John 18.33-37
& Daniel 7.9-10,13,14
Power crazy
people in themselves can be difficult enough but when they come face to face
with their opposite number and neither will back down, then it’s often a recipe
for disaster. People and physical resources become mere pawns in their games as
they seek to destabilise and weaken each other. I’m sure that you can easily
call to mind examples currently in the news, Belarus, Afghanistan and the troop
build up near Ukraine come to mind.
So today we meet the
familiar figure of Pontius Pilate, a powerful man indeed, the Roman Prefect (or
Governor) of Judea with great military resources at his disposal. He really is
not interested in the people’s squabbles as he sees the concerns of the Jewish
leaders, there is a sense that he can’t be bothered to intervene in their dramas
unless his rule is threatened. So he wastes no energy investigating what he
assumes are false accusations against the man brought before him, this Jesus of
Nazareth, and instead comes straight out with ‘ Are you the King of the Jews’?
If you asked a Judean
local who was powerful they would tell you of the Roman and Jewish leaders but
the way in which Jesus answers Pilate’s question has a sense of power that
comes from a deeper authority which isn’t granted through rank or your place in
the system.
Jesus’ reply is a
challenge that I’ve seen described as ‘slow’, the slow food movement I’m
familiar with but slow Kingship is a new way of for seeing things. I guess it’s
the sort of challenge to Pilate and many like him which is subtle, rooted in
truth and which just won’t go away. It requires a shift in the way we see
things, it’s certainly not a Kingship for the war mongers or the vengeful.
Pilate correctly
interprets Jesus’ replies to his question as a ‘yes’, a direct threat to his
authority, in fact, to all authority. He’s not interested to hear what this
type of kingship is all about, how it might differ from people’s expectations,
how it’s very strength comes from turning away from the exploitation and
violence that temporarily props up earthly rulers nor how it finds enduring
power among the weak, the servants and those who seek justice.
Our lectionary
labels this Sunday as ‘Christ the King’, the hinge between Ordinary Time and
Advent which starts next week. When we think of Jesus’ kingship in the bible we
may recall the time the Magi got King Herod worried when they asked ‘where is
the child who has been born king of the Jews, or when Jesus was in the
wilderness and refused an offer to have all worldly kingdoms if he would
worship the devil. Perhaps the easiest image to conjure up is that of Christ
riding into Jerusalem on a donkey as the crowds laid cloaks and branches in his
path ‘Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey…’
These earlier
events have already taught Jesus’ followers that this is no normal king but
someone who has come to show them what real kingship is about, how things could
be so much better for us and all in the world if only we would listen. But even
to them it must have been a challenge to recognise Christ’s kingship as he is
pushed around and sent before Pilate as a child might be sent to the
Headmaster.
In our reading
from the book of Daniel we hear an Old Testament description more in line with
what we might recognise as earthly power. A great throne to be occupied by ‘an
ancient one’, old and wise we assume, in white robes as fire spues out around
him and thousands of servants attend him.
It plays into the
stereotype that God is an old bloke with white hair, just like in many films
and cartoons.
‘An ancient one’
can be an image used both positively and negatively dependant upon one’s
agenda.
Age should not be
a determining factor in anything much, ageism is often rife along with many
other prejudices, and because our world is so technology driven some younger
people associate a lack of familiarity with tech as a lack of familiarity with
the world when the fact is that each can benefit from the others knowledge.
Admittedly it can
sometimes seem that different generations have their own language. I heard of
one mum, confused by all the abbreviations used in texting who sent a message
her son to asking what does IDK, LY, & TTYL mean? He texted back, I Don't Know, Love
You, & Talk To You Later. So she replied, don't worry about it. I'll ask
your sister, love you too.
Let’s be honest,
we’ve all done it, or at least had to fight hard not to do it. You are sat down
in a warm conference room, however important the subject, the presenter may not
be the most scintillating, maybe you’ve had lunch and the lights are dimmed.
Add in some jetlag and a busy schedule and perhaps you don’t actually have to
be that ancient to fall asleep, though if you hold a position of global responsibility
you can be sure that your opponents will seize the opportunity to say this
proves that you are ‘past it’.
Until very
recently a Reader (Lay Minister) upon reaching the age of 70 would
automatically trigger the need for Permission To Officiate (PTO) from the
Bishop. It’s an interesting thought now that I have several people over 70
working full time in our business, a Building Surveyor of 78 was still happily
inspecting lofts and climbing scaffolding when he retired.
It's quite thought
provoking this age and power thing, especially when you consider that the boss
of the Church of England, Her Majesty the Queen is 95. I doubt that she had any
direct influence but now those youngsters in their 70’s can simply seek
endorsement from the Vicar for a license extension.
Particularly in
the Old Testament the various Kings were always up to something so Daniel’s
vision would have caused the ears of those hearing this to prick up.
At this
particular time, around 167 BC, the Syrian Emperor Antiochus IV was persecuting
the Jews but Daniel speaks of a divine courtroom where God has pure white robes
and sits in judgment unaffected by transitory rogue leaders offering a vision
of hope.
Our focus should
be on helping each other thrive through recognition of our common humanity
drawing upon the example of the one who came before the throne to inherit an
‘everlasting dominion’…’that shall never be destroyed.’ Jesus humanity is found
here.
As we begin to
understand the type of kingship we see in Jesus it helps us recognise a clear
mis-match with much of what we passively accept as normal. We need to think afresh
about why we are doing certain things and if they seem right to pursue them
with a degree of humility.
There is a great
deal of difference between those that accept positions of responsibility and
service aware of their weaknesses and reliance upon the support of others and
those that seek self-importance and power. The real question is whether leaders
want to rule over or to live in community with others.
We know that
there is a great deal wrong with our world but we ( us here, you and me) also
need to be people who can recognise God’s kingdom when we see it in each other.
As Christians we remain people of hope, seeking peaceful resolution of our
differences and not giving up in our efforts to collaborate with people of all
faiths and none where this benefits others. We get a glimpse of Christ’s
kingship each time we see kindness and forgiveness in action that seeks no
reward, even more so when it is for those we don’t know, find hard to help or
even like. In doing these things we are not keeping God’s kingdom to ourselves
but allowing others to experience it and share in it. There’s always a
possibility that it might catch on and spread further.
We are citizens
of God’s kingdom every time we refuse to turn our back on people in need, every
time we have the courage to stand up against what we know to be wrong and every
time we try to put God’s desires above our own.
So, as we celebrate Jesus as king
today, let’s try to take all we have been told out into our world and play our
part in building that kingdom which he desires for our entire humanity.
Amen
Kevin Bright 20th November 2021
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