Old Testament: Daniel 7:9-14
Gospel: John 18:33-37
Epistle: Revelation 1:4-8
If you can believe it, we only have one more week until
Advent arrives. Now, not only do we have
to wait for Christmas, we have to wait to our time of waiting. We will be discussing how advent is a time of
waiting in the next four weeks.
Thanksgiving came early this year so although it seems like the “Christmas
season” has started and we are bombarded with commercials and songs celebrating
the holidays, let us strive to live by a different ideal than the world. I must admit, however, that we have already
put up our Christmas decorations and getting in the mood for the Advent
season. Also, if you can believe it, I
have been writing my blogs on the Lectionary for a whole year now. It has been a labor of love and one I think I
will continue for another year. I will
at least write during Advent.
This week will be a short reflection as it is getting late
in the day and we had company and school work to attend to. But I think the theme is very clear and is perfect
for this week: God is the Ruler and King over this world. In Daniel 7, we have the vision of Daniel
where he sees God as the “Ancient of Days” seated on his throne. The Son of Man approaches him and is given an
everlasting dominion and sovereignty over all the people and nations. Whenever we get into books like Daniel or Ezekiel,
I must admit that I get more confused than anything. These visions are so bizarre as a human being
tries to express the completely incomprehensible divine nature. The Father is seated on a throne with a river
of fire coming out and the Son is there like a completely separate entity. Woe to the person who tries to create a Trinitarian
theology based on passages such as these.
But despite the bizarreness, one point is clear: God, through the Son of
Man as his agent, reigns over the world.
As we move into the New Testament, we must remember that the
Son of Man was Jesus’ preferred title for himself. Jesus essentially says that he is the person
all those prophesies were talking about.
He is the king back in Daniel 7 who has all authority on this earth. This naturally got him in trouble such as when
he is on trial in our passage from John 18. Pilate asks him if he is a king. He says he is indeed a king, but subverts
Pilate’s notion of kingship and Daniel chapter seven’s notion as well. He says that his kingdom is not of this
world. I am of two minds here on this
idea. On the one hand, maybe he means
that his kingdom is different than worldly kingdoms we are used to. His is a realm of servitude, mercy, and
humility. Not of this world in the sense
that it is nothing like we have ever seen before. But, Jesus also seems to be saying that it is
not of this world; it is of heaven or some other realm. Is that now, after his death, or for all
eternity? I don’t know the answer to
that question because none sound good. I
don’t want to worship a God whose kingdom is only heaven and God is up there
even now ruling over his realm while down here he has no jurisdiction. I will have to work through this idea and see
what other Scripture has to say. God
seems to have power here, yet he also seems to have given up his power
here. His kingdom has not yet come fully
to this world. This is a scary thought,
but unfortunately a reality which we see all around us every day in the hurt,
pain, and death we witness.
Lucky for us, and by the grace of our Scripture readings, we
don’t have to end on a down note this week.
In Revelation 1, it is proclaimed that God’s kingdom is in fact present
here on earth in his Body, the Church.
We are his kingdom and his priests.
As Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:18-20, we are ambassadors for Christ and have received
the ministry of reconciliation. God has
not left this world alone, but he is working through his Church. Revelation also tells of Jesus’ return when
his kingdom will be fully present on this earth as it is in heaven. I think it is only appropriate to say with
John, “Come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20)
One last point, if you have a red letter edition, I wonder
if Revelation 1:8 is in red letters? In
my Bible it is, but this seems wrong to me.
If you compare verse 4 with 8, this seems to be God the Father talking
instead of Jesus. Just a note of translation,
I’m not trying to be blasphemous.
Ok, now that I’ve confused you with translating issues and claiming
God is both king of this world and also not king of this world, let us move on
to what this has to say about the holiday season. If we find ourselves getting caught up in the
all the consumerism and hoopla surrounding this time of year, let’s remember
what is really important. What is really
important is that God has sent his Son to provide salvation for the world and
we are now agents of his love and peace in the world. During this holiday and Advent season, let us
strive to serve God and show his love to the world.
Grace and Peace.
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