Daneiel 7:9-10, 13-14 Wrote:9 “As I looked,

“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[a] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Today is the Sunday which, in the Church of England calendar, is known as ‘Christ the King’ or, in the Roman Catholic tradition, ‘the Feast of Christ the King’. In secular terms, it is just any other Sunday. There’s no holiday celebrating it, nor will the shops open to dramatic sales tomorrow (save for those still running Black Friday deals). In church terms, however, it is the end of the liturgical calendar and, spiritually, it is an opportunity, often overlooked to marvel in the majesty of Christ’s kingship.

The passage I picked out of today’s lectionary readings is ideal for this purpose. Though the imagery may feel antiquated or obscure - perhaps even quaint - it is a rich tapestry of symbols proclaiming the power, purity and perfection of the Almighty and it is appended, in verses 14 and 15 with that language passing on to ‘one like a son of man’ - one distinct from Yahweh on the throne and yet given the everlasting authority, glory and sovereign power that could only be ascribed to God.

Here is a thoroughly Jewish image of the coming Messiah - the Christ - which nevertheless resonates with the imagery of texts written centuries later after Jesus’ earthly ministry was completed. This lowly man, a carpenter-cum-itinerant preacher, who died a criminal’s death, was being attributed the glory and majesty of the creator of Heaven and Earth and still is, some two thousand years later.

There is something incredible about that and, though our relationship with him is always going to be one of belief - do we really believe he is who he said he was? - still, we are all rendered somewhat incredulous before such eternal, heavenly imagery. And I believe that that is only right and proper. For all that we are encouraged to be close to this Jesus, to live with him inside us and know him as our a friend and saviour, still we must be aware of the holiness - the otherness - of God the son and it is, perhaps, in the image of Christ as King over all creation that we most get this sense of remarkable scale - of wonder and majesty.

It is an image that we need to bear with us in the mundanities of life, in the low moments, in the moments when we might take Christ for granted or fail to give God his due. It is an image that lifts Christ up to where he truly belongs, but it also lifts us up with him. I’m going to finish with one of my favourite passages, from the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. (Emboldening mine).

Ephesians 2:1-10 Wrote:As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.