can be relaxed and informal.
Children are welcomed despite fidgeting and noise. The sermon will likely
be more informal. It may be a Bible-study discussion. And sometimes, these
informal celebrations happen in informal spaces. There may be chairs
rather than pews. The music may be contemporary-and it may be simple (but
it must be heartfelt and personal). This experience of Holy Communion may
remind us of a camp setting. This, too, is an authentic way to know Jesus.
The real issue here is understanding Jesus as the Christ, the anointed of
God, and understanding him as both personal Saviour and King.
The key to this understanding is the text. In this Gospel text, Jesus came
into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. In the culture of Jesus' own time, it
meant that he came in peace, not as a conqueror. He also came to offer
himself as a sacrifice. In his death on the cross, we discover the
authority that creates his kingship. His authority is sacrificial love.
His authority is not political. While his kingship does have political
consequences, it is not derived from politics. His authority is not
military. His authority is not financial. Although his authority may have
financial consequences, it is not based on or derived from money. Jesus
did not come to entertain us. But his kingship provides joy.
Christ's kingship rests on the authority of complete, sacrificial,
never-ending, and all-encompassing love. It is the complete love of God.
So, if you are one who prefers the "audience with the King," the
formal and stately celebration of the Eucharist, as your way of worship,
feel blessed. But remember that the reason Christ the King receives you
into his presence is because he loves you completely and is your personal
Saviour.
Or if you are a person who prefers "supper with your friend," an
informal celebration, as a way of being in the presence of Jesus, you
should also feel blessed. But remember the reason your friend is the host
at the table and feeds you with himself is because he is the King of all
that is and will be. His authority is love.
Acknowledgements:
Text adapted from Worship that Works (no
longer available on the Internet)