Jeremiah 23: 1-6 / Psalm 46 / Colossians 1: 11-20 / Luke 23: 33–43
This is the written version of the
homily given at Flohr’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA) in McKnightstown,
Pennsylvania on Sunday, November 23, 2025 by Fr. Gene Tucker, Interim Pastor.
“REFLECTIONS ON KINGS, QUEENS, ROYALTY, AND ON
THE KING OF KINGS, JESUS CHRIST”
This Sunday, we come to the end of the
current Church Year, celebrating and thinking about Jesus Christ as King of
kings and Lord of lords.[1]
Let’s undertake a review of kings,
queens, royalty (in general), as we can see it in effect down through time. And
then, let’s contrast what we discover in the pages of history with what we know
about the kingship and the lordship of Jesus Christ.
History reveals to us that it is a
system of royalty is the most predominant pattern of governance that has been
in effect in nations, countries, tribes and groupings of human beings. Perhaps
the idea of royalty, of having kings and queens (and attendant relations within
royal families) emerged very early on in human history, as some prominent or
powerful family emerged within a tribe, or some other grouping of people.
Kings and queens (and royalty in
general) aren’t chosen by the people they lead. They are a given, having been
the children of other royalty. Sometimes, when a royal line runs out, a country
will import royalty from elsewhere. The British royal family was – not too long
ago – from Germany, for example.
In history, too often the pattern of
leadership and behavior of kings hasn’t been positive. Think of the idea of the
“Divine Right of Kings” an idea which predominated in the Middle Ages. That
idea stemmed from the biblical idea that a king rules because God had chosen
him to do so. It then follows that whatever the king says or decrees, becomes
the law of the land. There is no need, under such a system, to appeal, to
question, or to refuse to obey.
The behaviors of kings who ruled as
despots in times past is mirrored in the behaviors of too many of the dictators
in countries around the world. They, too, rule like monarchs whose interests
are in their own perks, position, power and authority. The will and the welfare
of the people they rule over is secondary to these values.
We Americans are fascinated with
royalty, and – in particular – British royalty. We, ourselves, however, refused
to consider this method of organizing our nation, and our way of choosing
leadership. (The story is told that some wanted George Washington to be named
as king, but he refused.)
It may be because we Americans value
democracy that some Christians aren’t comfortable these days with the idea of
calling Jesus Christ “Lord”, or “King”.
But the biblical witness, and biblical
language, employs terms like “king” and “lord”.
Jesus Christ’s kingship resembles
earthly monarchs in some ways … for example, Jesus Christ was chosen to be our Savior
and Lord. We didn’t appoint Him to be King and Lord. But we an enthrone Him in
our hearts. We can refuse our citizenship in His kingdom.
This king is One who has come among us,
not to rule as a despot, but to serve, and to look after and to foster our
welfare. In Matthew’s Gospel account, we read that He came, not to be served,
but to serve.[2] Our salvation and our welfare is the sole reason He was sent by God the Father
to come among us, taking up our humanity to the full.
To become citizens of this heavenly
kingdom is to find ourselves living life in this world in its truest and most
fulfilling form. To be a citizen of this heavenly kingdom is to find ourselves
as citizens of a kingdom which will have no end, led by a king whose kingship
will never cease.
Thanks be to God!
AMEN.
[1] This is language we read in the last book of the Bible, the Book of
Revelation.
[2] See Matthew 20:28.
