AUDIO RECORDING OF TODAY'S SERVICE:
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The Reign of Love John 18:33-37 (Sunday of Christ the King)
You may not realise it, but today is officially the last Sunday of the Christian Year – Certainly according to the Western Christian Calendar. Next Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent which begins the new calendar year for Western Christians like ourselves.
In Advent we begin our Liturgical Year praying for the coming of the One Born to Be King. “Come Thou Long expected Jesus”. The rest of the year plays out the drama of the Jesus story the one born to be King and yet who is rejected by both the religious and secular authorities – they do not recognise his Kingdom. And on the last Sunday of the Year we end on a high note proclaiming the Universal Reign of Christ – Jesus shall Reign, where’er the Sun doth his successive journeys run…
And so on the last Sunday of the Christian Year it has become tradition to reflect on the theme: Christ the King, which is why all of our hymns and readings today carry that theme.
But what exactly does that mean? What kind of a King is Jesus?
Today, as we reflect on this theme of Christ the King, we encounter a powerful moment in John’s Gospel where Jesus stands before Pilate. In these verses we find the collision between contrasting visions of power, authority, and leadership. Pilate, who represents the might of the Roman Empire, questions Jesus about his kingship, asking, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus’ response reveals a profound truth: “My kingdom is not of this world.”
What does Jesus mean when he says this? For some the phrase suggests that Jesus is King of Heaven… King of the World to come. But not all are convinced by this interpretation. For many theologians, when Jesus says his kingdom is not of this world, he is really saying: My Kingdom is different from the (usual/normal) Kingdoms of this world.
In this sense, the kingship of Jesus is in fact about an alternative way of using power - even in this world. The kingship of Jesus is not about dominance, coercion, or territorial control. It is a kingship of service, humility, and truth. Pilate's understanding of kingship by contrast is rooted in power structures that enforce control through violence and fear. Yet Jesus redefines leadership entirely. His kingdom is one where the greatest are the servants, where love, not force, rules, and where truth, not propaganda, is meant to guide.
This radical reimagining of kingship subverts our normal worldly expectations. As Jesus tells Pilate, “If my kingdom were of this world, my followers would be fighting.” But Jesus' kingdom is about inner transformation and about relational healing, not about wielding power over others.
This vision of leadership aligns beautifully with the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching, that foundational text of Chinese Taoism. Lao Tzu writes:
“The best rulers are barely known by their subjects. The next best are loved and praised. Then come those who are feared. The worst are despised. When the best rulers achieve their purpose, their subjects claim, ‘We did it ourselves.’” (Tao Te Ching, 17)
Elsewhere in the Tao Te Ching, 66, “Why is the sea King of a hundred streams? Because it lies below them. Humility gives it is power. Therefore, those desiring a position above others must speak humbly. Those desiring to lead must follow.”
The Tao Te Ching therefore teaches that the ideal leader is one who acts selflessly, who leads not by force or self-interest, but by embodying humility and wisdom. Such a leader creates conditions for others to flourish without seeking personal glory or recognition.
This resonates with Jesus’ example. Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus washing his disciples' feet, embracing the marginalized, and standing alongside the oppressed. His leadership empowers others to discover their own dignity and to embody love and truth in their lives.
And so when Jesus speaks of his kingdom, he is describing a reality that transcends political and social systems but also contains the seeds that will transform them as well. His kingship is about the inward transformation of the human heart and the outward creation of a world rooted in justice and compassion.
This is a kingship that challenges us to reconsider what true leadership looks like in our lives and communities. In a world often driven by competition and self-interest, Jesus and the Tao Te Ching remind us that true power lies in serving others and in surrendering our egos to the greater good.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to live out this transformative vision in our own unique way. What might it look like to embody Jesus' upside-down kingship or the wisdom of the Tao in your personal and communal life? Perhaps it means leading with quiet strength, fostering environments where others can thrive. Or it might mean confronting the injustices of this world not with violence but with love, truth, gentleness and resilience.
On this Sunday of Christ the King, may we commit ourselves to this higher vision of leadership—a leadership that reflects the truth of the Spirit within us all, the truth that binds us to one another in love. For this is the kingdom Jesus spoke of, the kingdom not of this world, but a kingdom that is ever being born among us when we live as agents of compassion, justice, and peace.
