The crux of the message

It is now a month since the coronation of King Charles III but before we file the event in our memory banks marked ‘special occasions 2023’, I’d like to flag one repeated theme in the coronation service. I have in mind the laudable notion of the one in high office serving others rather than being served by them. Jesus was referred to as ‘the one who came, not to be served, but to serve…’

King Charles promised, with God’s help, to rule in a similar fashion. Who can doubt that this is a good and noble thing, something which would benefit us all if politicians and, indeed, all who hold authority aspired to do the same.

When Jesus spoke words about himself not coming to be served but to serve, that was in fact only the beginning of the phrase he used. This is what he actually said, ‘even the Son of Man [Jesus] did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’

If, as in the coronation service, we simply dwell on the first part of the sentence, then Jesus is just giving us an example of how to live our lives. If we only see Jesus as an ethical teacher who was prepared to live out what he taught, then we will miss the ‘good news (or gospel)’, which he came to bring about. The second half of the sentence says, ‘and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ Jesus primarily served by giving his life over to a violent death through crucifixion.

The idea of Jesus himself being a ransom price, giving his own life in order that God’s righteous judgement might be diverted from me to him, is not a popular notion these days. Nonetheless, this is the crux of the good news Jesus brought to us.

Perhaps you grew up knowing this but modern sensitivities have muddied the waters for you. The popular hymn, ‘How great thou art’ is a good reminder of the Christian message:

‘And when I think that God His Son not sparing,

Sent Him to die—I scarce can take it in.

That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin’.

That’s how King Jesus served…

King and subjects

The coronation of King Charles III will be in the form of a Christian religious ceremony. Traditionally, at the moment of the actual coronation, the choir invokes God’s Holy Spirit; the Sovereign sits in the Coronation Chair; four Knights of the Garter hold a canopy over the chair; and, concealed from view, the Archbishop anoints the Sovereign with oil (symbolic of God’s Spirit). This is the most solemn part of the coronation service, for by this anointing the monarch is set apart for the duties of a Sovereign.

The coronations of England’s kings and queens have been consciously conducted in the presence of Almighty God predating the Norman conquest. This is in recognition that there is a higher authority than the monarch and that the power to rule well will derive from God.

There is something for us to consider here: If kings and queens need to acknowledge that there is a higher authority than themselves i.e. God, shouldn’t we also? If kings and queens need divine help to fulfil their God-given purpose for this life, don’t we? Your current role may be that of a care-worker, schoolteacher, plumber, grandmother or office manager. Whatever it is, it can, and I believe, should be done as if working for God. Perhaps such a notion is alien to you - the following may help.

The Christian message is one of calling. God sent Jesus to call men and women to himself and so to God. As he is the King of all kings, it is his right to rule over each of us. We can live as rebels or, as pictured in the coronation, we can willingly acknowledge him as our supreme King and, in return, he will ‘anoint’ us with his Holy Spirit. Put simply, this anointing means God will take up residence in our hearts or soul or spirit – however you wish to define the real ‘you’.

Did you notice in the coronation described above that the anointing of the Sovereign is done outside of public view? When God reaches out to us at the time of our own ‘calling’, it is something that takes place away from public view, an intimate interaction between us and God.

As citizens of this country, we all, by default, are subjects of Charles III. Likewise, as creatures made by God we are his subjects – how does this make you feel?

Political correctness doesn't go far enough

Puffin Books has edited Roald Dahl’s children’s stories, which are to be offered as an alternative to the original versions. References to greedy Augustus Gloop as being ‘fat’ and Mrs Twit as ‘ugly’ have gone; the BFG’s coat is no longer ‘black’, while Mary now goes ‘still as a statue’ instead of ‘white as a sheet’.

Some may consider it laudable to revise books of earlier decades by editing what may be considered offensive literary material. Whatever view we take on such moves, which seek to sanitise society, I will be bold and suggest it is superficial, failing to get to the root of our problem.

Jesus was scathing of those in his society (mainly religious leaders) who were keen to be seen as being squeaky clean and living in a sanitised bubble. This is what he said:

‘Woe to you…, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.’ Lest his listeners didn’t get it, he followed up with ‘...you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.’

What is Jesus saying? We may try to clean up society by tinkering around at the edges (Jesus calls ‘it straining out gnats’), but things like unkindness, racism, spitefulness, bullying and cruelty actually reside in the human heart. These ugly traits will not be removed from us by publishers, pressure groups, public bodies or politicians.

Easter is about God inaugurating a promise (covenant) in which he will clean up our inner-heart so that we may get to shine on the outside. This is that promise: ‘I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.’ And what of our own hard-heartedness? God’s promise continues, ‘…for I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’

These promises of God are for anyone who wants them. Wholehearted trust in Jesus Christ is the way to be a recipient.