In Jesus Holy Name November 26, 2023
Text: Revelation 19:11-13,16 Christ the King Sunday Redeemer
“The Return of the King of kings”
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.
This is why when Jesus prays for His disciples at the Passover meal 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) “ An now Father glorify me in your presence with the glory I have with You before the world began.” This is why we just sang the hymn “Give Him Glory”. It is a great hymn for Christ the King Sunday.
The Jesus story has no beginning nor end for He is the Creator of all things. (Colossians1:15) John writes: “He is the Logos”, the “Intelligent Designer” of the Universe.” He is eternal. If not, He would not be God. The bible from Genesis through Revelation tells the story of Jesus, His person, His mission and His work to redeem His creation from the grip of evil. The Jesus story does not end at the cross in Jerusalem nor on Easter Sunday. He will return and restore earth to its original glory.
This Sunday is the last Sunday in the Church year, Christ the King Sunday. We celebrate all that Jesus has accomplished and we look forward with joy to His return.
In Revelation chapter 19, John writes: I heard the sound of a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters…. shouting….Hallelujah, for our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory.” “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse whose rider is call Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. …His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following Him riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen. On His robe and His thigh He has this name: ‘The King of kings and Lord of lords.’
On this Christ the King Sunday, we remember that the true King of the Universe is Jesus. Until He returns, we are the “light” in the “darkness”. In the great Disney film “The Lion King”, named Mufasa shows the vast expanse of the “Pride Lands” to his son, Simba. He then says that their kingdom is where ever the “light” hits.
As the story unfolds there is an evil brother named Scar. He is jealous and wants the power and thus authority over the “Pride Lands”. Scar attacks Pride Lands and tries to kill the son Simba. Under Sacr’s rule the “pride lands” are devastated. Ultimately Simba returns and defeats Scar. His coronation is the ceremony in which Simba reclaims the Pride Lands and takes his rightful place in the Circle of Life.
Don’t you think it is interesting how a great film, converted into a Broadway musical attracts still attracts so much attention? The Lion King is a classic Disney animation that understands the on going “cosmic battle between good and evil, between the Creator and Satan who stole Adam and Eve’s authority over the earth. (Genesis 1:26) The Lion King is a retelling of the world (The Pride Lands) created perfect by God, then challenged by an evil foe and rescued by the son, Jesus.
David Kupelian in his book “How Evil Works” writes: “”we do not understand evil, what it is, how it works, and why it so routinely and effortlessly ruins our lives. Despite the human race’s extraordinary capacity for invention and progress we clearly have a blind spot”….to the influence and power of Satan at work to destroy God’s creation. Scar rounded up all the evil hyena’s and together their violent behavior destroyed the beautiful land. We can see that violent behavior roaming our streets, just as Herod’s soldiers roamed the streets of Bethlehem late one night in their search for the child, Jesus.
As much as we want, husbands and wives can’t seem to stay married. Family breakdown is all around us, and at times the government has encouraged it. Americans are increasingly forsaking their faith in Christianity and its’ values, along with the challenge to forgive one another. And we wonder why theft from our community stores and carjackings in our city streets are constantly are filling our evening news. We wonder why people and governments plunder and destroy the earth, stealing its beauty and wealth. It is exactly what “Scar” and his pride of hyena’s did. It is part of the ongoing “Cosmic battle” until the “Son” returns and restores His created earth.
This child, who rescued the “Pride Land” from death and destruction was given the name Jesus. He entered the world, that He created, just over 2000 years ago to a peasant girl and a carpenter, in a small village in Israel. An unlikely place for the birth of a king. The home was not a royal palace with an ivory crib. No silk sheets. No Pendleton blankets to keep the infant warm on a cold winter’s night.
In that 1st century this child’s birth worried the current King Herod so much that he had all the infant boys under the age of three killed. In the same way Scar tried to kill the true king’s son, Simba. The names are different but the story is the same.
In Revelation 17 John is told that “great prostitute” dressed in purple and
scarlet, glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls is false religion. False
religion can be an attractive substitute that replaces the truth of God, offering temporary power and glory. John further identifies the beast on which the “great prostitute” of false religion relies is political government ruled by selfish kings and rulers. These are the tools of Satan in his cosmic war against God’s chosen people and His church.
Revelation 13 is very clear. When Satan failed to kill the infant Jesus using King Herod…..He went off to make war against “those who obey God’s commandments” and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” This is the “tribulation” Christians will endure until He returns as King of kings.
Some thirty years later we find this child, Jesus, was arrested by the Jews sometime around midnight. He has been taken from one hearing to another: Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin. 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 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…. 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.
Paul can write to the Christians in 1st Thessalonians: (read 4:13-18)
Jesus came as a result of the promise of God to Adam and Eve to defeat Satan who holds people in the grip of the fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14) Jesus came as the King lifted high on a cross to offer His perfect life as the perfect Lamb of God. His perfect sacrifice is what brings forgiveness for every broken commandment of everyone who places their trust in Jesus. It is He who defeated death by rising from the grave and death itself.
When the King of kings returns there will be a great white throne judgment at the end of human history. The return of Jesus Christ from heaven will usher in the Day of Judgment when the risen Jesus Christ separates the wicked from the righteous. Everyone will be judged.
The Son of Man will come in glory with His angels and he will reward everyone according to what they have done. “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothing and you clothed me.” Well done thou good and faithful servant. Come and share the happiness of your Lord.
To others who failed to care for their neighbor in need, who let hate and bitterness rule their behavior rather than peace and forgiveness, they will be cast out into outer darkness. (Matthew 25:28-30) Remember the Risen Jesus has already taken away our failures, He has blotted out our broken commandments and has “rescued us from the wrath of God”. (I Thessalonians 1:10 I John 1:9)
We are saved by faith alone, but not the faith that is alone. Faith alone justifies and we have peace with God. For we are God’s creation created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do, even a cup of cold water. We cannot hide our “light” under a basket.
God loves the earth He created. Genesis tells us that God “saw everything that He had made and it was very good.” The earth will last forever. When Jesus returns he will not do away with space, time and matter. He will renovate the earth, judge all things by fire. He will redeem the earth and deliver it from corruption and fill it with His glory. “The wolf will dwell with the lamb and the calf with the lion, and a small child will lead them.” Yes, the world system, under the rule of Satan will be judged and Satan will be cast into the eternal fires of hell.
Jesus said: “Behold I am coming soon. I will return. And my reward is with me. I Am the First and the Last…blessed are those who wash their robes (in the blood of the Lamb) for they have the right to the tree of life. Amen, Amen.
