Time in the Word
Christ the
King
Proper 29
November 17-22, 2014
Preparation
for the Kingship of Christ
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The Lessons for this coming week deal
with the Last Sunday of the Church year, Christ the King Sunday. On Christ the
King Sunday, it is obvious that the kingship of Christ is the theme. The church
year closes with a climax in which Jesus is crowned Lord of all. His kingship
is universal and eternal. The Gospel portrays Jesus as King-Judge of all
nations. The Old Testament lesson is related to the Gospel by the fact that
Jesus compares his sheep to himself. Paul depicts Jesus as the victor over the
world with all things under Christ’s feet, including death. The Prayer of the
Day refers to the Theme of the Day: “King of all Creation” and “The glorious
and gentle rule of your Son.” The Psalms pick up the idea of the sheep, but
there is reference to “a King above all gods.” The Hymn of the Day uses the
phrase “King of kings and Lord of lords,” and refers to the coming judgment.
Collect for Christ the King
– Merciful and gracious Lord, You cause Your
word to be proclaimed in every generation. Stir up our hearts and minds by Your
Holy Spirit that we may receive this proclamation with humility and finally be
exalted at the coming of Your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Prayer for responsible
citizenship – Lord keep this nation under Your care. Bless the leaders
of our land that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to
the other nations of the earth. Help us provide trustworthy leaders, contribute
to wise decisions for the general welfare, and thus serve You faithfully in our
generation to the honor of Your holy name.
For blessing on the Word – Lord
God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a word of power and
peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to
saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to
the lip, and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may
achieve the purpose for which You send it; through Jesus Christ, my Lord.
A prayer before we study
the Word – Almighty God, our heavenly
Father, without Your help our labor is useless, and without Your light our
search is in vain. Invigorate the study of Your holy Word that, by due
diligence and right discernment, we may establish ourselves and others in Your
holy faith.
Monday,
November 17, 2014 - Psalm 39:4-5, 7-8, 12a - The Antiphon for this coming Sunday is from 2 Peter 3:13, “ In keeping with his promise we are looking
forward to a new heaven and a new earth the home of the righteous.”
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 –
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 - The
Shepherd King will gather His people. As the shepherd for his people, Yahweh
will seek the lost, gather, and feed his sheep with David as the prince among
them. A popular metaphor for a religious-political leader in Judah was
“shepherd.” False shepherds, says Ezekiel, led Judah to ruin and captivity. So,
the Lord will be her shepherd who will bring his sheep out of captivity in
Babylon, feed them with justice, and restore them to their former homeland. The
nation will be restored under a new leader, a Messiah, a son of David.
The Lord says He will be the shepherd of His people. A shepherd is
considered a king in Hebrew writings. He acts like a king who cares for his
people. He is a good shepherd, the perfect one. He does only good for his
people; seeks, gathers, and feeds them. He has compassion on the lost, the
crippled and the weak. Nor does he neglect the healthy ones whom he feeds with
justice. “My God, how wonderful thou art!”
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 – 1
Corinthians 15:20-28 - The King
will conquer the world. God has put
all things in subjection to Christ. On this Christ the King Sunday, we see
Christ as the king over death. His resurrection was the first person to rise
from death. Since He rose, the Christian dead will also rise. At the end of
time, He will deliver His kingdom to God. All enemies, including death, will be
defeated by King Jesus. Then the Son will subject himself to God the Father
that God may be everything to everyone.
Thursday, November 20, 2014 –
Matthew 25:31-46 – Jesus will judge the nations. Christ the King
will judge the nations. At the end of time Christ is to come as judge of the
nations. As Shepherd-King, Jesus will separate the sheep and goats, the good
and the bad. The basis of the separation is the nations’ ministering or lack of
ministering to the hungry, thirsty, sick, and imprisoned. The passage is not
primarily an appeal for social justice or economic aid.
The main point of the parable is the coming separation of the good and
the bad who are destined either for heaven or hell. It should also be noted
that what was done to Christ was done not to people in general, but to “the
least of these my brethren.” The brethren are Jesus’ disciples.
The word “Me” is used fourteen times in this lesson. It refers to
Christ. Is Christ the one who is hungry, naked, and in prison? The sick
“brother” is not Christ himself; the hungry man is not Christ.
When we help the needy, we do it as to Christ. This is because Jesus
identifies with the afflicted. When we love someone, we say to one who helps
the beloved, “What you do for him, you do for me.” Anyone who befriends your
child is automatically a friend of yours. Thus in everything we do we do it
unto the Lord.
Friday, November 21, 2014 -
Psalm 95:1-7a - This Psalm is the
one appointed for this Sunday. Verse 7a
is the key verse, “We are the people of
his pasture.” Our Savior has promised to shepherd us; we
are never in want. Thus we cast our worries and cares into His hands as He
orders our days and directs our path. He alone is our good shepherd and king.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
- Hebrews 2:19 - Our reading is the
inspiration for the hymn, “The Head that
Once was Crowned with Thorns.” As
the Church year comes to a close, we recall that He who Ascended will return in
glory. If we are prepared to receive Him on the last great day, we will be
ready to celebrate at the time of His birth. The baby in the manger, the death
of the man on the cross, and the king who comes in triumph are all one in the
same – Jesus our Savior.
Sources
LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO
LECTIONALRY
PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES A © 1980 John Brokhoff CSS Publishing Lima, OH
Schnorr
von Carolsfeld, woodcuts © WELS Permission to use these copyrighted items is
limited to personal and congregational use.
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