There are many themes that bind the human family and the idea of royalty. Some of our oldest stories lost to the shadows of time are of prince and princess. We often are confused by their messages. This one lost. That one sleeping. Always one clear problem to overcome. Royalty to us is about things being fixed. About division ultimately.
There are many contexts to these stories. I studied Russia in college and loved learning of this idea the peasants held that the Tsar would always do right if he knew what was going on. This organic structure in their culture that could answer every question. Evil and wrong were only temporary manifestations of the Tsars ignorance. If he knew what was going on he would fix the situation. We in the west forget that Moscow laid claim to the title of a New Rome as a powerful orthodox culture. Christ the King is something like their Tsar.
Much like the Israelis of the old testament they made the same mistakes time after time. This theme of history repeating itself. Even God's first chosen people wanted royalty. Give us a King. They wanted to be like others. They got their kings. Still to this day there are things to be fixed and divided.
As Christians we find ourselves at the end of our year with our Christ the King Sunday. Banner and processionals to be sure. It can be easy to forget that we are talking about Jesus. Almost a trinity in him this King this human this son. Our scripture today helps us to see this our King.
Matthew 25:31-46Reading from the Amplified Bible we will break down a few verses at a time. Coming directly after two parables Jesus teaches we come to a section titled: The Judgment
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory and majesty and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him [for judgment]; and He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right [the place of honor], and the goats on His left [the place of rejection].
Jesus is teaching what the kingdom of God is like. Verse 13 we hear: 13 Therefore, be on the alert [be prepared and ready], for you do not know the day nor the hour [when the Son of Man will come]. and Verse 14 14 “For it is just like a man who was about to take a journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his possessions." Jesus brings us to a point many who first followed Jesus were waiting. Seated on his throne of glory!
I often thought about how objectively evil societies could use these same treasured scriptures to defend the most vile things known to Man. But the real source of their power comes in their ability to sustain the oppressed. Oppressors have few questions. It does me good to know that battles fought in the past are harder than those I face today.
People tell me we are divided more than we ever have been. In our own brief two hundred year history I find the abolitionist faced an opponent that was a slave holder. I think we lack perspective in our political battles. We see this new way with Jesus. When the Son of Man comes in His glory. We first feel we are told to tarry. Those first followers thought Jesus would fight the obvious villainy the Romans. Jesus fights sin in our world which is why he seeks out sinners. This was a long term battle no one could truly comprehend that we have trouble understanding because we feel the story is stale, uninteresting. Turning the other cheek is a long game, nice to say, but something we leave everyday.
I say again that Jesus entered the world as a bolt of lighting two thousand years ago and we struggle to maintain the electricity. What is radical about Christianity is equality. We often speak yet seldom experience equality. Why people are skeptical of Christianity is because they seldom see equality. A large number of people who call themselves Christian don't believe in equality and certainly not grace.
It is something that has always been hard to believe in and what is always new about Christianity. In this new age our belief systems seem old and antiquated until you ask a simple question where is the equality? Where is the grace? Something to be asked of every theory or belief system.
34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God, appointed to eternal salvation], inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me [with help and ministering care]; I was in prison, and you came to Me [ignoring personal danger].’
Finally our King triumphant heaping praises it would almost seem upon us. But this is where the story is often confused, no:
37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it for Me.’
The sheep didn't know. It is their defining quality. We often laugh of this idea of sheep following, but they didn't feed the hungry to go to heaven. That a person was thirsty was enough reason to give a drink. Opportunities to serve are the true blessings. "Lord, when did we?"
41 “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons); 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me [with help and ministering care].’ 44 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will reply to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these [my followers], you did not do it for Me.’ 46 Then these [unbelieving people] will go away into eternal (unending) punishment, but those who are righteous and in right standing with God [will go, by His remarkable grace] into eternal (unending) life.”
We see in Ezekiel 34:11-16
Amplified Bible
The Restoration of Israel
11 For thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd cares for his sheep on the day that he is among his scattered flock, so I will care for My sheep; and I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock and I will let them lie down [to rest],” says the Lord God. 16 “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bandage the crippled, and strengthen the weak and the sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong [who have become hard-hearted and perverse]. I will feed them with judgment and punishment.
