“At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:10, 11.
The anointing that takes place at a King or Queens’ Coronation acknowledges that they are coming under Christ’s authority. 1 Samuel 9: 17.
The Christian anointing is the most sacred part of the Coronation ceremony as it represents divine confirmation of the people’s choice. It was first recorded in 785 AD in England when Egfrith was anointed and crowned King of Mercia. (England)
In the Abbey at Bath a stained glass window depicts the Coronation of Edgar in 959 AD. He is about to be crowned and he is holding the Orb and the Sceptre.
2/The Orb represents Christ’s dominion over the world.
3/A Sceptre is a badge of authority it signifies kingly power and justice.
In the picture the Queen is holding the sceptre in her right hand, it is made of gold surmounted by a magnificent diamond-encrusted cross with an emerald in the centre. Below the cross is a superb amethyst and below that is what is believed to be the largest cut diamond in the world. it is known as the Star of Africa.
“And you shall take in your hand this rod, with which you shall do the signs.” Exodus 4:17.
In our Old Testament scriptures we find that Moses used the rod on a number of occasions. Two of these occasions we find in the book of Exodus. Exodus 17: 1-13
The people of Israel complained to Moses that they were thirsty, they had no water to drink. Moses prayed to God and God told him to take his rod and go and strike the rock at Horeb and water would come out of it. Moses did as God told him he struck the rock and as God promised water came out of the rock and everyone’s thirst was satisfied.
In the New Testament we find that one of Jesus’ titles is God our Rock, the Rock of our Salvation. This water is in reference to the Holy Spirit. On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus stood and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.'” John the Baptist pointed to Jesus the Messiah as being the one who would baptise them with the Holy Spirit. Through faith in Jesus our spiritual thirst for God is satisfied. The Holy Spirit is available to all who ask in faith and is given to us as a gift. 1 Corinthians 10:4.
The Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus. We are here this morning because the Holy Spirit has revealed Jesus or God to us. We all have a story to tell as we travel together on this journey of faith.
Following on in this Chapter Moses again used the rod in power, over Israel’s enemies. It is also a picture of the Trinity.
(3 children to act out this story in Exodus)
The Israelites were under attack from Amalek and his men, so Joshua took with him, his men to fight them off. And whilst he was doing this, Moses went with Aaron and Hur and stood on top of the hill. (child playing part of Moses) Moses lifted up the rod, this rod was the same one that God had given to him to strike the Nile and like he did on that occasion he held the rod up with his right hand. When he held it aloft, Israel were winning the battle, but when he lowered his arm Amalek began to win the battle so Moses had to keep his hands lifted up. We read that Moses grew weary; standing there for hours, (the two other children play the part of Aaron and Hur) Aaron and Hur took a stone and put it under Moses and he sat down and then both of them held up his hands, Aaron on one side, and Hur on the other side; and so they stood together as one and eventually Joshua won the battle.” Exodus 17:8-13.
Moses, Aaron and Hur they stood together joined as one this is a picture of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, the three persons making up the whole of God.
In this true account these three men were working together, and as a result it made them stronger and more likely to succeed in their task in upholding the authority of God over their situation, defeating Amalek and his men.(children go back to their places.)
It is the same for us when we have a problem it’s good to ask for one or two Christian friends to pray. We are stronger in unity and our prayers and witness will break through tangled threads of unbelief. Jesus said, “That were two or three are gathered in my name, I am in the midst.”
In the stained glass window behind me there is a picture that illustrates the Trinity; God in the middle embracing the whole with the three names of the Trinity surrounding joined together.
To illustrate the Trinity: I’ve brought with me not a rod but a stick of rock.
On the inside of the stick of rock we can see blue lettering and surrounding these letters the white rock and around this is a pink peppermint layer.
Look at it another way the blue lettering which reads ‘St Mary’s Rawtenstall’ representing us, we are the people that belong to Jesus here at St Mary’s Church.
The church family like the Windsor Royal family we united by our blood tie, we are born of the blood of Jesus; we have his characteristics and gifts.
The white part of the rock which surrounds the letters is like the Spirit of God’s love uniting us all together.
The pink coating is like God our Father putting his arms around us, embracing us his church.
The flavour of the rock is peppermint and this reminds us of the church being the bride of Christ. Every bride holds in her hands a bouquet of scented flowers. The church a fragrant bride, pure and holy full of grace and truth.
The Trinity working together is an example to us and like Moses, he needed the support of Aaron and Hur to succeed in the tasks that God had planned for them to do.
It is the same for us we are strengthened by working together in the purpose of making Christ known in the world.
