Christ the King Sunday
Christ the King Sunday
Light of Christ Anglican Church
The Rev. Michael Moffitt November 23rd, 2025
Lead on, O King Eternal
Christ the King Sunday
Text: Colossians 1:11–20
The church calendar, or liturgical year is a cycle of seasons that follows the life of Jesus, marking time through spiritual events like Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. It structures worship and personal devotion by retelling the Christian story each year focusing on themes of preparation, celebration, and remembrance of Christ birth, death, and resurrection.
By intentionally revisiting the major events within salvation history each year we’re able to focus our thoughts and our hope on God’s plan for his people and on His promises. The fact that God’s word doesn’t change year after year should be an encouragement that our reason for hope must remain on His truth and the life that He has promised us through Jesus Christ.
Today is the final Sunday in the church liturgical calendar. Today is referred to as the Feast of Christ the King Sunday. This day is set apart to honor Jesus Christ as the ruler of all creation and the ultimate authority over all earthly powers- forever.
It’s a fairly new feast that was instituted by Pope Pius XI as a feast in 1925 because this was a time of increasing secularism, nationalism, and atheism. His purpose was to remind people that Christ’ kingdom was not of this world but a spiritual one that transcends political and national boundaries.
The Anglican Church, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Methodists joined in adding this Feast Day to their lectionary, but it didn’t appear in the Anglican Book of Common prayer until the 1979 version.
Recently, I’ve been considering the outcome of the mid-term elections earlier this month. In Virginia the outcome of the proposed abortion amendment was/is at stake. As we know things didn’t fare so well. But that doesn’t mean that God didn’t answer our prayers. It means that he is directing our focus on Him and how He would have us respond.
I suspect that God in His infinite wisdom has sovereignly moved to redirect his peoples’ allegiance to Christ alone and not security in the affairs of men. I think that if we were honest most of us would admit that if things had happened as we hoped we would have been inclined to breathe a sigh of relief. Ultimately we would probably let down our guard, feeling that the threat was alleviated. The outcome of this election didn’t bring comfort and security to those who believe that all life is sacred, from the womb to the grave.
We now see that the fight for life is still enjoined and as Christians so is our part in it. This should remind Christ’ followers to focus on Christ the King of all kings for direction as His loyal subjects.
The feast was intentionally placed at the end of the church liturgical calendar to serve as a reminder that Jesus is the final authority over all of history, nations, and individual lives. I chose the title of this sermon after the old hymn declaring this truth, Lead on O King Eternal! Many of us are likely well acquainted with this powerful old hymn. It speaks of Christ leading His people into battle and on to victory. I love the declaration of the final stanza.
Lead on O King eternal; we follow not with fears,
for gladness breaks like morning where ’er your face appears.
Your cross is lifted over us, we journey in its light;
the crown awaits the conquest, lead on O God of might.
I love the way that early 5th century church father Cyril of Alexandria spoke of the kingship of Jesus,
…Christ has dominion over all creatures, …by essence and by nature. From this it follows that to Christ, angels and men are subject. Christ is also King by acquired, as well as natural right, for he is our redeemer…we are no longer our own property, for Christ has purchased us with a great price.
In this country we aren’t used to the idea of being under an absolute monarch, or a king with absolute authority over every area of our lives, but the Scriptures would have us understand that Jesus Christ is King and all of creation is his kingdom. The Bible reveals to us how we are to understand God as King and how that changes how we are to live before the king.
You may remember Paul’s word of comfort in Colossians 2:13–15 where he reveals the power of the cross not just as payment for our sins but as a total defeat for Satan,
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Consider the scene of Jesus’ crucifixion in our gospel reading from Luke chapter 23. Two others, criminals, were crucified with Jesus at a place known as “The Skull,” which is from the Latin “calvaria” from which we get “Calvary.” The positioning of Jesus between these two seems a deliberate way of implying that he was just another criminal. This also fulfilled the prophecy: “He was numbered with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).
It’s the prayer in verse 34 that reveals something that Jesus already knew but Satan being clueless concerning God’s plan would soon find out. “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’” Jesus knew what he was doing and did it willingly. The enemy thought that he had defeated the Son of God—the Son of Man—but he was blinded to what was really going on.
