The Reign and Majesty of the Lord

November 24, 2024
The Reign and Majesty of the Lord

Scripture Reading: Psalm 93

1The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.

2Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.

3The seas have lifted up, Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.

4Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea—the Lord on high is mighty.

5Your statutes, Lord, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days.

Message:  The Reign and Majesty of the Lord

Reign of Christ Sunday

Today is the last Sunday of the so-called ordinary time in the church calendar

It is the time between pentecost and the start of lent

In some liturgical traditions it is called the “kingdom time”, as to commemorate the coming of God’s kingdom in this world

Traditionally, this period in the liturgical calendar comes to a close on the last Sunday (today) with the Reign of Christ Sunday

Hence our reading of Psalm 93 today

An Old Testament reading that is echoed in the book of Revelation… words like robed, majesty, armed in strength, eternity, voices proclaiming kingship, ruling over nature (seas, thunder, great waters) 

Even the expression “the Statues of the Lord” being used as a confirmation of the reign and majesty of the Lord

Today we celebrate Jesus as the King of this world

And today we remind ourselves of the meaning of his reign

And we allow ourselves to find hope in his kingship

Jesus as King in the Gospels

The gospels tell the story of Jesus as the King

In the time of advent we will hear again the story of the Magi who came to honour the new born King

We will hear of king Herod that felt threatened by the coming of this new kind

We can remind ourselves today of Palm Sunday - the day Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on the back of a donkey - in a royal manner

Let us think about the arrest of Jesus that took place because he was perceived as a threat in leadership

Think about the trial before Pontius Pilate where the accusation of his kingship was made

Think of the sign was put up on the cross - mocking him as the king of the Jews - an ironic truth of which his accusers had no comprehension

There’s the crown of thorns that was put on his head - a symbol of his kingship for Christians to this day

And then there is throne in the book of Revelation - the throne that is reserved for the Lamb

So much symbolism in the reign of Christ…

We could ask ourselves today, what does this idea “the reign of Christ” mean to me today?

Reign of the Lord when good and bad things happen

Our selfish and ungrateful nature causes us to forget about the reign of Christ when things go well 

When things are going well, we are satisfied and happy citizens of the kingdom

Not always acknowledging the role of the reign of Christ in our daily lives

But it is when things start to go wrong that we tend to speak about it…

“How could a loving God allow something like this to happen?”

If He is the prince of peace, why are the so much war going on this world?

If He is the King, why does He allow such terrible leaders to have so much power?

Isn’t a King supposed to make things better?  

Why are we faced with so much suffering and struggle?  

Can’t He make our financial situation better?

Can’t He appoint better leaders to lead us?

Can’t He take care of the villains in this world?

Can’t He make my pain better?

Reign of Christ is different

These are all relevant questions being asked from a place of need - knowing that we need a higher power

But the reign of Christ is different than any other reign

The reign of Christ is not a transactional reign like constitutional monarchy where we have a king that unites us and the we find collective strength in this unity under a monarch 

The strength of the reign of Christ is to be found in the victory over death 

It does not lie in the physical benefits for us to be had in claiming our citizenship 

The reign of Christ goes beyond our earthly needs

The reign of Christ remains despite our struggles and hardships in this life

Today we celebrate a King that rules over more than just what lies before us

We celebrate the eternal King - that is described to us in the Gospels and in Revelation

We celebrate the King before Whom every knee shall bow and of Whom every tongue shall confess that He is truly King

Majesty of the Lord brings hope

This celebration today, is a source of hope in this life

It is living with the knowledge that there is King that is ruling over this world despite all the hardships all around us…

It is knowing that all will be ok because we have an eternal King

It is to remain hopeful despite terrible leaders of a earthly rule

It is to remain hopeful despite the horror of wars raging on

It is to remain hopeful despite personal challenges and loss

It is knowing that Jesus is Lord, the King of Kings

Under the reign and majesty of our Lord, all is going to be ok!


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