Amen.
You may not realise it, but today is officially the last Sunday of the Christian Year – Certainly according to the Western Christian Calendar. Next Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent which begins the new calendar year for Western Christians like ourselves.
In Advent we begin our Liturgical Year praying for the coming of the One Born to Be King. “Come Thou Long expected Jesus”. The rest of the year plays out the drama of the Jesus story the one born to be King and yet who is rejected by both the religious and secular authorities – they do not recognise his Kingdom. And on the last Sunday of the Year we end on a high note proclaiming the Universal Reign of Christ – Jesus shall Reign, where’er the Sun doth his successive journeys run…
And so on the last Sunday of the Christian Year it has become tradition to reflect on the theme: Christ the King, which is why all of our hymns and readings today carry that theme.
But what exactly does that mean? What kind of a King is Jesus?
Today, as we reflect on this theme of Christ the King, we encounter a powerful moment in John’s Gospel where Jesus stands before Pilate. In these verses we find the collision between contrasting visions of power, authority, and leadership. Pilate, who represents the might of the Roman Empire, questions Jesus about his kingship, asking, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus’ response reveals a profound truth: “My kingdom is not of this world.”
What does Jesus mean when he says this? For some the phrase suggests that Jesus is King of Heaven… King of the World to come. But not all are convinced by this interpretation. For many theologians, when Jesus says his kingdom is not of this world, he is really saying: My Kingdom is different from the (usual/normal) Kingdoms of this world.
In this sense, the kingship of Jesus is in fact about an alternative way of using power - even in this world. The kingship of Jesus is not about dominance, coercion, or territorial control. It is a kingship of service, humility, and truth. Pilate's understanding of kingship by contrast is rooted in power structures that enforce control through violence and fear. Yet Jesus redefines leadership entirely. His kingdom is one where the greatest are the servants, where love, not force, rules, and where truth, not propaganda, is meant to guide.
This radical reimagining of kingship subverts our normal worldly expectations. As Jesus tells Pilate, “If my kingdom were of this world, my followers would be fighting.” But Jesus' kingdom is about inner transformation and about relational healing, not about wielding power over others.
This vision of leadership aligns beautifully with the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching, that foundational text of Chinese Taoism. Lao Tzu writes:
“The best rulers are barely known by their subjects. The next best are loved and praised. Then come those who are feared. The worst are despised. When the best rulers achieve their purpose, their subjects claim, ‘We did it ourselves.’” (Tao Te Ching, 17)
Elsewhere in the Tao Te Ching, 66, “Why is the sea King of a hundred streams? Because it lies below them. Humility gives it is power. Therefore, those desiring a position above others must speak humbly. Those desiring to lead must follow.”
The Tao Te Ching therefore teaches that the ideal leader is one who acts selflessly, who leads not by force or self-interest, but by embodying humility and wisdom. Such a leader creates conditions for others to flourish without seeking personal glory or recognition.
This resonates with Jesus’ example. Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus washing his disciples' feet, embracing the marginalized, and standing alongside the oppressed. His leadership empowers others to discover their own dignity and to embody love and truth in their lives.
And so when Jesus speaks of his kingdom, he is describing a reality that transcends political and social systems but also contains the seeds that will transform them as well. His kingship is about the inward transformation of the human heart and the outward creation of a world rooted in justice and compassion.
This is a kingship that challenges us to reconsider what true leadership looks like in our lives and communities. In a world often driven by competition and self-interest, Jesus and the Tao Te Ching remind us that true power lies in serving others and in surrendering our egos to the greater good.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to live out this transformative vision in our own unique way. What might it look like to embody Jesus' upside-down kingship or the wisdom of the Tao in your personal and communal life? Perhaps it means leading with quiet strength, fostering environments where others can thrive. Or it might mean confronting the injustices of this world not with violence but with love, truth, gentleness and resilience.
On this Sunday of Christ the King, may we commit ourselves to this higher vision of leadership—a leadership that reflects the truth of the Spirit within us all, the truth that binds us to one another in love. For this is the kingdom Jesus spoke of, the kingdom not of this world, but a kingdom that is ever being born among us when we live as agents of compassion, justice, and peace.
Amen.
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