"No King! No King! The True King Was Glorified At The Cross.”

IIn Jesus Holy Name November 23,2025

Text: John 17:3-5 Christ the King Sunday Redeemer

“No King! No king! The true King was Glorified at the Cross.”

On October 18, more than 7 million Americans rose up at more than 2,700 events in all 50 states, DC, and cities worldwide to say: America has no kings, I was wondering if they were protesting because they all knew that the true king was Jesus. I must say that I agree with their signs. On this Christ the King Sunday, I agree we remember that the true King of the Universe is Jesus. This is “Christ the King” Sunday which concludes the year of Reading the gospel lessons from the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel lesson chosen for Christ the King Sunday finds Jesus on the way to the cross not one I would have chosen but the ancient church has.

All of the gospels Matthew , Mark and Luke are telling their readers that Jesus is the only true king. Matthew 2:1-3 “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

At a recent campus event at an open mic a Student asked. “How could one man suffering on a cross bring redemption to all humanity. “ I would ask “ Who is this man?”

The apostle Paul answers this way in his letter to the Philippines; “ Jesus, Who being the very nature of God made Himself in human likeness He humbled Himself and became obedient to death according to God’s eternal plan”. The earthly king Herod tried to kill this child, the wisemen visited. But Go said “Not now” “Not yet”

Back to our gospel. Now is the time. Simon of Cyrene has been drafted to carry his cross. It’s Friday, but on the previous evening at Passover Jesus prayed with His disciples. It is one of the most astounding proofs of His true kingship. Jesus prayed: “Father the time has come to Glorify your Son.. “(You have given me authority over all people so that I might grant those who believe eternal life) “ And now Father glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.

Some thirty years After his birth Jesus was arrested by the Jews sometime around midnight. He was taken from one hearing to another: First Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin, then Pilate. The Jews want him dead but only the Romans have the power of capital punishment. Thus he ends up before Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, accused of wanting to be a king. Jesus was a political hot potato, and because He was from Galilee, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas another appointed king, the ruler of Galilee, who dressed Jesus in a purple robe.

When Jesus was on the cross Pilate had written these words on the cross “King of the Jews”. Jesus endured the ridicule of the bystanders. “If you are the King of the Jews save yourself!” “Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God.” There was one criminal on the cross who understood the true “kingship” of the man in the middle. The penitent thief simply offers a request. “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom….” Jesus answered with a promise: “today you will be with me in paradise.”

The cross was not his final destination…. Therefore there must be more to the story.

The Apostle Paul wrote: “We preached Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles…but to those who are called… Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.” He rose from death and the grave.

Leonard Sweet in his book: “Jesus, A Theoraphy” writes: The Jesus story does not begin in Bethlehem nor Nazareth. It begins in the dateless past, before angels and atoms. To consider that Jesus existed before the world and time began, is mind boggling. We grope for words to express the inexpressible. There is no “before” nor “after” until there is creation. I have always wondered why his crucifixion is considered a moment of Glorification. A good question It doesn’t seem logical. Many see his death as a tragic ending. Many people see Christianity as a list of rules and God will be pleased with you if you keep them and then let you enter heaven.

God does not accept good deeds as the entry ticket. But He does accept the crucifixion of Jesus as the key to open the doors of heaven. Thus the crucifixion is an act of obedience to Gods plan to redeem fallen human beings. God demonstrates both His justice and mercy. Because Jesus came for this purpose, to live a perfect and holy life then to suffer and die for the sins of the world He is glorified. In his prayer Jesus said: “Father glorify Your name. I have brought you glory by completing the work you Gave me to do. And now Father glorify me in your Presence with the glory I had with you Before the world began.