The Revd Barry Hill's Thoughts: Baptism on the Feast of Christ the King

What does it mean to declare Christ as King?  In seeking to answer the question which Pilate and the Lord Jesus discuss in chapter eighteen of John's Gospel, we must take into account what it meant to be a king at that time and in that place.

Having taken the time to consider the nature of kingship in the ancient near east, we are then faced with the question - how does that relate to the Kingship ascribed to Christ?

Without many of the identifiers which young people last Sunday came up with (robes, golden crown, servants in a particular sense, worldly wealth and the like), what does it mean for Jesus to be King?  How do see His Kingship worked out?  What are the marks of this office?  How do we live them out in our lives?

As Emma and Kirsty were baptised, last Sunday we were reminded that this goes back to the decision at the heart of baptism.  To declare Jesus as King means to surrender power and authority to Him.  To seek His will and to enjoy all that it means to be a citizen of His Kingdom (He protects His citizens, He keeps them safe; His people can rely on Him to be just and fair; He provides for them and their needs and does the best for them).

How will we continually enthrone Jesus as King in our lives this week and how might we ensure we don't take for granted the great privilege which it is to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God...