Ezekiel 34:20-24 continues
Amplified Bible
20 Therefore thus says the Lord God to them, “Behold, I Myself will judge between the [well-fed] fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and gore with your horns all those that have become weak and sick until you have scattered them away, 22 therefore, I will rescue My flock, and they shall no longer be prey; and I will judge between one sheep [ungodly] and another [godly].
23 “Then I will appoint over them one shepherd and he will feed them, [a ruler like] My servant [a]David; he will feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken.
41 “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons); 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me [with help and ministering care].’ 44 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will reply to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these [my followers], you did not do it for Me.’ 46 Then these [unbelieving people] will go away into eternal (unending) punishment, but those who are righteous and in right standing with God [will go, by His remarkable grace] into eternal (unending) life.”
The goats and the sheep here have the same question. Here is the equality. Jesus upends both his foes and his followers. No one it seems is comfortable with our Lord. Sometimes we like this vision of an all powerful king because the world can be so hard. Jesus has layers.
Some of us often dwell on the rewards and the punishments. It is difficult not to. I don't think that there can be a greater punishment than to be separated from God. I do believe the details to be irrelevant. We are often tempted to read grand schemes into this scripture today. What remains is grace. The left and the right with the same questions. This isn't a small detail this is the detail.
We are lost in all of our ways. We look for ourselves among the sheep and try to define these goats in our life. What Jesus is telling us here is that at the end of this line when he will finally bring a final judgement everyone will be confused.
People approaching life from completely different sides of the equation will come to the end to find what they equal not knowing. Like the lost sheep that the Shepard left so many to find.
Amplified Bible
The Restoration of Israel
11 For thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd cares for his sheep on the day that he is among his scattered flock, so I will care for My sheep; and I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock and I will let them lie down [to rest],” says the Lord God. 16 “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bandage the crippled, and strengthen the weak and the sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong [who have become hard-hearted and perverse]. I will feed them with judgment and punishment.
Jesus talks to each of us. Even as we look for ourselves in these scriptures. Our translation here makes a fine point of grace being the final vehicle of salvation : "those who are righteous and in right standing with God [will go, by His remarkable grace] into eternal (unending) life." As to those others the vehicle seems to be themselves: "Then these [unbelieving people] will go away"
"Then these [unbelieving people] will go away" Huh? I think maybe till that last moment the vehicle of grace is available till they finally leave. I think again what happens after your separated from God is kind of moot, what could be worse. Maybe some will argue the goats were already separated and it was too late. I'm not gonna argue, but I see something finally different in the two sides. One saved by grace and one that gives up. In the end the battle of good and evil is a forfeit.
For even before there was good news we knew:
Amplified Bible
20 Therefore thus says the Lord God to them, “Behold, I Myself will judge between the [well-fed] fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and gore with your horns all those that have become weak and sick until you have scattered them away, 22 therefore, I will rescue My flock, and they shall no longer be prey; and I will judge between one sheep [ungodly] and another [godly].
23 “Then I will appoint over them one shepherd and he will feed them, [a ruler like] My servant [a]David; he will feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken.
So especially this Christ the King Sunday and our thanksgiving holiday we remember who we serve. Also what we are thankful for: a chance to serve this inevitability in the world. Working all day in the field or just arriving we are equal. You can't win more than grace. We serve finally a King who has an answer that fixes the world. This aspect of love: equality that confuses the goats and the sheep.
Let Us Pray,
Holy One, enthroned in glory over all creation,
you are a shepherd to the lost and the least.
Teach us to see your face among the poor—
feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty,
welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked,
and visiting those who are sick or in prison—
so that we may share in your eternal realm
prepared from the foundation of the world;
through Jesus Christ, who is coming indeed,
to reign with justice, compassion, and love. Amen
Benediction
"Christ Has No Body,” – Teresa of Avila
Christ has no body now on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world. Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which He is to bless His people.
"Christ Has No Body,” – Teresa of Avila
Christ has no body now on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world. Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which He is to bless His people.
*It is not enough to acclaim Jesus Christ
as our Lord and King.
Our mission in life is
to make his kingdom a reality among us
and to bring it to those around us
by our words and deeds.
The way to do this is to live as he lived:
for others, in love and service.
May almighty God bless you for this task:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
and to give shape to his kingdom.
Thanks be to God!
Amen.
Nottingham 11.22.2020
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