Did you know that we are currently in the 'Kingdom Season?' This week our Curate Charles shares a little of the message behind this lesser known time of year in the Christian calendar.
One of the lesser-known seasons of the Christian calendar is called ‘Kingdom Season’ which we are in the middle of right now! This season begins on All Saints Day, 1st November and ends on the First Sunday of Advent, which this year is 3rd December.
While this season is lesser known compared to other seasons like Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, the message of this season is just as significant as the others. This time is set aside as a ‘time of celebration and reflection on the reign of Christ in earth and heaven.’
The message of the season is simple: Jesus is King!
This is the central message of the gospels.
During his earthly life, Jesus showed himself to be the true King of Israel, through his teaching and healing ministry. Because of this he aroused the suspicion of religious and political leaders and eventually he was arrested.
As we read in Mark 14:53-65, after Jesus’ arrest, Jesus is brought before the Temple authorities to be questioned. The high priest asks him ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ Jesus responds, ‘I am, and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ This claim was said to be blasphemy, and for this reason the whole assembly ‘condemned him as worthy of death.’
But, surprising even his closest followers, God raised Jesus from the dead, confirming his identity as the One anointed by God to rule over the Kingdom at his right hand.
This was seen by the disciples as not just good news, but the best news ever! Jesus’ resurrection was the sign that God had begun to make everything new in heaven and on the earth.
As Paul, persecutor of the church turned apostle puts it, after his encounter with the risen Jesus: In Christ there is a ‘new creation!’ While this new creation will not be completed until Jesus returns, we already see signs of its presence in our world whenever we see people submit to Jesus as their King!
And that is the question which confronts everyone who hears the good news: do we submit to Jesus as our King?
Let us consider today what new possibilities open up whenever we answer that question with a heartfelt ‘YES!’
Every Blessing Charles (Curate)
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