A New King

Dear Friends,

On Saturday the new King of England will be crowned King Charles III. The excitement is reaching fever pitch in England where imitation crowns and cushions can be found in bus shelters and on the tube and the crowds are already amassing around Buckingham Palace. Likewise, throughout the Commonwealth there are celebrations and church services arranged to mark the occasion and a proliferation of media outlets are ready to televise the event to billions throughout the world.

While we will need to wait until October 2024 to get a live look at the new King and Queen Consort, what is remarkable is how little actually changes in Australia with his ascendency. There are rules for continuity everywhere; court cases continue, parliamentarians don’t need to reswear their oaths and correspondence between the Governor General and the Royal authorities remains valid. Indeed the only tangible change will be to our coins that will feature King Charles III from late this year looking in the opposite direction to his mother. Your life will barely feel the impact of the arrival of the King.  

By contrast, 2000 years ago, when another king ascended to his throne and made a visit to an important city, everything changed. He rode on a saddleless borrowed colt rather than a carriage made in Manly. He was surrounded by a motley crew rather than Grenadier Guards. He wore no crown. He made no speech. And yet despite his humbler circumstances, he was met with exuberant fanfare and hype.

For the people recognised and celebrated his coming with eyes of hope in God. Hope in a future Kingdom that would come. His arrival changed everything so the people shouted:

Hosanna!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of Lord!

Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!

Such was the frenzy; such were the cries of acclamation and praise; such were the expressions of desire for the good gifts such a king brings. They saw the arrival of Jesus as an opportunity for life to be better. For change. For hope. For a fresh start. Jesus offers all this and more.

While Easter might feel like a distant memory, it gave us the chance to lift our eyes from the mundane to the extraordinary; from the overwhelming to peace; from confusion to clarity. Now as we study Exodus, week after week we will be filling out the Easter story with definition and life as we remember the one who rules all things showed up on earth to invite us into a relationship with him. 

So whether you watch the Coronation at 8pm on Saturday night or merely know it is on, take a moment to lift your vision afresh to the one true King who rules and reigns and whose impact is more than coins and a passing parade. His arrival defines life and he is a King who offers glorious eternal things to all who trust in Him. 

In Christ,

Nigel