My Paraphrases of Sunday’s Scripture - Christ the King

Here are my paraphrases of this coming Sunday’s scripture lessons.  I am using the lessons from Daniel and Psalm 93 (from the Book of Common Prayer) rather than the Revised Common Lectionary passages from 2 Samuel 23:1-7 and Psalm 132:1-12.  Daniel and Psalm 93 seem a better fit to me for Christ the King Sunday.

Tomorrow I hope to begin posting some of my reflections on these passages, as well as some worship ideas.

Daniel 7:9-14

9 I watched as the thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His garments were as white as snow; the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne . . . fiery flames. His wheels . . . flaming fire.

10 A river of fire issued forth and flowed from his presence. A thousand thousands served him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgement was set, and the books were opened.

13 I saw in the night a vision, and behold there before me was one like a human being*, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages worshiped him. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom that will not pass away; a kingdom that will never be destroyed.

* While the Hebrew word used here is often translated as “Son of Man,” the literal translation and meaning of the word is “human being.”

Psalm 93

1The Lord reigns. He is robed in majesty; the Lord is girded about strength. The world also is established, and it cannot be shaken.

2Your throne is established from of old; you are everlasting.

3The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas lift up their crashing waves.

4 Mightier than the thunders of great floods, mightier than the powerful billows of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!

5Your testimonies are wholly trustworthy; holiness becomes your house, O Lord, forever.

Revelation 1:4b-8

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are in the presence of his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has cleansed us from our sins by his own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to serve his God and Father – to him glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” 
and “every eye will see him,
and those who pierced him”
and all the tribes of the earth “will mourn because of him.” Even so! Amen.

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come; God Almighty.”

John 18:33-38a

33 Then Pilate went back inside the Judgement Hall again, and addressed Jesus and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered him, “Do you say this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests have betrayed you to me. What is it you have done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were of this world, my servants would fight to prevent my being delivered to the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is not from here.

37 Then Pilate said to him, “You are a king.” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this was I born and for this I came into the world: to give witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”

38 Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” *

*The Revised Common Lectionary ends at verse 37.  I have included the first part of verse 38 as well, for it will probably serve as a “jumping off point” for my Sunday sermon.