Many standing there watching that day knew Jesus was innocent and were probably stunned by the injustice. So who was Jesus praying for? Some suggest his prayer was for the soldiers, which is possible, but they were simply doing their duty. Jesus didn’t mean anything to them he was just another Jew which the Romans disdained. Others say his prayer was for the Jewish leaders whose hatred of Jesus led to this injustice that was clearly against the law of God that they claimed to submit to. Not looking at Levitical law itself but just considering the Ten Commandments they were guilty of murder and bearing false witness against Jesus.
They brought false charges based on lies that they arranged for people to speak as if they were true.
There was a lot going on in this scene and we don’t want to miss it. In spite of what the religious leaders hoped to accomplish they were actually moving according to the will of God. So Jesus could truly say, ‘for they know not what they do.’ This was the greatest act of love ever seen, before or after the crucifixion. Jesus was praying for people who shut their minds to the voice of truth.
I think he was praying for the Jewish leaders who taunted him (23:35). He was praying for the Roman soldiers who mocked him as the ‘King of the Jews’ (23:36f).
It’s important to see that in his prayer he was the living example of what he had spoken about in his parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:28–34). In his hour of crisis, he prayed for others, even those who considered him an enemy and forgave them their ignorance. He was making a way for them to be made right with God.
But he was also praying for his followers and the watching crowd and, let me suggest he was praying then for you and me now. At some point in our lives we have all been guilty of turning our backs on the sacrifice that was made for us, too. He knew that we would and yet He still went to the cross.
An inscription stating the charges against Jesus, was put over his head as was normal Roman practice. I think it interesting that Pilate wrote: “He is the king of the Jews” (23:38). He quoted back to the Jewish leaders their accusation against Jesus. In doing so, the Roman governor, not personally intending to, was stating the deeper truth we find in Luke’s narrative: Jesus is the king of the Jews. He is the Messiah and the Lord. This theme is illustrated in the conversation that follows.
One of the criminals being crucified with Jesus actually showed contempt for Jesus: “Are you not the Christ?” he mocked. “Save yourself and us!” (23:39). He chose to die as he had lived—dismissive of anything religious. Even his colleague was shocked, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?’ he said (23:40).
The second criminal chose another path: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (23:42). The second man knew how he had lived his life and freely admitted that he and his colleague deserved to die, “receiving the due reward of our deeds” (23:41). Yet, as he died, he reflected on his own unworthiness compared with the innocence he recognized within Jesus. The conscience that God places within everyone was awakened. There was something about Jesus that moved him. It may have been the vivid difference between Jesus’ prayer and the bitter rage of the first man. He knew Jesus was innocent and said: “This man has done nothing wrong” (23:41). However bad his life may have been, he feared God enough to recognize his need.
The simplicity and directness of his request is striking. He isn’t religious or pretentious. He may have remembered what he was taught as a boy about God, and about God’s promise that one day he would send the Messiah who would forever reign on the throne of King David. Perhaps he had heard of the miracles that Jesus had done and the things that he taught. Maybe he began to see that Jesus was possibly that king, and so he asked the king for a place in his kingdom—when Jesus was enthroned.
As Jesus hung upon the cross in spite of his agony he showed compassion for this man who humbly asked for forgiveness and mercy. His repentance came in the closing hours of his life; his faith may have been no bigger than a mustard seed, but Jesus made a promise: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (23:43). Paradise was a Persian word meaning garden. Found a number of times in the Old Testament it had a special reference to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve had been thrown out of the Garden of Eden because of their sin against God. You probably remember Genesis 3:24,
He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
God’s intention was for man to one day return to Eden, but it would never happen until the reason for man’s banishment was dealt with. Jesus was the answer for those who by repentance and faith turn to him for salvation.
Many feel the promise of Jesus to the man was just a metaphor for salvation and heaven, but I believe that it was based on a present reality for this man who reached out to Jesus in repentance and faith. Jesus promised, “this day you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus was assuring this man of the blessing he would know on his death. His dying would not be without hope. And his experience would be immediate: ‘Today’ you will experience this. There would be no purgatory or hell. We can hear the echoes of King David’s Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil, for you are with me…” To die with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is very different from dying without him.
As Jesus hung upon the cross I suspect that the prince of darkness was feeling a sense of victory, but it was based on a complete misunderstanding of the purpose of the cross. You would think that he would remember that God always wins and accomplishes what he decrees.
Most of the Jewish leaders felt that Jesus’ death on the cross satisfied the problem of this radical teacher who had become a real nuisance for them. Jesus boldly confronted them for their hypocrisy, arrogance, and called them white washed tombs, white and clean on the outside but full of corruption and filth on the inside. They thought that Jesus should show them respect and honor, plus who was he to claim that he was the Son of God? Those who are arrogant thinking they don’t need God, usually see themselves sufficient for all their needs and are blinded to the truth.
