09 Christ The King Sunday

PRAYERS: I sing praises to you, O Lord, for I am standing on the firm foundation which you have laid, your Son Jesus being the chief cornerstone. I will plant my feet on solid ground. Amen.

CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY

FROM LUTHER’S SMALL CATECHISM The Third Petition of The Lord’s Prayer: Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. What is this? In fact, God’s good and gracious will comes about without our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may also come about in and among us. How does this come about? Whenever God breaks and hinders every evil scheme and will of the devil, the world, and our flesh that would not allow us to hallow God’s name and would prevent the coming of his kingdom. And God’s will comes about whenever God strengthens us and keeps us steadfast in his Word and in faith until the end of our lives. This is God’s gracious and good will.

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to Restore all things to your beloved Son, whom you anointed priest forever and king of all creation: Grant that all the people of the earth, now divided by the power of sin, may be united under the glorious and gentle rule of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

GOSPEL: John 18:33-37 Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you ask on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35 Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ? Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I unto the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of truth hearth my voice. John xviii. 37.

See how Christ the King abandons possessions, body, and life, and learn from this that His Kingdom is not of this world. To enjoy the Christian faith here on earth does not mean to have all things to the full and lack nothing. Look at your King, the Lord Jesus, how does He fare? Of what does He boast? What comfort has He in life? How highly is He praised? Is it not true, that He has nothing but suffering, scorn, and disdain and dies in shame? One little thing He has with which to rule, and that applies only in the case of a few people. It is His testimony to the truth, the holy Gospel. Through this He pours out the Holy Spirit into the hearts of men, forgives sin and bestows the hope of eternal life. But all these things remain in faith and in the Word. They are not seen. They are not handled. They exist in hope. ` Any man who knows the way of this King and His Kingdom willingly bears the cross, for he not only knows that Christ, the eternal King, fared in the same way, and is thus himself willing and ready to suffer because a servant should not fare better than his Lord, but also he takes comfort in the knowledge that the life hereafter is full of joy and splendor, even though suffering must be endured on earth. That makes Christians joyful even in the midst of sorrows and trials. Sermons from the year 1545.

W.A. 52. 768.

Taken from the book: Day by Day We Magnify Thee Page 158

by Martin Luther