Christ the King
God Reigns
Ephesians 1:15-23
Rev. Tim Callow
Preached Sun. Nov. 26th, 2023
The City of Ephesus was ancient, even in Roman times. She was a bustling port city, a center of Roman power in Asia Minor. Even today many of her buildings remain, though in ruins. The great Library of Celsus, a massive theater that could hold over twenty thousand spectators. But the most prized, and most renowned monument was the famous Temple of Artemis. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The Temple lay just outside the city of Ephesus, clearly seen from within the city’s walls. Many would travel hundreds of miles just to see its splendor. The festivals and games associated with the sacred site would last weeks. Ephesian life was dependent on the success of the Temple, literally centered around the Temple.
In Acts chapter 19 we read about Paul’s first missionary trip to Ephesus. We are told right before he planned to leave to Macedonia a silversmith by the name of Demetrius caused trouble for the small church that had just been planted there. Demetrius made little silver shrines to Artemis for travelers, his income dependent on the success of the Temple. When he heard about the Christians, and how they were growing in numbers, he became concerned. The Christians, like the Jews, rejected idols such as the silver statues he made. But the Christians, unlike the Jews, were winning converts. He told the other craftsmen in Ephesus, “Men, you know that from this business we have our health. And you see and hear that not only at Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable company of people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may count for nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
His speech riled up the crowds who began to shout, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” They knew the threat these Christians posed. The end of their way of life. The destruction of their gods. Dishonor and disrepute to the great city of Ephesus.
The whole city was thrown into confusion. They rushed into that twenty thousand plus seat arena carrying Gaius and Aristarchus, two of Paul’s companions. But there was no order to the mob. Everyone was thrown into confusion. And no one knew quite what to do.
Finally, the town clerk quieted the crowd and said, “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? seeing then that these things cannot be contradicted you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against any one, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges gains tone another. But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, there being no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” And, with that, the mob dispersed. And the handful of Christians in Ephesus were protected.
I tell this story to give some context to the passage we heard from Paul’s letter to those same Ephesians this morning. It is easy for us to imagine the letter being written in a large beautiful sanctuary such as our own. The church in Ephesus made up of at least one hundred or two hundred people. But our best estimates are that the church in Ephesus may not have been any larger than 40 persons, and that they likely gathered in small homes or in apartments in tenements. And when they gathered it likely was not as the whole church, but as cells of the church. They would have experienced extreme isolation from the rest of Ephesian society. Not able to participate in the festivals, likely unable to participate in the craftsmen associations. Dependent, largely, on each other. On charitable giving they called love. Always knowing that a man like Demetrius might cause a frenzy again, that they may be persecuted again. That they may lose their lives.
We must keep this context in mind as we imagine the Ephesians gathered in a dingy, cold, candle lit room on a Sunday morning before the sun rises. They are at table. They’ve been singing psalms. Perhaps they heard a scripture read. Or heard a testimony. They have with them a special guest, an associate of Paul’s who has a letter from him. He hasn’t been able to visit because he’s in prison. They pray for him. As the guest begins to read they hear, “God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
It ought to strike us as absurd. These poor, outcast, put down people being told that Caesar is not Lord of this world but a crucified Jew is. And that the Crucified lives, is at the right hand of the power on high, and is head over all things. Not only does he rule over all things but he rules over all things on behalf of them. The marginalized, the ostracized, the objects of mockery and scorn. But as ridiculous as it all is they receive the word as it is. A prophetic message. And they have hope.
The announcement of Christ’s Kingship is not any less absurd today than it was when Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus. It is absurd to put our faith in this crucified Jew. It is absurd to believe that in spite of all that is going on in the world it is this man who is in control. It is absurd to believe that he rules all things on our behalf. For our good. For the benefit of his Church. It is far more easy for us to imagine that we may take the reigns of history, not that we would entrust them to Christ.
But this is what Christ the King Sunday is for. To remind us that in spite of all we see, in spite of all that we may face, it is this Jesus who we know who rules. And soon all his enemies shall be overthrown. The last to be overthrown being death. As the Ephesians in their own circumstance held this hope so must we. He reigns so we don’t have to. He is bringing all things to their end. And every tear will be wiped away. He is the good shepherd who cares for his sheep. And he will make all things right on that day.