You are invited to join us for worship! This Sunday at 9:00 AM, we will celebrate Christ the King Sunday 2025 and conclude the liturgical year together. Whether you are a longtime member or visiting for the first time, we are delighted to have you with us!
This is the Last Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 29, Year C, Track 2)
Worship with us in the way that works best for you for the Christ the King Sunday 2025:
- In Person – We’d love to see you! Coffee and fellowship follow the service
- Livestream – Join us online during the service from wherever you are
- Replay – Watch at your convenience anytime after worship
- Podcast – Listen while you’re on the go
All are welcome. Come as you are. We look forward to praising God together!
Livestream/Replay
Podcast
Our podcast is released after the service but may not be available until Monday. You can find the St. John the Divine Podcast on all the major podcast players. If you enjoy it, why not subscribe or follow?
We also invite you to check out our past podcasts!
The Collect for Christ the King Sunday 2025
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Scripture Readings for Christ the King Sunday 2025
Old Testament: Jeremiah 23:1-6
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the LORD.
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness.”
The Psalm: Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea;
Though its waters rage and foam, and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be overthrown; God shall help her at the break of day.
The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken; God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Come now and look upon the works of the LORD, what awesome things he has done on earth.
It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, then, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.”
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Epistle: Colossians 1:11-20
May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Gospel: Luke 23:33-43
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Devotional Reflection: A Kingdom Unlike Any Other
On this final Sunday of the liturgical year, we celebrate Christ the King. However, the scene of His coronation is quite peculiar. Instead of a throne room, we are presented with a cross. Instead of royal robes, there is mockery and the division of His clothing. And instead of loyal subjects bowing in homage, criminals hang on either side of Him, while the crowds hurl insults. Yet, it is in this most unlikely setting that we uncover the true nature of Christ’s kingship.
The Promise of a Righteous Shepherd
Jeremiah addresses the issue of failed leadership in Israel. The “shepherds,” referring to the kings and leaders, have neglected their duties and acted unjustly, leading to the scattering of God’s people. However, God promises something profoundly different: “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock.” He assures us that He will not allow His people to be abandoned to corrupt rulers indefinitely. Instead, God pledges to raise up “a righteous Branch” from the line of David, who will “execute justice and righteousness in the land.”
This promised king has a significant name: “The LORD is our righteousness.” Unlike earthly rulers who gain their authority through conquest, inheritance, or political maneuvering, this king’s identity is deeply rooted in God’s righteousness. He does not merely possess righteousness; he embodies it. And he is the righteous ruler that God’s people have been eagerly awaiting.
The Cosmic King
Paul’s hymn in Colossians reveals the vastness of Christ’s reign. He is not just a regional monarch or an earthly emperor. Christ is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” In him, all things were created—not only on earth but also in heaven. This includes not only visible things but also invisible powers and authorities. Every throne, dominion, and ruler exists because of him and for him.
Remarkably, “in him all things hold together.” Christ is not a distant ruler who governs from afar; He is the very fabric of reality, the force that prevents creation from falling into chaos. When we acknowledge Christ as King, we are not merely expressing a religious preference or a political allegiance—we are recognizing a fundamental truth about the universe.
What does this cosmic King do with His infinite power? He uses it to rescue us “from the power of darkness” and transfers us “into the kingdom of His beloved Son.” He reconciles all things to God “by making peace through the blood of His cross.” The King who holds galaxies together humbles Himself to save us.
The Crucified King
This brings us to the Gospel of Luke, where we encounter a profound scandal at the heart of Christianity. Here, we see Christ crowned with thorns, enthroned on a cross. Here is His royal proclamation—an inscription intended as mockery: “This is the King of the Jews.”
Everyone at Calvary misunderstands the nature of kingship. The leaders demand that a true king would save himself. The soldiers mock the idea that this suffering man could be royalty. Even one of the criminals joins in the ridicule: “Save yourself and us!”
One criminal perceives the situation differently. Perhaps it’s because he feels utterly powerless and is facing death himself. Maybe his suffering has brought him clarity. He recognizes his own guilt, acknowledges Jesus’ innocence, and makes a remarkable request: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Notice that he doesn’t ask Jesus to come down from the cross, nor does he demand a miracle or a rescue. Instead, he requests to be remembered. Jesus’ response reveals the essence of His kingdom: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
A Kingdom of Grace
This criminal had nothing to offer. He was unable to accomplish great deeds for the kingdom because he was dying. He couldn’t serve faithfully for many years—he had only hours left. And he couldn’t even be baptized or confirmed. All he had was an acknowledgment of his need and a trust in Christ’s mercy.
And it was enough.
This is the kingdom of Christ: a realm where the last are first, where the poor in spirit are blessed, and where a dying criminal becomes the first to hear Jesus’ promise of Paradise. Christ reigns not by demanding our perfection, but by offering his own righteousness. He rules not through power that oppresses, but through love that redeems.
Our Response
As we approach Advent, preparing to celebrate Christ’s first coming and await His return, how do we respond to this King?
We acknowledge that his kingdom is already present. Wherever forgiveness prevails over resentment, wherever mercy triumphs over judgment, and wherever love conquers fear—there Christ reigns. We have been moved from the kingdom of darkness into his marvelous light.
We acknowledge that His kingdom has not yet been fully established. And we continue to live in a world marked by scattered flocks and ineffective shepherds, along with violence and injustice. However, we trust in God’s promise that the days are coming when Christ’s reign will be complete—when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
We live as citizens of this upside-down kingdom. Like the repentant criminal, we approach Christ not with our accomplishments, but with our needs. We serve a King who teaches us to lead through service, to gain by giving, and to truly live by dying to ourselves.
The collect prays that the people of the earth, “divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under His most gracious rule.” This reflects our mission and hope: to proclaim and embody the good news of a King whose power is made perfect in weakness, whose throne is a cross, whose crown is made of thorns, and whose kingdom welcomes all who ask, “Jesus, remember me.”
Come, Lord Jesus! May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Reign in our hearts, unite your people, and bring all things together under your gracious rule. Amen.
Join us as we celebrate Christ the King and prepare our hearts for the upcoming Advent season. Whether you choose to join us in person, via livestream, or through the replay and podcast, let’s come together to worship the King of kings and Lord of lords.
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