“Lord, When Did We See You?”

A Sermon Preached by The Rev. Paul Debenport

November 22, 2009

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On this Christ the King Sunday, let us hear God’s good Word to us about the

coming again of King Jesus, from Jesus parable in Matthew 25: 31—39:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.  Then the king will say to those at his right hand, `Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’  Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?  And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or

 naked and gave you clothing?  And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison

and visited you?’  And the king will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did

it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’”

The Word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

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          In some ways, this is a rather confusing Sunday.  First, it’s Thanksgiving Sunday by our national calendar.  But by the Christian calendar, it’s the last Sunday of our year.  But perhaps most confusing of all is the fact that in Christian time, this is “Christ the King” Sunday. 

          Which can be confusing because we Americans aren’t very big on kings and queens or royalty of any kind.  We tend to view royalty either as sort of kindly, anachronistic figure-heads with wealth but no real power (like in England), or as tyrannical despots imposing their rule through raw, military power.  In both cases, though, we recognize kings when we see them, for they are always clothed for glory, wealth, power, and high status.

          In Jesus day, however, there was no confusion about kingship, since their signs were unmistakable and everywhere.  Coins bore the imprint of Caesar.  You couldn’t make it through the day without coming face to face with Caesar and his power, especially since the means of enforcing Caesar’s reign were swift and violent.  Jesus knew well the force of kingly power, and eventually his own body would bear the imprint of the soldier’s spear.  There was no confusion about kingship back then.

          Which is why those first century folks who heard this parable from Jesus found it so confusing.  Perplexed and panicked, no wonder they exclaimed:  “When did we see you, King Jesus?”  Where are your legions of armed angels descending to overthrow Caesar and all tyranny?  How could we have missed you?  We’ve been looking for you, praying for your saving presence with us?  Lord, when did we see you?” 

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          “Lord, when did we see you?” is our question too.  There’s a deep spiritual longing in the land, in the lives of many, perhaps in all of us.  But our lives are busy, busy, busy.  We Americans are working more hours than ever just to keep a job.  Some are working two jobs to just to make ends meet.  Too many have the hardest job of all, finding a job.  And in couples, most often both spouses have jobs.  And raising children these days takes more and more time, effort, and the logistical planning of a major, military incursion.  “Where did we see you, Jesus?   Please don’t be upset—but we think we may have missed you.”

          Our church lives are equally busy.  It’s a struggle just to get ourselves to worship many Sundays, and even in worship it’s hard to remember to look for Jesus among us.  And then, there’s all the meetings, and classes, and classes to teach, and mission trips, and all the offerings for food, and the choir rehearsals, and fund raising to do, and the seemingly incessant funeral receptions and on and on.  “When did we see you, King Jesus?  We’ve been looking for you when we could, praying for your saving, calming presence with us.  Please don’t be upset-but we think we may have missed you.  Lord, did we see you?”

          Yes, we did.  Yes, you did.  You saw him that hectic day at work when your colleague confided in you that her daughter had cancer, and you stopped everything to listen, to hold her.

And she saw Jesus in you.  You saw Jesus that day in school when you made the first tentative gesture to reconcile with that friend who had turned on you.  And he saw Jesus in you.  You saw Jesus that day you volunteered at the food bank, at Habitat, at IHN.  And they saw Jesus in you.  You saw Jesus last Christmas Eve, right here at First Presbyterian Church, when you welcomed the somewhat inebriated, homeless Joseph to our worship and saw the wonder in his eyes as he watched the baby being baptized, as he saw Jesus face to face, in that baby’s face and in yours.  You also saw Jesus in the tears and the tested faith of the 35 families in our church who’s loved one died this year, and you spoke to them, held them, held them up, sang and prayed for them when they couldn’t pray or sing or worship much at all, just cry and ask you to pray for them.  And they saw Jesus in you. 

          You saw Jesus every Sunday as the children came forward for the children’s time in worship, and when the children sat near you and colored and squirmed and ask how much longer the sermon would last, and you smiled at them, and saw in them “the kingdom of King Jesus.”  And they saw Jesus in you, whether they recognized him or not.

You saw Jesus when you tutored the children, or taught Sunday school, or went on a mission outing with some youth.  And they saw Jesus in you.  You saw Jesus when you visited your neighbor or your church neighbor in the hospital, or sent them a card, or lifted them up in prayer.  You saw Jesus when you visited a prisoner, or an immigrant, or a so-called enemy, or a person imprisoned by addiction or depression.  And they saw Jesus in you. 

          Too often we just hear judgment in Jesus’ words in Matthew 25; too often we hear it as bad news, not good.  But it is good news, the good news that he is here and that his kingdom is coming and that there are signs of his presence and his kingdom all around us, and even at times through us. 

          The good news is that we didn’t miss him.  He’s been here all along: our ragged, beloved King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He’s making himself known in every single face you see, and, sometimes, even in your face and mine.  But you won’t see Jesus if you go looking for the sparkly crown and diamond studded robe, and the power and status of earthly kings and queens.  For his kingdom, and the signs of his kingdom coming, are kindness and compassion, forgiveness, and self-sacrificing love.2.

          So the next time you’re anxiously wondering, “Lord, did we miss you?”, just concentrate on the faces.  Those beautiful, beautiful faces of the least, the most vulnerable.  Do that, and I promise you, he’ll slip into focus and your eyes will be opened and you’ll recognize him every time: lowly, lovely King Jesus, the sovereign over both heaven and earth, both now and forever.

Thanks be to God.  Amen.

At the Benediction

In the pulpit here, where only the preacher can see it, there’s a paper print out of a sign often found in old Presbyterian pulpits from Colonial times. 

It simply says:  “Pastor, We Would See Jesus.”

Every preacher who’s ever preached from this pulpit tries to help that happen.

And through the Holy Spirit, it does happen!

Through the wonderful Biblical texts read each week

and through the sermons preached from them,

Jesus is here, with us, for us, teaching us, blessing us

--always, as he promised.

We see Him with us through the lovely Word and Sacraments,

as well as through the lovely faces of the least and last.

See him, welcome him, serve him,

and be blessed and at peace,

in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Amen.