Family Service Sunday 23rd November – led by Martyn Macphee
Great to have Martyn back with us with the usual introductions to the hymns we were to sing. It being ‘Christ the King Sunday’, the end of the church’s year, Martyn took us on the Journey of Jesus: From Humble Beginnings to Exalted Lord. And this week I’ve cheated, using AI to recount what he told us. I suspect the result is better than I could have managed.
Christ the King Sunday: Completing the Circle
Christ the King Sunday marks the culmination of Jesus’ life, bringing the narrative full circle with a powerful sense of completion. The same Jesus who entered the world as a child, born in the humble setting of Bethlehem and wrapped in swaddling clothes, now reigns in glory as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This remarkable journey—from the simplest beginnings to the highest state imaginable—reveals a constant thread of humanity running throughout Jesus’ life. This is not just the defining characteristic of His existence, but a model for us all, offering a path to abundant life. Jesus’ teaching in Mark resounds here: “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last and servant of all.” By welcoming a little child, Jesus taught that those who receive the humble in His name also receive Him—and, indeed, the One who sent Him.
The Humble Beginnings: Birth in Bethlehem and Life in Nazareth
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a small village about five hours south of Jerusalem—far from being a centre of power, influence, or wealth. The prophet Micah spoke of Bethlehem’s insignificance yet foretold that from this humble place would come the leader of Israel. Jesus’ birthplace was even more modest: a stable among animals, where Mary wrapped Him in strips of cloth—a practice called swaddling—and laid Him in a manger on the hay. His birth is, in many ways, a portrait of pure humility.
After His birth, Jesus was circumcised and dedicated in the temple, before the family returned to Nazareth. Nazareth itself was an obscure hamlet in Galilee, certainly not considered desirable or influential. When Philip told Nathanael about Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael famously asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” This sentiment reflected the common view of Nazareth at the time. Jesus grew up there as the son of the carpenter Joseph, a respectable trade for working-class people, one involving work not only with wood but also with stone and metal.
Learning a Trade and Early Life
Although the Bible does not record it directly, many believe Joseph might have worked as a stonemason on the major construction project in Sepphoris, just three miles from Nazareth where Herod Antipas chosen to build the capital of his government. Jesus worked alongside Joseph for about fifteen years before leaving His trade to proclaim the good news of God’s Kingdom.
Baptism, Temptation, and the Start of Ministry
Jesus’ ministry began when He sought out His cousin John and was baptised in the River Jordan. After fasting and praying in the desert, He returned to Nazareth. On the Sabbath, in the synagogue, He read from Isaiah and delivered His first sermon—one that nearly cost Him His life, as the townspeople were so angered that they took Him to the edge of the city to stone Him. Thus, Jesus’ ministry began with the humblest of circumstances.
Ministry on the Move: Capernaum and the Life of Service
Jesus left Nazareth and moved to Capernaum, living a life dependent on the hospitality of others. As He travelled and taught, He said, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Accompanied by His disciples, Jesus spread the message of God’s grace and love throughout Galilee.
People followed Him everywhere—not necessarily out of a desire to worship, but perhaps hoping for healing, miracles, or something newsworthy. As Jesus explained in the Gospel of John, many sought Him not for the signs but because they “ate of the loaves and were filled”—in other words, for selfish reasons. Despite His many miracles, the crowds did not always respond with adoration or faith.
The Road to Jerusalem and the Passion
After three years, Jesus set His sights on Jerusalem, aware that the end was near. He told His disciples that He would be handed over to the authorities, condemned, mocked, scourged, and killed, but would rise again on the third day. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy: the King would come, humble and riding on a donkey. Despite His triumphal entry, the temple leaders soon confronted Him, and by the end of the week, He was arrested and brought before the council.
During His trial, Jesus openly affirmed His identity as the Christ, the Son of the Blessed, which led to charges of blasphemy and a sentence of death. He endured beatings, mockery, and humiliation, as soldiers placed a crown of thorns upon Him and mocked Him as “King of the Jews.” Despite this, He remained silent, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering servant: “He was despised and rejected by men… pierced for our transgressions… and by His wounds we are healed.”
The Crucifixion and Resurrection: From Humility to Glory
Jesus carried His cross to Golgotha, where He was crucified between two thieves. From the cradle to the tomb, His life was marked by profound humility. Yet this was not the end—on the third day, He rose from the dead, appearing to His disciples and many others. After forty days, He ascended to heaven, taking His place at the right hand of God. The humble Saviour thus became the exalted Lord, completing the extraordinary journey from birth to eternal glory.
Lessons in Humility and the Way of Life
This story is more than a historical account; it is a way of life, with humility as its central theme. Time and again, Jesus’ life and ministry demonstrated humility—whether in the actions of the sinful woman who washed His feet with her tears, the Syrophoenician woman seeking healing for her daughter, or the thief on the cross who asked to be remembered in Jesus’ kingdom. God pours out mercy on the humble, while the proud are left empty-handed. As the Psalmist said, “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
The Call to Prayer and Humility
We were invited to call upon the name of the Lord, uniting together as a church and as a nation. The promise given to us remains unchanged and steadfast throughout generations.
“If my people who are called by my name will be humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from the wicked ways. Then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin. And will heal their lives”.
Potters Bar United Reformed Church 