“The Jews of Jesus’ day believed that their God made the world and that he had remained in charge of it. They didn’t understand, any more than we do, why a world made by a good God would somehow go wrong, but clearly that had happened. The signs were all there: broken bodies, broken lives, broken systems, broken countries. The whole thing needed fixing, needing mending, needed to be put right. And the Jewish people believed that they, the family of Abraham, were part of the answer, part of the mending operation, part of the putting-right plan.” (“What Went Wrong?”,  Simply Jesus,  N. T. Wright, p. 61)

The signs of trouble around our world are all there, at least I think so—the signs that so much of our country has gone wrong, with so many broken bodies, broken spirits, broken lives and broken systems. Why have things gone so wrong in so many places? Just today I was watching the news and heard how British Prime Minister Theresa May was fighting to save her Brexit deal — and her job after a chaotic day of government resignations and demands for her to stand down. It was an implosion you could watch on television. And then there are the continuing fires in California that have left so many people with only ashes instead of homes, and three hundred people still missing and feared dead. Why are we experiencing so many heart-breaking and heart-wrenching episodes of loss of life, limb and leadership? The easy answer is this: we are broken people looking to leaders who we hope have answers for us—but realistically speaking they are also broken people. G-d is in charge of all things—but G-d is not pulling the strings on our actions and behaviors like a puppet-master with his marionette. If we want more leadership from G-d, then we need to pray for ourselves, our leaders, and our care for creation—praying that we all listen more to G-d’s words. We need to become involved more in the care of creation, and letting our leaders know that we are watching them, and care about the decisions they make. And we need to trust that G-d is ultimately in control—with an ultimate plan in mind for redeeming us all.

Pastor Dave

“Then Pilate entered the headquarters^* again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ ³⁴Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’ ³⁵Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’ ³⁶Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’ ³⁷Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’” John 18:33-37

A small boy, let’s say 10 years old, comes from a family that has not paid much attention to religion, though they claim to be good Christians.  The young boy one day saw a picture of Jesus carrying his cross up to Calvary and he asked his Sunday school teacher “Hey, who’s that man carrying a lower case “t”?  Who’s that man carrying a lower case “t”?  What does Jesus mean to you and your life – really?  Is he your “king”?  Or, is he just some guy carrying a lower case “t”?  Today is “Christ the King” or the “Reign of Christ” Sunday.  This Sunday forces us to consider a couple questions:  What does the word King mean to our society today?  And is Jesus King of our lives? 

In our Gospel lesson, we have this wonderful exchange of words between Jesus and Pilate.  Pilate is trying to get at the truth of Jesus – his ministry and his purpose.  At one point, even though it is not included in our text, Pilate will exclaim “What is truth?”.  Pontius Pilate was the governor of Jerusalem and Judea for 10 years (26 – 36 CE).  During his reign he had to deal with 32 separate riots from the Jews (averages to three a year).  The Jews did not like the occupying Roman government – they did not care for their taxes, their insensitivity toward their religion, and did not feel the need to hide their feelings. So, as we encounter this text about Jesus and Pilate, we must understand that both Jesus and Pilate are under some stress.  Stress.  Gee, none of us are under any stress in our lives, right?  Are you kidding me – we have just embarked on the most stressful time of the year – the Christmas holiday season.  I think it is most appropriate that the day we embark on this season is called “Black Friday”.  Black Friday – it even sounds like something ominous.  What a terrible way to begin the celebration of Jesus being born – coming into the world to save humanity from themselves – by having huge, door busting, sales.  Part of me wants to just wash my hands of this entire “business” of Christmas, because we have turned it into a business.  But this gets me back to our friend Pilate, who wanted to wash his hands of this whole “Jesus” affair.  Pilate wanted to walk away, but he was forced by the crowds to act.  And every Sunday we remember in our creeds that Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate.”  But before all of that took place, Pilate asked Jesus a question “Are you a King?”  He wanted a simple answer – an answer like “yes” or “no” – an answer that would allow him to make a judgment – to pass on a sentence – to find some reason to condemn him, or release him – to get to the truth.  But since the truth is sitting/standing right in front of him, he simply cannot understand the answer to his own question.  Jesus says “this is why I was born, this is why I came into the world, to testify to the truth – that my kingdom is not from this world.”  But Pilate’s frustration has reached its boiling point because he is not getting answers that would make his decision easy.   And that gets me to my next point – Jesus will not always give us answers that are easy, ask us to make decisions that are easy, present us with situations that are comforting, nor will he always give us moments that are peaceful.  And often we find ourselves in situations where we are required to make a decision: “Is Jesus our King, or not?” 

What does it mean to live in such a way that the world knows that Jesus is your “King”?

Pastor Dave