Christ the King Sunday

Christ the King and Thanksgiving Sunday, Year A

Rev. Dr. Eddie Bromley Grace Church 23 November 2008
Daniel Chapter 7:2-19 and Revelation 1:4b-8
Daniel Chapter 7:2-19
2 In my vision that night, I, Daniel, saw a great storm churning the surface of a great sea, with strong winds blowing from every direction. 3 Then four huge beasts came up out of the water, each different from the others.
4 The first beast was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was left standing with its two hind feet on the ground, like a human being. And it was given a human mind.
5 Then I saw a second beast, and it looked like a bear. It was rearing up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And I heard a voice saying to it, “Get up! Devour the flesh of many people!”
6 Then the third of these strange beasts appeared, and it looked like a leopard. It had four bird’s wings on its back, and it had four heads. Great authority was given to this beast.
7 Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet. It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns.
8 As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
9 I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One[b] sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, 10 and a river of fire was pouring out, flowing from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him; many millions stood to attend him. Then the court began its session, and the books were opened.
11 I continued to watch because I could hear the little horn’s boastful speech. I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire. 12 The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while longer.[c]
13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man[d] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
The Vision Is Explained
15 I, Daniel, was troubled by all I had seen, and my visions terrified me. 16 So I approached one of those standing beside the throne and asked him what it all meant. He explained it to me like this: 17 “These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth. 18 But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.”
19 Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one so different from the others and so terrifying. It had devoured and crushed its victims with iron teeth and bronze claws, trampling their remains beneath its feet. 20 I also asked about the ten horns on the fourth beast’s head and the little horn that came up afterward and destroyed three of the other horns. This horn had seemed greater than the others, and it had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against God’s holy people and was defeating them, 22 until the Ancient One—the Most High—came and judged in favor of his holy people. Then the time arrived for the holy people to take over the kingdom.
Revelation 1:4b-8
Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit[d] before his throne; 5 and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world.
All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. 6 He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
7 Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen!
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,”[e] says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”
Earth’s Rightful King
I love the story of Robin Hood. It is not an entirely accurate historical story, but I love a theme that it captures. England’s good and rightful king has gone off to war and has left his brother in charge of caring for the people and needs of England. But while King Richard was a good and decent king, his brother, Prince John is scoundrel. Prince John troubles the people of England.
And the only relief the poor of England have is too things, the hope of King Richard’s return, and the work of Robin Hood and his merry men, who work diligently to make as much right as they can, while they too await the return of King Richard.
King Richard the Lion Hearted does finally return and things are set right, for a while. Our world too awaits its rightful king, as the people of God work diligently to do as much good as we can, while also awaiting the rightful king. But while we wait, our world is troubled by some scoundrels, who think they own this world. But an OT prophet was given a vision of the day in which the rightful King returns. The name of this prophet was Daniel.
Daniel lived several centuries before the birth of Christ. And his age, like our own was filled with trouble. Oppressive governments, which he sees and describes as beasts, made the lives of the people miserable. Trouble seemed to always be subject of the nightly news. As soon as one problem was solved, another problem was made. It seemed as if evil and chaos would always be in control of our broken little world.
But in the midst of all this trouble, Daniel is given a vision from heaven that reminds him and us that God, the Ancient of Days, is still God over all the world. Now, I want you to notice something. As Daniel is seeing this vision, in the background, he can still hear the roaring beasts. He does not temporarily forget that the world is troubled, while he gazes upon God. No. While being fully aware of the trouble that is brewing around him, he gazes upon God and is able to keep the problems in perspective.
While the world of Daniel’s time is plagued with evil, Daniel sees a coming day, when God will establish his eternal kingdom. Daniel sees a mysterious man, through whom God will establish this kingdom. Daniel does not understand who this man is, only that he is the one through whom God will use to bring about his rule on earth.

We know something Daniel did not. We know this mysterious man’s name. His name is Jesus; and through Jesus, God has set his kingdom in motion. And some day, Jesus will return in glory to bring to completion what he started on the cross. And when the fullness of his glory is revealed to all the earth, men and women, will finally live together in peace and trouble and sorrow will finally end.
Today, is Christ the King Sunday; the Sunday on which we anticipate and celebrate the return of Christ in glory and the completion of all his work. Today is the end of the liturgical year. Liturgy is the work of worship. And the liturgical year ends on the high note of thanksgiving and praise, as we look for Christ to be finally revealed to all the earth as earth’s rightful and returning king.



A Season of Thanks
How appropriate it is that Thanksgiving Sunday and Christ the King Sunday fall on the same day. For we are reminded of all our King has done for us and we bow in thanksgiving before his throne. Listen to a passage from 1 Timothy 2:
[PP] 1 Timothy 2:1-7 1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.
In this passage, we are encouraged to pray and ask God for the things we need, and to ask for the things others need. But we are encouraged, not only to ask, but also to acknowledge.
We have things we need. You may be praying about a new job or asking God to help you make it financially. Maybe some here is praying for restored physical health, or help overcoming depression. Maybe some here is asking for help just to make it. We can and are encouraged to ask, because God is our Father and he loves us so much.
But as we ask, let us also acknowledge all that he has given and has done for us. If you have even one true friend in this world, thank God for not having to go it alone. If you have your eyesight, if you can hear, if you can walk, give God thanks for health. If you have somewhere warm to sleep tonight, give God some thanks. If you have been forgiven of your sins and given a place in heaven to live for eternity, give God some thanks.
Yes God, I ask for some things that I think I need; but as I do, I acknowledge that you have already been so good to me; better than what I deserve. Thanks be to God!
[Jars of Clay Video]

Some have never heard
But as we celebrate this morning; we need to remember, there are some who have never heard. There are some people in our world, in our state, in our community who do not know that Jesus Christ King. They think that death and suffering really do have the last word. They do not know about earth’s rightful King. They do not have the hope of eternity. They do not know that he has already set in motion a plan to redeem all things.
They do not know where their blessings come from. As G.K. Chesterton said, on Thanksgiving Day, they have the awkward experience of feeling thankful but of not knowing to whom to say thank you.
[PP] 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news.” - Romans 10:14-15
The need for new pastors and preachers
Folks, the church today is great need for new preachers and pastors. For as long as there has been a church, God has called on young men and women to devote their lives to the task of preaching the word of God, praying, administering the sacraments, and giving guidance to the people of God.
Today, we have a crisis in the American church. There are not enough young people responding to the call, and we are in danger of being unable to bring the good news to those who need to hear it. I do not believe that this lack of response is because of God not calling. I believe that it has to do with the church not nurturing and encouraging its young people to consider giving their lives to the cause of the gospel. I believe there may even be some mammas and daddies who may be discouraging their gifted young people from pursuing the call, knowing the hardships and financial difficulties that sometimes come with the call.
But family, if God has honored one of our young people with such a call, we as the people of God need to nurture and encourage and support them in pursuing this call.
For how will the world know about its rightful King? How will the world know whom to thank, if there is no one sent to tell them? This morning, I want to ask you, is God calling you to the life of an ordained pastor? Or, do you know a young person that God is calling? How can you help encourage and support that young person in pursuing that call?