CELC Christ the King

Christ the King – November 21, 2004 – Luke 23:33-43

You know that Colin Powell is ending his tenure as Secretary of State. Endings come in life and when they don’t happen to others, they happen to us.

Today is an ending. It is the end of the church year, the day we call “Christ the King.” Today is an ending for all of us. And as the end of the church year, today asks us once again to reflect on who Jesus is.

You know who Colin Powell is. He is a career soldier that has been our Secretary of State as well. You can debate his work, his effectiveness or the lack thereof, but he has been “Mr. Secretary” after being “General.”

Such titles do let know who the office holder is. If you say “General” or “Mr. Secretary,” right away you know something about the person you are addressing.

Today, one of the criminals hanging on a cross next to Jesus tells you something about Jesus. Only he doesn’t use a title. Rather than say, “General” or “Mr. Secretary,” the criminal says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Do you see the difference? The criminal does not address Jesus as “King,” but assumes the title when he says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” You can’t have a kingdom can you, without being a king?

So indirectly you hear of who Jesus is: he is the King.

The other thief on a cross next to Jesus sees Jesus differently. He sees Jesus as a pretender to the title, “Savior.” This criminal says, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” The title, “Messiah,” means the chosen one, or the savior. This criminal is mocking Jesus as he dies. He uses a title to vent bitter sarcasm as Jesus suffers on the cross.

So which are you? Are you with the criminal who doesn’t use a title, but acknowledges Jesus to be King of all? Or are you seeing Jesus to be a pretender?

Before you jump on the bandwagon and say, “of course, pastor, we are with the first criminal, Jesus is our King,” think about what you are saying. Remember that a King rules over his subjects and has authority to order them to do what they may not want to do. Is Jesus still your king?

Perhaps I can put this in more modern terms for you, more accessible language.

The nominated replacement for Secretary Powell is Condoleezza Rice. She has been an advisor to President Bush on things foreign since he began office. She is a natural selection by him.

One opinion writer has pointed out that she is not only an advisor to President Bush but also loyal to him and his policies.

That really caught my eye. Condoleezza Rice is loyal to the President, and thus will follow his policies. The logic is that you follow the one to whom you are loyal.

Is that not what we are being asked to do today? On this Christ the King Sunday are we not being asked to follow the King who is dying on a cross? Are we not being asked to be loyal with all our life to the King who through his death and resurrection brings us forgiveness and mercy resulting in eternal life?

Perhaps I got it wrong, but the gospel seems to be calling us today to faith in the King of the cross. The gospel seems to be calling us to be more loyal to Christ the King than to our friends, our parents, spouse, children, or even ourselves.

If God in Christ is the center of your life, like the sun is the center of our solar system, then don’t you want to follow him, to go where he asks you to go? When we sing “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” aren’t we placing ourselves under the rule of Christ the King. I wonder what it means to call Christ, “King?”

As you ponder the implications remember two scenes from Matthew. In the first scene from the very end of Matthew, Jesus says to us: “Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations…” Is this the driving force of your life? Do you see yourself first and foremost as being a missionary? Is Jesus still Christ the King for you when you hear his call to mission?

Or consider that second Kingly scene in Matthew…the twenty-fifth chapter. There Jesus says that you serve him whenever you feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, visit the imprisoned and sick, or clothe the naked. Here is the call of the King to service in his Name. Are you willing to serve? Is Jesus still Christ the King for you when you hear his call to serve?

The question becomes, “Who then is Jesus, for you?” Is he Christ the King? If he is, then how are you doing as he calls you to be missionaries and servants? Amen.

Pastor Robert F. Holley