Not sure if you saw it, but a few nights ago there was a party political broadcast for Jesus. Just kidding but just imagine for a moment if there was.
Election Fever will, I fear, build over the next few months as we prepare for the general election next May.
Each of the parties will vie for attention, every word will be picked over and analysed. Political commentators working overtime. Party Leaders will worry about what to say and do.
But let’s stay with that though of Jesus standing for election, what would his policies look like? Would we vote for Jesus? The man whom this day we acclaim as king.
In conventional terms his manifesto would look strange.
He doesn’t seem worried about money ‘sell your possessions and give to the poor’(1).
He doesn’t much care for status or palaces ‘the son of man has nowhere to lay his head’(2)
He doesn’t engage in spin for when before Pilate he could have saved himself he ‘makes no reply’(3)
He doesn’t do power instead he washes his disciples feet and talks of serving each other(4)
He doesn’t really do grand arrivals but instead is ‘born in a stable’(5).
Jesus’ manifesto looks strange yet St. Paul writes of ‘the immeasurable greatness of his power.’
A strange sort of power then is revealed in this give it away, homeless, sometimes silent, foot washing servant who is born in a shed.
Strange Power this yet Christ is the King. We’re here this morning because that’s what we believe and each of us, in our own way desires to follow this King wherever he leads us.