I have no idea what it’s like to be King Charles 3rd. We’ve been rewatching Netflix’s “The Crown” and, if fictional drama gets anywhere near the truth, then “frustrating” might describe what it’s genuinely like inside the British constitutional monarchy. The main objective (according to the scriptwriters) is for the British Crown to remain enigmatically neutral and detached from all matters of politics and policy. The point being that our monarchy is ceremonial and has no agency or authority of its own to direct the affairs of state.
I wonder if this results in us underestimating the potency of the present reign of King Jesus over us, his loyal subjects, and his agency in the world? Perhaps we downplay the coming of the kingdom of God in our world right here right now? Perhaps Jesus simply has a ceremonial role over my life. Is the real king of me, me?
Next week, no doubt, many Christians will overlook one of the most important days in the Christian year: Ascension Day (Thursday 14th). The ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the Father is often considered an afterthought, at best, to the drama of Resurrection and Pentecost.
Yet this is Jesus’ coronation day: when the achievement of salvation is vindicated and he “ascends” to the throne of the universe crowned with glory, authority and power. He now rules “until he has placed all his enemies under his feet” (Hebrews 10:12,13). This is no honorary, ceremonial role but the active implementation of his victory over death and evil on the cross. He is even now bringing in his kingdom “as in heaven, so on earth”. We see this rule or kingdom in part, yet one day it will come in all its fullness, and he shall be all in all (1 Cor. 15:28).
In our day his active rule lands in our world most fully in and through the church.
And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:22 – 23)
He rules, as Ephesians tells us, in the church as a head to a body. Just as a human head commands and directs the specific activities of our bodies in all their parts so Jesus Christ operates as head of the church, the source of our life and the director of our ways. Church is not a democracy it is a theocracy!
If he is head of the church then I, you and we are not!
So…
What does it mean for Jesus to be head of his church (in our local setting)?
How do we together live under his Lordship, when we all have our own ideas agendas and plans for what our life together should be like?
Christians have sought to answer that question in different ways. Our Baptist heritage emphasises the prophetic and priestly call on all believers and the ability of a community together to discern the will of God.
Posture comes before practices and so our life together must begin with knees bowed and hearts open before the ascended reigning King Jesus.
Iain