Authority is Given by God Alone, and Ultimately, Remains His Alone
Last week, the UK witnessed the first state funeral of a sovereign in seventy years. Watching, I was struck by references to Christianity, in what was one of the most viewed events of all time. I was overcome that more than half the global population were hearing the good news of Jesus explicitly proclaimed. I’ve reflected on some key moments and their significance for us as leaders and as followers of Jesus.
Jesus’s words that he is the resurrection and the life rung powerfully as they were read from John 11 during the service. It is the most powerful truth that could be proclaimed at a funeral. Jesus’ words to Martha as she is grieving the death of her brother, Lazarus, are not merely proposing that he has resurrection and life, but rather he is the resurrection and the life. As leaders, this is a reality that we live in now. It is from this truth that the Queen led, and – like all who know Jesus – we can be confident that through him, we will never die, receiving his resurrection.
At the heart of leadership is valuing the person in front of you, seeing all as equal. Paul’s words from 1 Timothy 6 epitomise this and affirm that all are equal under God: ‘for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.’ Even for a sovereign, this is true. It is an acknowledgement that this life is entirely a gift of God. What we receive will not be ours in the life to come. This speaks into leadership as a freeing truth that contentment comes from seeing possessions and responsibilities from an eternal perspective. In our day-to-day leadership, we can hold earthly possessions, achievements, and titles lightly, as we look to our true and eternal inheritance in Jesus Christ.
‘contentment comes from seeing possessions and responsibilities from an eternal perspective’
One of the most profound moments came in the sermon as the Queen’s famous words from her address in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic – ‘we will meet again’ – were quoted. This is most true in the kingdom of heaven. We are promised that we will see Jesus, face to face, and will likewise see one another again in glory. Death is not the end for those who are in Christ Jesus. This is a reality we can take hold of today to live and to lead fearlessly.
The committal service struck me powerfully, with it signifying God’s ultimate rule over history and over the nations, through symbols representing centuries of acknowledgement of the God of the Bible as the ultimate eternal King. In the following days in conversations with friends, the imagery conveyed by the instruments representing authority impressed on me the sense of sacrifice and accountability before God that is so fundamental to leadership.
The nearly four-hundred-year-old golden orb is made up of a cross above a globe. It represents Christ’s ultimate rule over the earth, signifying that all earthy power is given by God alone and that this is the foundation of any earthly rule or authority. This is true for anyone leading in any sense of the word, including a monarch.
The sceptre and crown signify the monarch’s rule, power, and governance. As these were laid upon the high altar, it became clear that this was to illustrate beautifully that all authority is given by God alone and, ultimately, remains his alone. It’s a committal of objects of power back to Jesus, and a reminder of what we must do day by day as leaders. I saw this as a picture of the scene described in Revelation 4, of crowns being laid before the throne of God who is ‘worthy to receive glory and honour and power.’
‘I’m giving thanks for the life of a monarch who so beautifully served Jesus for her whole reign’
In this time, I’m giving thanks for the life of a monarch who so beautifully served Jesus for her whole reign, setting an example of sacrificial leadership and accountability before God. I’m compelled to look more intently to Jesus, who truly is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Beginning and End, the one who was, who is, and who is to come. It is his kingdom we are ushering in through our leadership at moments like these, as we see history formed before us and experience renewal reaching for us.
