Luke 23:33-43: When they came to the place that is called The
Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one
on his left. [[ 34Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for
they do not know what they are doing."]] And they cast lots to divide his
clothing. 35And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders
scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is
the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" 36The soldiers also mocked
him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37and saying, "If
you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" 38There was also
an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." 39One
of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are
you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" 40But the other
rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same
sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed have been condemned
justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done
nothing wrong." 42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when
you come into your kingdom." 43He replied, "Truly I tell
you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
This Sunday
marks our congregation's 55th anniversary of mission and ministry in Elk Grove
Village, IL. I won't be preaching this Sunday, yet I did want to offer some
thoughts for my weekly blog.
The mood is
changing. This Sunday marks the end of the liturgical year--the church's year
of grace. The next two weeks in a row concentrate on Christ's power and
majesty...beginning with this Sunday's celebration of "Christ the
King," and then looking forward to the first Sunday of Advent with the
eschatological return of Christ to judge the living and the dead. Regarding
Christ the King Sunday, the Sundays and Seasons resource says:
Hoping to celebrate the lordship of Christ
in a world of increasingly secular and non- Christian
empires, Pope Pius XI inaugurated in 1925 a Sunday dedicated to Christ as King. Originally Roman Catholics
celebrated Christ the King on the last Sunday in October, to precede the feast of All Saints, yet also to
counter the Protestant celebration of
the Reformation. When the Roman Catholics proposed the three-year lectionary
after the Second Vatican Council,
Christ the King was moved to the final Sunday of the liturgical year. The Revised Common Lectionary has retained
the festival. Its emphasis on the
eschatological majesty of Christ leads well into Advent. This passage is particularly appropriate for the
celebration of the reign of Christ. The Roman authorities claim that they have executed the
purported king of the Jews, and the thief asks Jesus for entrance into his kingdom. Christ is king
when he reigns from the cross, forgiving our sins.
That last part is probably the best: Christ is
king when he reigns from the cross, forgiving our sins. To be
"remembered" when Jesus comes into his kingdom is to be welcomed into
the presence of holiness, even though we're not holy; to be embraced by the
arms of perfection, even though we're not perfect.
There's
much more that can be added to this. While we do not live in a monarchy, we do
live in a land of the 'privileged.' In spite of our national mythos of equality
for all, we all know that there are "special rules for special-born."
The privileged class doesn't have to wait in line; the privileged class doesn't
have to worry about their healthcare; the privileged class doesn't have to be
concerned about the mundane things that bother most people. They're above it
all. They're allowed to enjoy the happy existence of life lived entirely for
self. This describes the reality of yesterday's monarchs. They too could live
life entirely for self. In the old testament when King David lusted after
Bathsheba, had an affair with her, and then sent her husband Uriah on a suicide
mission, ALL of that was able to come together because David was king. Many
other examples could be cited. And so when in Luke's narrative we read these
words directed at Jesus: If you are the
King of the Jews, save yourself! (v37) Something very powerful is
happening. The words of the soldiers echo the words of all humanity. WE KNOW
what kings do. They look out, primarily, for themselves. They live in the best
houses; they eat the tastiest food; they have the nicest stereos and the
biggest flatscreen TVs. **IF he is a king, OF COURSE he would save himself; OF
COURSE he would put his own interests first; OF COURSE this mockery will cease
and desist right now.
But
that's not what happens.... not because Jesus isn't a king... but because he's
not a king like WE WOULD BE. Instead of saving himself, Jesus ascends the
throne of forgiveness known as the cross and ushers in salvation for the
unworthy. Instead of saving himself and retiring to his country estate in the
sky, he willingly flings the doors to that estate wide open and lets the rabble
of sinful humanity come in.
In
the end, that's what being king means to him.
Cheers,
TM
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