On Saturday 6 May millions of us watched on TV as His Majesty King Charles III was crowned in Westminster
Abbey. The Coronation Service was rich in ceremony and symbolism. The
Archbishop of Canterbury anointed the king with oil and placed St Edward’s
crown upon his head. The newly crowned King Charles III was given the
ceremonial Orb and Sceptre, tokens of his royal power.
Much of the symbolism associated with the Coronation was drawn from the
Christian faith. The anointing recalls that kings in the Old Testament period
were anointed with oil to symbolise that they were empowered for their role by
the Spirit of the Lord. The Hebrew word ‘Messiah’ means ‘Anointed One’. The
Greek equivalent is ‘Christ’. St Edward’s crown, the Orb and Sceptre all
feature crosses as a reminder that earthly rulers are subject to a greater
King, Jesus.
As the firstborn son of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles was born to
be King, although he only assumed that title on his mother’s death. Similarly,
Jesus was born to rule. The angel of the Lord told Mary, Jesus’ mother, that
her Son would sit upon the throne of his royal ancestor, David. When Jesus was
born wise men from the East sought out the infant King of the Jews and brought
him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Yet when the Lord Jesus Christ was crowned on earth it was not with a
jewel encrusted crown of gold, but with a crown of thorns in preparation for
his crucifixion. ‘Behold your King!’ said Pontius Pilate of Jesus, the man he had
condemned to die. Jesus could have used the power by which he calmed the waves
and healed the sick to avoid the suffering and shame of the cross, but he did
not. Jesus came to die in the place of sinners that we may be forgiven and be
reconciled to God. His lifeless body was taken from the cross and laid in a
borrowed tomb, which is where it remained until Easter Sunday morning when God
raised his Son from the dead.
Forty days later Jesus ascended to heaven to assume his place at the
right hand of God the Father. That was his Coronation Day, when Jesus was
crowned King of kings and Lord of lords. He is exalted 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 one to come. King Jesus offers his royal pardon to all who will come in
faith and bow the knee before his throne.
*For May edition of various local parish mags
