Rev’d Peter Balabanski

Christ the King B – 2 Sam 23.1-7, Ps 132.1-12, Rev 1.4b-8, Jn 18.33-37

Kids: Foot-washing picture: one of these people is a King; which one is the King? Is that normal? This is a picture of a Kingdom where looking after people, not being important, is the greatest thing you can do.

Everyone has an image of what a true leader should be like. King David, on his death bed, offered his picture of a true leader. ^{2 Sam 23.3} … One who rules over people justly, ruling in reverence for God, ⁴ is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.

This is a beautiful picture. It speaks about the way God is revealed in this person’s rule; in how well the leader thinks, feels and acts. David sees creation itself is a copy of the radiance and beauty of the divine. And so similarly, faithful leaders will be for their people a beautiful reflection of God. Such leaders have a vision of a world where loving justice is the rule, and reverence for God is its safeguard. Every impulse of that realm, for both ruler and ruled, is towards free and joyful generosity and care – responding to God’s love.

But we know often that isn’t what we experience. People ask, quite justifiably, where God can be in this world, where the law of the jungle seems to rule; where power-crazed people seem to do what they like without anyone able to stand up to them. Where’s the rule of God in this? To live the Kingdom life in such a hostile world seems foolish and dangerous. If everyone else is competing, and you disadvantage yourself (and your family) by choosing to value the welfare of others, and valuing co-operation and care above your own success, you’ll be taken for a fool. So why bother; why under-achieve, and have everyone thinking you’re mad: what does that accomplish?

But are these the right questions? Is life really just about accomplishing things? If we think this way, a look at the example of Jesus may shift our perspective. Jesus the King models an attitude of love rather than a commitment to progress; integrity rather than results. Think about how he coped with interruptions – how he took time to care. He changed things; his love embraced and transformed everything. But not through a focus on the results: just always on present love; present integrity.

Today’s Gospel reading gives us a picture of our King on trial for his life; on trial for owning who he actually is. Jesus before Pilate is astounding; quiet and composed, not denying his Kingship even when his life hangs on his answer.

Pilate may have thought Jesus was a pitiable lunatic; probably that his accusers were crazy too. The people who brought Jesus to Pilate had no real charge to lay against him. It was as if they told Pilate, ‘Just believe us. We know he’s a criminal. All you have to do is execute him. Then it’s all over; there’ll be no more fuss.’

What might Pilate think? ‘What planet do they come from? Maybe the prisoner can straighten things out.’ So he goes back into his headquarters and asks Jesus, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Pilate must have felt very strange asking that question. Pilate was the incontestable ruler of all he surveyed, appointed by Caesar himself. For someone in Pilate’s position, the squabbles between these strange colonial subjects of his – arguing over who was King – must have seemed completely ludicrous; a bit like two fleas arguing over which one of them owns the dog. Yet Pilate finds himself asking one of his colonial subjects, So you are a king?

Pilate wasn’t sure what sort of person he was talking to; he didn’t seem sure of his ground. Jesus didn’t fit into the regular categories of rebel or criminal. So somehow the tables were turned on Pilate, and it wasn’t the governor who had Jesus on trial, but the other way round. Jesus’ integrity put Pilate under the spotlight. Jesus’ integrity and love will always leave a power-player like that un-nerved; feeling humbled and foolish. And it does these power-people a great deal of good to be affected this way, whether or not they can receive him as King.

This is the effect of meeting Jesus; Jesus just being who he is. We find him searching us; leading us to the place where we can discover who we truly are; who we come from and who we belong to; calling us to make the throne in our hearts his throne – to shape our lives into a throne worthy for the one who is our true King.

Jesus is the King of your life and mine. Yet he doesn’t rule by absolute power and decree, but through the humble integrity of his example; through  service in which we find the power of his love. In Jesus, royalty stoops down to care for us, to love us, to wash our feet, and to inspire us to do all this for others.

The question is, Will we allow this kind of King to be Lord of our lives? Can we find the trust to pray words like this?

Dear God, your will – nothing more – nothing less – nothing else – we will love through service too. Amen