Christ the King
Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Christians all over the world are celebrating Christ the King Sunday today. They are hearing Jeremiah’s prophecy: A good and just new king will arise to lead God’s people, because the current rulers and leaders of Israel are neglecting their duties and abusing their office.
What an interesting moment in time it is to read this promise! Right now, all over the world, leaders of nations are in trouble. In Iran, protesters clash violently with police, refusing to abide by strict moral dress codes. Britain has been a mess ever since Brexit; one prime minister after another is failing to manage that transition. Additionally, the death of Queen Elizabeth II has raised the question anew as to why Britain still has monarchs. The rulers of Qatar are under scrutiny for the treatment of guest workers, now that they are about to host the soccer world cup.
And dare I mention what is happening in Washington these days? We, too, have leadership in trouble. Our former President Trump is facing numerous court proceedings, and our current President Biden and his son Hunter will be under investigation as soon as the new members of the House are seated.
When the Prophet Jeremiah confronts the leaders and kings of his time for their failures, he also points out what their lack of good leadership has done to the people: because of their poor shepherding, the people are scattered. They are scattered physically, since some of them have already been deported into exile in Babylon. And they are scattered in terms of their communities, which are ripped apart because the rich are allowed to exploit the poor.
I see the same effect of poor leadership in this country. Our communities are ripped apart, too. On both sides of the political landscape, leaders pull their followers further to the outsides of the spectrum. Democrats and Republicans barely know how to talk to each other anymore. Some of us dread Thanksgiving because we know there will be tension around the table. Yes, we are scattered.
Into this unfortunate situation come the words of Jeremiah, promising a new, faithful, just leader; a king who will do the right thing and fulfill his duty; a good shepherd.
This raises our hopes, doesn’t it? However, it also raises an important question: What kind of king do we want?
Our gospel reading highlights this question. We read how during Jesus’ crucifixion, different people mock him. In their mocking, they reveal what kind of king they expect.
“If you are the Messiah, the chosen one of God, save yourself. If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself. Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” Thus taunt the leaders, the soldiers, and one of the criminals. What kind of king do they want? A powerful one; a strong one; one who can do great things for them; one who can save them and make lives better for them.
And we can’t really blame them, for we choose our leaders pretty much along the same lines. We just went through an election period. Candidates spent insane amounts of money to tell us that they can save the nation, that they can affect change for a better tomorrow, that they can make our lives easier.
Jesus would never be elected in this country. He does not use his divine power to save himself from the agony of the cross. Jesus rejects power and allows himself to be vulnerable, to the point of being crucified like a criminal.
We would not vote for Jesus. We usually prefer powerful, charismatic leaders.
Unless, that is, if we are in a vulnerable position ourselves.
When we are hurting, when we are marginalized, when we carry great shame, when we are embarrassed about our failings, when we are powerless against our addictions, when we can’t cope with the death of a beloved person, when our heart and soul constrict in bouts of depression – then a vulnerable king is exactly what we want and need.
When we are weak, then a king who enters weakness is good news. When we are in pain, then we love a savior who suffered and can really understand us. When we feel powerless, then a Messiah who gave up all worldly power is a source of hope. When we are about to die, then a Good Shepherd who entered and overcame death is the best news ever.
The criminal on the cross next to Jesus is in the same pain and agony as Jesus. He knows he is about to die for his transgressions. It is this man in his desperate situation who recognizes Jesus as King. This man realizes the truth in the taunts of the bystanders and in the sign nailed above Jesus’ head: This is the King of the Jews; this is the Messiah, the chosen one of God.
Recognizing Jesus for who he is, the criminal turns to Christ the King with a prayer: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He doesn’t ask to be rescued from the cross or spared from death; he doesn’t ask for forgiveness or salvation. All he asks is to be remembered; for his name to live on in Jesus’ memory.
Jesus responds with one of the most well-known verses in the Bible: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” As our gracious Christ the King does so often, he gives much more than was asked for. The criminal wanted his name to live on. Jesus promises him eternal life in his kingdom. The criminal is invited into heaven; this invitation signals that Jesus has forgiven him his wrongdoings. From the wounded King, this criminal receives love, forgiveness, grace, hope, and salvation. What an amazing King.
This amazing King is our King, too. He offers us the same gifts: love, forgiveness, grace, hope, salvation. Through these gifts, he frees us from guilt and shame, frees us to hope and joy, frees us to tell other people about this King, frees us to invite ever more people into his wonderful kingdom.
The words “king” and “kingdom” can easily sidetrack us. They evoke images of Disney princesses or ‘Game of Thrones’ or the British royal family. That’s why some churches prefer the title “Reign of Christ” instead of “Christ the King” for this Sunday.
In his book ‘The Divine Conspiracy’, author Dallas Willard contemplates the idea of kingdom in our modern context. All of us have our little kingdoms, he says. My kingdom is the area in my life where my will and my desire determine what does and does not happen. “My home is my castle”, we say, because in my home I get to decide what takes place and how.
We enjoy such spheres of influence, at home or at work or at volunteer positions, where what we say and think and believe shapes what happens.
Using this analogy, the kingdom of Christ is where Christ’s desires, Christ’s dreams for creation, Christ’s will and intentions rule. The kingdom of Christ is wherever the shape of life mirrors Christ’s design for life.
That kingdom of Christ is offered to the criminal on the cross, in the here and now of the real world.
That kingdom of Christ is revealed in the here and now of the real world today whenever people’s actions and words reflect Christ’s will.
The kingdom is present whenever people pray as Jesus taught us to pray.
The kingdom is present whenever people are baptized and communion is shared and Christ’s presence is celebrated.
The kingdom is present whenever the fruits of the Holy Spirit come to fruition and bless another person.
The kingdom is present whenever a disciple refuses to participate in some scheme and instead follows Jesus’ call to truthful living.
The kingdom is present whenever a college student has the strength to refuse participation in some drinking game.
We reveal the kingdom’s presence when we speak a kind word to our neighbor, when we take the time to mentor a child or visit a shut-in, when we refuse to cut corners, when we don’t re-tweet gossip, when we share our money with the church’s mission, when we are a calm voice amidst heated arguments, when we participate in the political process from the perspective of faith and vote for the best possible leaders for our communities and nation.
In his Small Catechism, Martin Luther explains the Lord’s Prayer. In regard to the petition, “Your kingdom come,” he writes that the kingdom of God will come on its own without our prayer, but that the question is if the kingdom will also come to us. Today, our Bible readings expand that question: Will the kingdom come to us and through us? Will we recognize Christ as our King and strive to reveal his kingship in the way we live? Do we mirror Christ’s kingdom in our everyday lives?
These are the questions I ask you to ponder today and this coming week.
No matter how the final house races will be called, no matter who our leaders are at any given moment, the basic challenge for us as disciples of Christ the King remains the same: Do we live in such a way that we reflect the reign of Christ?
We have received love, forgiveness, hope, grace, and salvation from Christ our King. In grateful response, let us help others to experience these gifts and the joy of living under the reign of Christ. Amen.