The origin of royal jubilees goes back thousands of years, with the first historical records of a Royal Jubilee taking place 3000 years before Christ in Egypt. The early Pharaohs of Egypt held national celebrations every 30 years of rulership.
Jubilee is also a constant theme throughout the Bible. The word ‘jubilee’ stems from the Hebrew word ‘Yobel’, which refers to the ram or ram’s horn with which jubilee years were proclaimed. In Leviticus it states that such a horn or trumpet is to be blown on the tenth day of the seventh month after the lapse of ‘seven Sabbaths of years’ (49 years) as a proclamation of liberty through- out the land of the tribes of Israel. The year of jubilee was a consecrated year of ‘Sabbath-rest’ and liberty. During this year all debts were cancelled, lands were restored to their original owners and family members were restored to one another.
Jubilee is also a constant theme throughout the Bible. The word ‘jubilee’ stems from the Hebrew word ‘Yobel’, which refers to the ram or ram’s horn with which jubilee years were proclaimed. In Leviticus it states that such a horn or trumpet is to be blown on the tenth day of the seventh month after the lapse of ‘seven Sabbaths of years’ (49 years) as a proclamation of liberty through- out the land of the tribes of Israel. The year of jubilee was a consecrated year of ‘Sabbath-rest’ and liberty. During this year all debts were cancelled, lands were restored to their original owners and family members were restored to one another.
The year of jubilee was also central to the ministry of Jesus. After Jesus had been baptised by John and the Holy Spirit sent him into the desert to be tempted by the devil; Jesus called his first disciples to follow him. His teaching had begun. He went into the synagogue and amazed the people with his teaching, because he taught with such authority yet didn’t have the royal robes, orbs or jewels which granted authority from Kings and Queens, the rulers of the day. No other power or authority can compete with his power and authority.
The people had never heard anything like this before. What Jesus was saying and how he was saying it was astonishing. They had heard teachers talk of the law before but this was something so amazing that they were in awe. Jesus was in another league because he claimed to be the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 61:1–2. Jesus stated that he had come to ‘proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour’ (Luke 4:18–19 TNIV). This is the year of jubilee and this is THE example for all leader's to follow.
So, as the Churches Together in England President’s have said, “There can be no better way for the Christian Churches to celebrate the Jubilee than to take the opportunity to dedicate themselves anew to the service of God, and to seek the common good through love for their neighbours near and far.”
The Queen’s personal commitment to her role as monarch, and her service to the people of the United Kingdom, are grounded in a deep faith in Jesus Christ which is an inspiration to countless citizens of nation and Commonwealth. She has said that, for her, “the teachings of Christ” and her “own personal accountability before God provide a framework” in which she tries to lead her life. (Queen and Country BBC1 08.05.02)
Her coronation also made it clear that, as Queen, her first responsibility is to God. In the coronation service she was set apart or consecrated by an Act of Anointing with the words ‘as kings, priests and prophets were anointed’. This is based on the scriptural account of Samuel anointing Saul king in 1 Samuel 10v1, 24, 11v14.
Anointing in the Old Testament was always for a specific person and for a particular role e.g. Prophets (1 Kings 19:16), Priests (Exodus 40:13) or Kings (1 Samuel 16:13). As with the Queen, ordinary people were anointed for extra-ordinary service.
This Old Testament principle flowed into the New Testament, where an anointing for service was extended to all of Jesus’ followers. Joel’s prophecy (Joel 2) was fulfilled in Acts. God’s anointing – the Holy Spirit – falls on every generation, young and old, sons and daughters… so ordinary people such as you and I can have the Holy Spirit at work in our lives to give us the power to serve in today’s world.
In Acts 1:8 Jesus explains what it means to be anointed to serve: the power of the Holy Spirit has been given to us to enable us to fulfil Jesus’ ministry to the ends of the earth. As Christians, we have received the Holy Spirit so that we can live in the power of the Holy Spirit: righteousness, joy, peace and hope for our broken world all overflow from this anointing (Romans 14:17 and 15:13).
So, to receive the anointing, by faith we need to acknowledge the sacrifice Jesus has made on the cross for our sins. We then have the privilege of the indwelling Holy Spirit enabling us to live out Jesus’ ministry in Christian service.
In conclusion, and in application, we need to understand that we are ordinary people but have been anointed for an extra-ordinary ministry that we receive by faith, in simple trust. As a result we know the joy, power and presence of the Holy Spirit overflowing from our lives.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is a great moment in the life of this country. We celebrate together the life of someone who is clearly very special. She has a special job, is given special powers and has special tools and clothes. Looking at the old film footage of the coronation, I can’t begin to imagine how she must have felt – it was almost as if she was the most important person in the world. But as a Christian I am reminded that this is exactly how God feels about each one of us. I believe that God has made each one of us and that we each have a unique part to play in our community. We all have gifts and talents that can make a difference to those around us. We are valued equally because we are loved equally – I know that because I believe that Jesus came to show that through his life, death and resurrection.
So when you leave this church this morning remember you leave as Kings and Queens, truly special people with a special job to do.
Our special job is to be the servant of others just as Jesus has been servant to us. That is actually also the job of the Queen, she is to be the servant of the people. The new Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, in her 21st birthday broadcast from Capetown, on April 21, 1947, gave this message to the Empire:
“There is a motto which has been borne by many of my ancestors – a noble motto, ‘I serve.’
Those words were an inspiration to many bygone heirs to the throne.
I can make my solemn act of dedication with a whole Empire listening. I should like to make that dedication now; it is very simple.
I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great Imperial family, to which we all belong, but I shall not have the strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do. I know that your support will be unfailingly given.
God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it.”
Again we are brought back to the words of the CTE President’s, “There can be no better way for the Christian Churches to celebrate the Jubilee than to take the opportunity to dedicate themselves anew to the service of God, and to seek the common good through love for their neighbours near and far.”
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Delirious? - Majesty.
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