Luke
23:33-43
Christ
- Our King
The sign which hung over Jesus' head
read, "This is the King of the Jews." If you are partial to the Gospel of John, you
will remember that the chief priests argued with Pilate over this
inscription. They wanted Pilate to
re-write the sign so it would read:
"This man said, I am the King of the Jews." They disputed the wording, but their suggestion
would have been even more incorrect. The
sign, which no one wanted, hung there (over Jesus' head) with the words: This is the King.
Jesus didn't look very much like a
king, hanging there on that cross. There
had been no great and climatic battle during which this "king" had
been taken into captivity. Jesus had
none of the external trappings of a king.
The scriptures say they cast lots for his clothing - a tunic and some
undergarments. He had no robes of purple
or crowns with jewels which one would expect of a "king." As he hung there on that cross, Jesus did not
carry himself with a royal air. Instead,
he suffered; he expressed anguish; he cried out, asking to be relieved of his
pain. This man was so bound to the agony
of human existence it is difficult for us to think of him as
"king".
The sign that hung above his head
read, "This is the King."
But on that day, Jesus was no one's king. What he was – was the servant of God. And in his role as servant he was dying. Dying on a cross. Dying so that we might have life.
It is always surprising, when we
find ourselves confronted with the distinction between the historical Jesus
(the man who died on the cross) and the Christ of the church (the
"King" whom we worship). We
find ourselves becoming startled as we begin to review the differences between
Jesus' message and ministry - and many of the traditions, doctrines and beliefs
which developed as the Church took form.
There is a difference between the way Jesus carried himself and the role
he begins to take on in the developing traditions of organized religion.
Christ the King Sunday is an
opportunity to acknowledge this distinction.
On Christ the King Sunday we boldly profess Christ as our King. Yet, the lessons which were carefully
selected for this day remind us that it was no king who hung upon the cross at
Golgotha. The biblical record and the
traditions of the church stand juxtaposed on this day. And from where we sit we can begin to see
where the one ends and the other begins.
The historical Jesus, the man who
walked the streets of ancient Israel seemed reluctant to think of himself as
one with any titles. He does speak of
the Kingdom of God as being very near to those with whom he ministers. He promises the thief hanging on the cross, "today
you will be with me in Paradise;” he refers to himself as the way, the
truth and the life; but only the woman at the well is allowed to directly
associate Jesus with titles such as "Messiah."
We will never know what Jesus
"thought," but we do know he acted in such a way as to downplay any
association between himself and titles of power or dominance. In John 18.36, Jesus insists, "My
kingdom is not from this world."
Whatever he might have "known," Jesus does not seek - even
among his disciples - recognition as "king."
Jesus came with a simpler (or might
I say purer) purpose in mind. Jesus came
to proclaim the Good News of God's favor.
Earlier in Luke's gospel, just as Jesus is beginning his public
ministry, he returns to Nazareth. He
goes to the temple and stands up to read.
They hand to him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolls the scroll and finds the place
where it is written: "The spirit
of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the
poor. He has sent me to proclaim release
to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go
free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." The scripture tells us that he rolled up the
scroll, sat down, and when all eyes were fixed upon him, he began to say to
them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4.18-21)
It is debatable whether Jesus had a
notion of himself as "King."
What is clear is that Jesus understood it to be his purpose to remind
Israel of God's favor. Jesus did not
embrace titles like "King," or "Lord," or even
"good." He rejected them,
insisting that glory be given to God.
Jesus would not allow his disciples to defend him or to defend his
honor. He was only concerned that the
message of God's salvation be preached to all who had ears to hear.
There is that interesting little
story, earlier in the same chapter as our lesson for today, in which Jesus is
before Herod. Luke 23.8 says Herod was
very glad, for he had been wanting to see (Jesus) for some time, because he had
heard about him and was hoping to see (Jesus) perform some sign. This passage hints that had Jesus displayed
even a bit of his kingly power, he might have been spared
execution. But Jesus will have none of
this. His purpose was to proclaim the
year of the Lord's favor. He would
have nothing to do with stage tricks.
Such displays of power or authority had no place in what he had come to
do.
Jesus is so single minded in his
commitment to care for others that he will do nothing to preserve himself. Jesus will die rather than abandon his
mission of setting free those who are held captive. He is the servant. He is the one who is hung upon the cross for
others.
This is the witness of scripture to
the man whom we know as Jesus.
After he died, his followers began
to look for titles which would adequately reflect the way they felt about this
man. It was in that search that the
language of "king" began to emerge.
Jesus did not come to lord himself over us, but we willingly enlisted as
faithful subjects. We bind ourselves to
him, no less committed than any devotee to their king.
The introduction of “Christ the King
Sunday” does not happen until 1925. It
was first instituted by Pope Pious XI. Most
historians agree Pope Pious did this as an attempt to counter the rise of
nationalism. The rise of nationalism is
sometimes identified as the cause of World War I. To make sure his purpose was heard among those
whom Pious thought to be the gravest of transgressors, Pious selected the day
of observance as the last Sunday in October.
While Norwegians and Swedes and Danes already had something akin to a
national day of observance on the last Sunday of October, the Germans were sure
to realize that Christ the King Sunday would trample all over their observances
of Reformation Sunday.
Who is your “King”? To what do you give your strongest
allegiance? Is it the state/church
structure which has supported so many of our cultural identities (and
prejudices)? Or is it the crucified
servant of God?
The Germans didn’t take well to
this. We did soon find ourselves in
World War II.
Christ the King Sunday has nothing
to do with God demanding that all the world fall on its face and acknowledge
him as Lord and Master. Christ the King
Sunday is our opportunity to affirm our belief that in this Jesus of Nazareth
we have seen the way which leads to salvation, and that “way” is the way of a
servant. It is living our lives in
service to the least, to the helpless, to the outcast, to the lost.
The problem with titles is that as
soon as you start to use them, they begin to take on a life of their own. We hear the title "Christ the
King," and rather than allowing the association of "Christ" with
"King" to call into question everything we previously associated with
kings, we begin to think of Jesus as just another guy with a lot of power and
an over-grown ego. The humble master
whom we enlist as our King is lost to the notion of yet another powerful and authoritarian
ruler.
Christ the King is the final Sunday
of the church year. Next week, when you
come into this place, we will be starting all over again with a brand new
year. During this new year, make
yourself a resolution to listen attentively to what Jesus is saying; to give
attention to what the Church teaches; and then to ultimately decide whether
this man has anything to say to you. Are
you prepared, will you be willing to give to him the title of "King?" And if you are, are you willing to follow
his way. His is not the way of power and
dominion. His is the way of service and
sacrifice.
Amen.
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