Sunday 24 November 2024
Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” (v. 37)
Background
Today is known as 'Christ the King'. You might wonder why we have a passage that is linked to Easter in the week before Advent; just as we’re all getting geared up for Christmas.
The reason is that this is the last Sunday of the church year and thinking of Christ as King helps us think about the idea of a second coming: when Christ will come again and establish the perfect kingdom on earth. It prepares us for Advent, which the church calendar counts as its new year.
It is our worldly understanding of power that makes us want to talk of Christ as King.
This Sunday is also known as 'Stir Up Sunday' and has, since Victorian times, traditionally been the Sunday when people would make their Christmas puddings.
I prefer to look at verse 37 in terms of Stir Up Sunday, not because of anything to do with Christmas puddings but because Jesus came to stir things up. As Jesus says, “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
To focus on truth rather than power is a revolutionary act which turns the idea of kingship on its head. To be on the side of truth, as Jesus was, is to stir things up. That is why the powerful of the time were threatened by him and so crucified him.
To Ponder:
- Some people say we are living in a post-truth world, where fake news is believed as much as the truth. How do you decide what is truth and what is fake news?
- In the recent American election there were people on opposite sides who both said they were on the side of truth and were listening to Jesus. What do you think it means to be on the side of truth and to listen to Jesus?
Bible notes author: Sally Rush
Sally is a Learning & Development Officer in the Methodist Connexional Team.