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Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

The difference of kings

Kings and leaders often fail to live up to expectations, as we see in Luke 23:33-43 and Jeremiah 23:1-6.

Context

In the week where many churches mark the coming of Christ the King, we look at stories in the news which tell of: changes to our royal family; world leaders gathered together to discuss changing our planet’s future; the rise of a new ruler in an imaginary African kingdom; and the climbing to power of a new celebrity king or queen of the jungle in Australia.

• Supporting the King – Princess Anne and Prince Edward have been requested by the King to be added to the small number of members of the royal family who can deputise for the monarch on official duties, as ‘counsellors of state’.
• A different ‘king’– actor Chadwick Boseman played the role of King T’Challa, ruler of the fictional African country of Wakanda, until he died of cancer two years ago. With the sequel to Marvel’s ground-breaking ‘Black Panther’ film released last week, the mystery as to how he will be replaced as king in the lead role will soon be answered. Co-stars have said that the new movie, ‘Wakanda Forever’ is dedicated to honouring Chadwick Boseman’s legacy.
• A different climate – as COP27 continues, we look to the world’s leaders for change. Are they up to the task?
• King of the jungle – Who will be crowned King or Queen of the jungle in this year’s ‘I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of Here’? So far, one MP seems to have been getting the lion’s share of the attention.

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

Crucifixion was designed to be a humiliating public spectacle. Not that it can be compared on anything like the same level, but it is fair to say that ITV’s I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of Here is also designed to humiliate. While the differences are too numerous to mention, the core concept of humiliating punishment is integral to both. In terms of the ITV game show – which in many cases might be more accurately renamed ‘I used to be a celebrity, that’s why I’m in here’ – the British public takes delight in nominating fellow human beings to endure trials often designed to cruelly expose the emotional or mental weaknesses of those concerned. Are we making light of a modern-day interpretation of throwing Christians to the lions? In some cases, the results can be to make or break the careers of those taking part.

On Tuesday a message was flown over the ‘I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of Here’ camp aimed squarely at former health secretary, Matt Hancock. The message came from a protest group raising the concerns of those who lost loved ones during the pandemic. The message read: ‘Covid bereaved say get out of here’. While Hancock was criticised for his handling of the virus outbreak, what really angered many people was his own breach of Covid laws – rules he, as leader for health care, had put in place. As his camp mates in Australia struggle with their own emotions and feelings as to whether to befriend or trust this man, who to all intense and purposes failed all those he was trusted to lead, so he had thrust upon him the title of ‘Camp Leader’ at the start of this week.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak criticised his former Conservative Party colleague for entering the jungle in the first place. It would be fair to say that he has joined a very long line of people who feel that Matt Hancock is abusing his role as a leader and Member of Parliament. The PM warned politicians that they have to earn people’s respect, and should do that by putting their constituents and country ‘at the forefront of what we do’. Rishi is sounding quite like the kind of prophecy we might hear from Jeremiah.

Jeremiah likens kings to shepherds. Are they any good at their job? Jeremiah is clear in his pronouncement that God will not stand for those in leadership who fail to care for their flock, their people. God will replace them with a new regime: Shepherds i.e. leaders and kings of God’s creation who will be brave and good at their role and therefore successful in the task God gives them. God will raise up a new kind of leader, a new shepherd king.

The first half of this week’s Gospel passage focuses on humiliation, both of Jesus and the Jewish people. The Roman soldiers mock Jesus with their words and actions, but they mock an entire nation by placing the label above Jesus' cross: ‘This is the King of the Jews.’ Unwittingly, or unwillingly, the Jewish leadership are drawn into their own self-deprecation. None of them understand Jesus' model of kingship or leadership. They are joined in this by one of the criminals who is also subjected to the same humiliation as Jesus – both symbolise the humiliation heaped upon the Hebrew people at the hands of the Roman Empire.

The second half of the Gospel passage engages with the different regime that Jesus has been teaching about. This is the upside-down paradise where Jesus is king. It is a kingdom built for the likes of the penitent criminal, but its construction will cost Jesus everything. This is the kingdom that the second criminal asks Jesus to carry his memory into. Jesus' words, ‘Today you will be with me in Paradise’, are an assertion that it is this second man who has seen a glimpse of the true value of God’s kingdom in the leadership of Jesus. Do we hope for the same from our royal, political, hero or celebrity leaders?

 

Questions for discussion

• What do we expect from our leaders – whether they be royal, political, heroes or celebrity influencers? Are our expectations of them fair, realistic or honest?
• Jesus said: ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ How forgiving are we of our royal, political, hero or celebrity leaders? When is it right to forgive and when should we hold these leaders to account?

Tim Lowe is a minister of the United Reformed Church, serving in the Leeds URC Partnership, and together with Christians throughout the UK celebrating a year of jubilee for the URC’s 50th Anniversary

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

When looking at the news these days we see examples of good and bad leaders. Often the bad leaders grab the headlines while asserting their power to lead their agendas and campaigns. Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter is being scrutinised as he appears to be using his power to bulldoze through the company, demanding that remaining employees ‘work long hours at high intensity’ or leave. And funnily enough it doesn’t appear to be working out too well for him. After spending billions of dollars to try and turn it round, the company is in a tailspin as some advertisers react to this new regime.

I am sure there are many who expected the ‘King of the Jews’ to be someone who demonstrated power, a bulldozer to the system. Jesus shows us our need to not only be different in how we live life, but to be the change we want to see. But change comes at a cost, doesn’t it? There are sacrifices we might need to make to live the life God is calling us to. By doing the right thing we might not make as much money, we might not be the most popular, we may need to give up an evening, or work a bit harder – but with Jesus as our king then it will be worth it. 

Are you prepared to ‘be the change‘ for King Jesus’ regime? And what might that involve?

Lindsay Wright is a freelance creative and writer based in Lancashire.

 

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