Christ the King

Read John 18:33-37.

Today is a special day in the calendar of the church year.  It is called Christ the King Sunday.  It is the last Sunday of the church year.  Next Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent.  We’ll talk more about that next week.

Today we hear about Jesus as King.  But Jesus was a different kind of King than people expected.  In our Bible Story Pontius Pilate, a government official, asks Jesus some questions about being a king.  What did he ask Jesus?

Watch the video to find out:

Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jewish people?”  Jesus didn’t answer that question.  Jesus knew that Pilate thought that kings ruled over countries and people.  Jesus knew his power was about God’s love.  God’s kingdom was very different.  It is a kingdom of God’s love.

Pilate was frustrated.  He wanted Jesus to say that he was a King so that Jesus would get in trouble for challenging the government.  Jesus wasn’t what people expected.  He wasn’t trying to rule the country with an army or by forcing people to do things.  Jesus was inviting people to experience God’s love.

Jesus is still King, but not a King that rules a country.  Not a King that has an army or lives in a castle.  Jesus is a King of love.  Jesus invites us to experience God’s love.  And Jesus invites us to share God’s love with others.

Jesus is a different kind of King.  He is a king of love.  Jesus loves us and he invites us to love others.

Discuss

• What do you think of when you think of a King or Queen?
• How is Jesus a different kind of King?
• How can you share the love of Jesus?

Song

Praise Your Name.  Go Fish Guys.

Activity

Make a crown.  Follow the instructions on this video.

Activity

Watch this video about sharing God’s love.  Sometimes doing small things can make a big difference.  Sometimes doing small things in love can change things.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, King of kings, rule in our hearts and lives forever.  Teach us to love as you love.  Teach us to forgive as you forgive.  Teach us to serve others knowing that in doing so we are serving you.  Amen.

Pastor Dan Fugate, Assistant to the Bishop for Discipleship in the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA, put this lesson together for Sunday School @ Home.  There will be a new one for each Sunday as we continue through this COVID wilderness.  Contact him at dfugate@iksynod.org.