Remember the warning from Jeremiah 23 that we read this morning. God accused those who were the leaders (shepherds) of his people of not caring for them but scattered them instead of attending to their needs and ruling in righteousness. Jeremiah 23:2b, “Behold I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord.”
So in this time of national godlessness in the lives of many, or dare I say most, even our leaders, how do we respond to the sovereign Lord. How do we react when God moves in ways that we don’t understand or appreciate?
We might cry out to God, ‘Why have you allowed this or that to happen?’
Try and remember all the stories in God’s word where his servants are facing extremely difficult times in their lives and yet they offer praise to God. Remember Job when he lost everything, his wealth, all his livestock, his children, the affection of his wife and his health. Rather than cursing God he declares in Job 1:21, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Sometimes it’s very helpful to read Hebrews 11 and consider the examples of those who lived by faith in the promises of God even in the face of great difficulty, loss, and not yet receiving that which they were promised by God.
Some of you have told me of your love for Charles Spurgeon’s daily devotional “Morning and Evening.” One of his devotions on Psalm 9:1, “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.”
Listen to Spurgeon’s exhortation from this verse.
Praise, like prayer, is one great means of promoting the growth of the spiritual life. It helps to remove our burdens, to excite our hope, to increase our faith. Others who have been in like circumstances shall take comfort if we can say, ‘Oh! Magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together; this poor man cried, and the Lord heard him.’ Weak hearts will be strengthened, and drooping saints will be revived as they listen to our ‘songs of deliverance.’ Their doubts and fears will be rebuked, as we teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. They too shall ‘sing in the ways of the Lord,’ when they hear us magnify His holy name. Praise is the most heavenly of Christian duties. The angels pray not, but they cease not to praise both day and night; and the redeemed, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, are never weary of singing the new song, ‘Worthy is the Lamb.’
Psalm 46:1 reminds us that “God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble.” The Psalmist goes on to remind that though nations rage and kingdoms fall, even though the earth melts, the Lord is with us and is our fortress. Finally, I’ll briefly comment on our epistle reading from Colossians 1:11–20.
Paul addresses the false teaching that is circulating throughout the church in Colossae. Paul never visited there but is responding to a report from Epaphras that false teachers were scaring the Christians by teaching of cosmic beings who had great power over the believers there. Paul uses the term “qualified” to assure the church that no power in the universe could overcome the credentials they had in Christ.
In verse 13 Paul recalls God’s rescue of Israel from Egypt and later on from captivity in Assyria. Paul pointed out that those who were outside of Christ were helplessly under the dominion of darkness, but those in Christ are rescued from the spirits of darkness and brought into the dominion and protection of God’s Son.
In verse 12 Paul points out that those in Christ are a part of the kingdom of light. This light exposes the darkness and penetrates the veil covering the hearts of those who are perishing.
In verses 15–23 Paul wrote a doxology in praise to the glory, majesty, and grandeur of Jesus Christ. He points to the supremacy of Christ over all creation to assure those who were doubting that Jesus was more powerful than the cosmic forces. Within the doxology Paul pointed out that Jesus was not only supreme over all creation, but he was the physical presence of the invisible God and the favored Son and heir of the family estate. The Colossians were to seek Christ above all things because only through him was the image of God perfectly seen. I love verses 16–17 because they show exactly who had defeated Satan and why those who are in Christ should not give up and hide but follow him faithfully.
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
So what is the takeaway for us this morning?
1. Years ago a pastor friend of mine was preaching on Christians need to fight the issue of abortion in the realm of the Spirit instead of in the courtroom. He explained, “we will never see a decrease in abortions until we see an increase in redemption.” He made the comment that even though we should fight on every front possible we should not expect to win in the house of the enemy. I was reminded of that this past week. Our greatest strength is found on our knees and in the word of God.
2. We must not grow weary or discouraged by circumstances. We must remember that the fight between good and evil, light and darkness, has been going on since creation. I love Zechariah 4:6,
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
God spoke through the prophet Zechariah reminding the people of God to not depend on military power or alliances with other countries to accomplish their calling. This hasn’t changed for the people of God today. As we prepare to begin the season of Advent next week let us come into the season looking for the hope that is found only in Christ and the faithfulness of God to accomplish all his holy will in and through us.
Let’s pray.
