ADVENT BLOG Named by God - KING of KINGS

“For, at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords”

(Timothy 6:15)

King Charles III had hardly sat down on his newly ascended throne when the questions started.  “What kind of king will he be?”  “Will he meddle in politics?”  Questions came fast and furious from so many different directions.  It seemed inappropriate at a time of great loss for this nation in death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth !!.  It seemed strange as well because he is someone who has lived in the limelight since his birth as “heir apparent” and has taken on more and more responsibility.  Yet, perhaps not strange in that there is quite a difference in being “King in waiting” to actually sitting on that throne and taking on all of the responsibilities.  I know that when I was ordained to the Holy Ministry in January, 1995 I felt a great weight upon me that first day after the ordination.

When we consider the King of ALL kings, Jesus, the clues are there in the Old Testament as to what kind of King this new king was going to be and what his kingdom was going to be like.  The clues are there when we look at Jesus in the Gospels - we see what kind of king he was and is, a Servant King.  That great and high King of heaven and earth stooped down and entered into our world and our kingdoms.  He entered and knelt before the people he came to serve.

A study of such passages as his entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and the humble account his his washing the feet of disciples brings to life service at the heart of his reign.  This king was going to be different, quite radically different.  He didn’t come to lead people into some bloody battle fought by weapons made by human hands as others had done and as leaders continue to do in our troubled world.

He came to serve, to meet the glaring needs in our lives and the life of the world and to set an example as to what it means to be his kingdom people.  Christ committed himself to us and our wellbeing and invites us to commit ourselves anew to him and to each other.

What does it mean to you to know Jesus as your king?  What does it mean to know that he kneels at your feet to wash away the past and its pain and its heartache?

So let us learn how to serve,

and in our lives enthrone him;

each other's needs to prefer,

for it is Christ we're serving.

This is our God, the Servant King,

he calls us now to follow him,

to bring our lives as a daily offering

of worship to the Servant King.

(Graham Kendrick)