Quick Summary:

On this occasion of two baptisms on Christ the King/Christ Reigns Sunday, this sermon talks about what it means to be a citizen of Christ's kingdom.

When the fog of history lifts and eyes once clouded by fear see clearly, these texts declare, there is but One who will remain standing, and it won’t be any human ruler. But lest we think these texts amount to one more well worn chorus of MIGHT MAKES RIGHT—this time in a Christian key—we turn to our gospel, and find there this enigmatic scene of Jesus on trial before Pontius Pilate.

To say that Jesus’ kingdom is not “from” this world, means it is not authorized or motivated nor does it receive orders from this world—which is not at all the same as saying his kingdom has nothing to do with this world. The scriptures make it quite clear that a faithful response to the reign of God taught by Jesus has EVERYTHING TO DO with how we live out our earthly citizenship.