Sermon:

Sunday 20th November 2022 10.30am Eliza’s Baptism Christ The King

Today is a special day.

Not only is today Eliza’s baptism, and so the day she is welcomed into Christ’s family, but today is also a special day in the church calendar called ‘Christ the King’.

I think this makes it an extra special day to be baptised, because it reminds us of the reason for our baptism. 

When we are baptised, there are a few significant symbols that we use. We begin by making promises, when you are Eliza’s age, then your parents and godparents make those promises on your behalf. Promises to support her and help her to grow in God’s family.

Then we trace the sign of the cross on the forehead, with a special oil, set apart just for this. And this moment marks Eliza as belonging to God.

Then comes the water, this is the heart of the baptism. 

The water representing life, will be blessed, and when it is poured over Eliza’s head, it is a sign of a new beginning and becoming part of God’s family.

Then afterwards we give you a gift of a special candle, representing the light of Christ. God has taken us away from darkness and into the light. God is always a light in our world and guides and illuminates all that we do. This gift signifies receiving God’s light today.

And so we think about all that this means today, for Eliza, her family and godparents and for each of us, as God’s family.

And we do that today, on the day of ‘Christ the King’. Next week, the church calendar starts again, with advent, the season of waiting. But today we are at the end of a church year, having been through the birth of Jesus at Christmas, his victory at Easter to culminate in Christ the King, as the ultimate destination and direction of our lives.

The bible passages that we have heard today tell us a bit about what it is like to be in God’s family and what Jesus is like as King.

The psalm that was read today, psalm 46, gives us a beautiful picture of what it means to be in God’s family.

Firstly, God is our refuge and strength. A refuge is a place of safety, when things are difficult, dangerous, or troublesome outside. God protects us, loves and nurtures us, and keeps us away from harm. This reminds me of when your parents tuck you up in bed at night, cosy and warm, after reading you a story and listening to any troubles or worries you have. Maybe they pray with you.

And outside you can hear the rain pounding against the window, God is like the warm loving parent who takes care of you and makes Sure you have all you need.

However at the same time we read about the mighty strength of God. He only has to utter his voice and kingdoms can melt away. How powerful is that! 

I imagine someone so powerful to be huge, like the hulk but even bigger.  Even more powerful than Black Adam.

and probably not the same person who would create that idyllic bedtime.

But this is God. God is both of those things at the same time and more and God never changes. We are always safe with God, and there is nothing more powerful than him so we have nothing to fear.

When we are baptised and welcomed into God’s family, this is what we have, for eternity.

God takes us away us from the powers of darkness and leads us in his light. That is what is like to be in God’s family.

Our gospel reading gives yet another picture of God, or Jesus as King. 

Yet it may not be what we expect. It is certainly not something we will see at any of the coronation events next year for King Charles.

We see Jesus, surrendered on the cross. I’m not sure many people saw him as a king then, there was a sign ‘King of the Jews’ but it was put there to take the Mickey.

Jesus doesn’t defend himself. He doesn’t even speak until the very last line of the passage. He is in unthinkable circumstances, undeservedly, challenging our perception of what it means to be king. And here he shows vulnerability. Life changing grace, compassion and gentleness.

The words Jesus speaks to the criminal who recognises him as king, and asks to be remembered by him, are powerful in their subversive and unexpected ways. The tell us something not only of what happens after we die, but something of the very nature of God.

‘Tomorrow you will be with me in paradise.’

Like somehow, in the midst of our pain, self inflicted or not, God is with us, and this assurance for tomorrow is so undeserved and so incredibly comforting. This is our God.

And Jesus is King whether we acknowledge it or not, he cannot be anything other than King. When he submits to the torture that pilate sentences him too, he is no less of a King than if he had defended himself.

The whole of Christ’s existence challenges our idea of power and majesty.

His submission, his death, is so that we might all ultimately be saved. Giving his everything for his people.

Could there be any act more kingly? More divine?

Christ the King, is always the king. Always has been and always will be.

What does it mean for us today?

When the psalm say ‘be still and know that I am God.’ I think about today, how we think about Christ the King, and all we have to do is be still and know. God is doing the action for us. 

When I baptise Eliza in a short while, I am not doing anything special, it is God who claims her as his own, he is the one who is drawing us to him, prompting us to ask questions, to think, to wonder, to look for him. He is the one who keeps us safe, we do not need to take action. We simply need to be still.

The knowledge of God’s power and promises give us hope. The understanding of his family as a place of refuge and safety, gives us comfort and reassurance.

This knowledge gives us a hope, it’s a promise, we have insight to the destination and that changes how we live today. 

Jesus has defeated death, conquered evil and brought finality to the power that suffering has held. He has made a way for us to be saved from that pain, made a way for us to be close with the Father. He has gone to be with the Father now so that we might one day too choose to follow him and also be with the Father. He - who CHOSE to do this, because he loves us so much - HE is the king.

A ruler so majestic and glorious that all of heaven cannot help but worship him, that ruler is King and that ruler knows and loves each of us.

Because Christ is not just the king on our best days, but also in the hard and dark parts of our lives. He is willing and ready to accept every part of us, even the broken parts we prefer to hide away.

Sometimes it is easier to proclaim that Christ is King than at others. We sing and declare that truth in church today because it can help us in the harder times when we might not be so sure.

When we say that Christ is king. We say that we are not.

When we choose baptism, and turn our lives towards Jesus. We surrender our own ‘kingship’ if you will.

We are acknowledging that Jesus is king of our lives. King of the dark places, the hard bits, the worry, the fear, the struggles and the doubts.

I surrender my own plans and I chose to follow you. Trusting not only that Jesus will lead us to that beautiful ending, a place full of wonder and hope, but that he will provide everything we need for the journey.

Amen.