I remember this time last year we were about to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the sense of excitement and joy at marking 70 years of her reign. Probably none of us could have imagined how quickly the national celebration was to be turned to national mourning as we marked her funeral so shortly afterwards. I was struck in the midst of a period of mourning we suddenly had a day of proclamation as King Charles was proclaimed as the new monarch and a new King took the throne. This month we will have the Coronation and very publicly, King Charles III will be crowned in Westminster Abbey with great pomp and ceremony. As a nation we seem to excel at these public state occasions and the Church of England and faith are at the heart of them. They are moments of national pride and celebration and this will be no different as we come to together to mark the occasion.
As Christians it is right and proper that we should pay respect to those who rule over us but we should also remember that we belong to another Kingdom and our ultimate allegiance is to another King. In Jesus trial before Pilate we see this tension between the kingdoms of our world and the Kingdom of God come into stark contrast. Jesus is specifically asked whether he is a King.
“So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
John 18:33-38
Jesus make the point to Pilate that his is not an earthly political kingdom but instead he is the King over and above all earthly realms and kingdoms. In our modern political world we do not any longer believe in the divine right of kings to rule over us but as people of faith we recognise that we follow an eternal King who will one day return to rule over our whole world. The writers of the New Testament recognised this and Paul in particular in his letters reminds us that as people of faith we are ambassadors of Jesus Kingdom. Ambassadors are not citizens of the country they live in but representatives of another Kingdom. Our churches are in that sense embassies of the Kingdom of Heaven and we are its diplomats, pointing others to our kingdom and its values. Peter writing to the early church tells us that we are strangers and foreigners in this world because we have become citizens of another country. I particular like how the Message puts this:
“Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves at too comfortable in it. Don’t indulge yourself at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life in your neighbourhood so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they will be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when Jesus arrives. “
1 Peter 2:11-12
As Christians we are called to a life of service and this will be mirrored in the Coronation, as the King will not only promise to rule his earthly nation but submit himself to the values of God’s Kingdom. We too are called to joyfully serve our communities and one another. My prayer is that through the words of the Coronation service we might all be reminded to commit ourselves in Christian service to Jesus and to each another. We are reminded too that at Jesus name every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Him as lord.
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11
As we celebrate the Coronation in our communities we pray.
Blessed are you, Lord Jesus, for as you were sent by the Father, so you send us. Equip Charles our King and all your people with the gifts to fulfil our calling, that we may love as you loved, serve as you served, and willingly follow wherever you lead. Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.