Worship Helps for Christ the King

Artwork: Ecce Homo (“Behold the Man”)

Artist: Antonio Ciseri

Worship Theme: Never could there be a king like Christ, our king. Beyond all comparison is the rule he exercises in time and in eternity. Incomparably great therefore is also our joy in worshiping him even now as we await his triumphant return to transform our worship in faith and under the cross to worship in sight and in glory.

Old Testament: Daniel 7:13-14

¹³I kept watching the night visions, and there, in the clouds of heaven, I saw one like a son of man coming. He came to the Ancient of Days, and he was brought before him. ¹⁴To him was given dominion, honor, and a kingdom. All peoples, nations, and languages will worship him. His dominion is an eternal dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

1. Who is the “Ancient of Days” mentioned in verse 13?

2. According to verse 14, what did Jesus receive?

Epistle: Revelation 1:4b–8  

Grace to you and peace from him who is, who was, and who is coming, and from the seven spirits that are before his throne, ⁵and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his own blood ⁶and made us a kingdom and priests to God his Father—to him be the glory and the power forever. Amen.

⁷Look, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. And all the nations of the earth will mourn because of him. Yes. Amen.

⁸“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, the one who is, and who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.”

3. According to verses five and six, what has Jesus our King done for us?

4. Verse seven tells us that our King is coming with the clouds and everyone will see him. What is he coming to do?

5. What does it mean that Jesus our King is the “Alpha and the Omega”?

Gospel: John 18:33–37  

³³Pilate went back into the Praetorium and summoned Jesus. He asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

³⁴Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”

³⁵Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”

³⁶Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.”

³⁷“You are a king then?” Pilate asked.

Jesus answered, “I am, as you say, a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

6. How is Jesus different from the kings of this world?

Answers:

1. The “Ancient of Days” is God the Father. The name “Ancient of Days” refers to the fact that he has existed from all eternity.

2. Having humbled himself to pay for the sins of the world, God the Father exalted Jesus once again to his rightful position as King of Kings. He received authority, glory and power. He receives the praise and worship that is his alone. His kingship and almighty power will never end.

3. Our King has freed us from sin by his blood. He has made us citizens of his heavenly kingdom. He has made us priests who have the right to approach him and serve him. To him be glory and power forever and ever!

4. He is coming to judge the living and the dead. Those who rejected him and continue to reject him will see him. He will send them to their eternal punishment in hell. He will then take us, his faithful subjects to be with him forever in his heavenly kingdom.

5. The letters Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Jesus, our King, is the beginning and the end. He is eternal.

6. His kingdom is not of this world. Jesus is the king and ruler of all things in this world and the next. His kingdom will have no end. Geographical borders do not bind his subjects. Those on the side of truth, i.e., those that believe in Jesus are citizens of his kingdom. Jesus, our King, offered the ultimate sacrifice by dying on the cross in order to win for us salvation. As our King he offered his life in humble service.

Putting your faith into action

I can’t wait to be part of that crowd in heaven that knows exactly how it will spend its time and energy—worshiping the one and only Son of Man! There are days when it feels like that moment is so far away—too far away. Even as I wait, he rules. He reigns. His rule is eternal. His kingdom can’t ever be destroyed. I can’t wait to live in that place where I will manage my time and gifts perfectly!

A reading from the Book of Concord for the Last Sunday of the Church Year

The Church is defined by the Third Article of the Creed, which teaches us to believe that there is a holy Catholic Church.  The wicked indeed are not a holy Church.  The words that follow, namely, “the communion of saints,” seems to be added in order to explain what the Church signifies: the congregation of saints, who have with each other the fellowship of the same Gospel or doctrine and the same Holy Spirit, who sanctifies, and governs their hearts.

This article has been presented for a necessary reason. We see the infinite dangers that threaten the destruction of the Church.  In the Church itself, the number of the wicked who oppress it is too high to count.  Therefore, this article in the Creed shows us these consolations in order that we may not despair, but may know that the Church will remain ‹until the end of the world›.  No matter how great the multitude of the wicked is, we may know that the Church still exists and Christ provides those gifts He has promised to the Church—to forgive sins, to hear prayer, to give the Holy Spirit.  It says Church catholic, in order that we may not understand the Church to be an outward government of certain nations. Rather, the Church is people scattered throughout the whole world.  They agree about the Gospel and have the same Christ, the same Holy Spirit, and the same Sacraments... – Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Articles VII & VII, The Church (paragraphs 7-10)

341  Crown Him with Many Crowns

1  Crown him with many crowns, The Lamb upon his throne;

Hark how the heav’nly anthem drowns All music but its own.

Awake, my soul, and sing Of him who died for thee,

And hail him as thy matchless King Through all eternity.

2  Crown him the Lord of love—Behold his hands and side,

Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified.

No angel in the sky Can fully bear that sight,

But downward bends his wond’ring eye At mysteries so bright.

3  Crown him the Lord of life, Who triumphed o’er the grave

And rose victorious in the strife For those he came to save.

His glories now we sing Who died and rose on high,

Who died eternal life to bring And lives that death may die.

4  Crown him the Lord of heav’n, Enthroned in worlds above;

Crown him the King to whom is giv’n The wondrous name of Love.

Crown him with many crowns As thrones before him fall;

Crown him, ye kings, with many crowns For he is King of all.

Text: Matthew Bridges, 1800–94, st. 1-2, 4, abr., alt.; Godfrey Thring, 1823–1903, st. 3.