Sermon 11.20.22 – A Different Kind of Reality

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Toluca, IL – Christ the King

Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 46; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43

Gospel: Luke 23:33-43

³³When 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. ³⁴⟦Then 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.”

NRSV

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A Different Kind of Reality

Grace and peace, beloved of God, from our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

Does anyone watches the Netflix Show “The Crown?” 

Princess Elizabeth was born in London, on April 2, 1926. Twenty-seven years later, on June 2,1953, after the death of her father, King George VI, she was crowned Queen Elizabeth II. The event was witnessed by millions of people around the World. Elizabeth sat on the throne of the United Kingdom until September 8, 2022, when she died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Billions of people around the globe became aware of it almost instantaneously. Many followed the ceremonies leading to her funeral. 

Charles, Elizabeth’s elder son, born in London, on November 14, 1948, will be crowned King Charles III on May 6, 2023. I suspect millions and millions and millions will watch it. These are the endings and new beginnings of Monarchic succession.

There is an overall fascination among human beings regarding kings, queens, and their reigns. I suspect at least some of it is related to the authority, power, and riches they represent. Many rulers became notorious for their military victories. They were venerated either by defending their kingdoms or expanding their domains beyond human imagination. Some became idolized for eternity as the ones who freed their people from foreign occupation.

I supposed it is understandable that human beings, mere mortals, have this itch to transform Jesus from Nazareth in this sort of king. Once upon a time, entire civilizations were wiped out of existence under the pursuit of the gold that decorates some of the most astonishing churches and cathedrals in the world. Popes have lived like kings. Some have paraded on horseback, wearing armor and holding swords. I am sure there are still some massive golden crosses on display in houses of worship around the globe or hanging around the necks of religious leaders.

God never wanted to be this sort of king. Actually, God has no need to be king at all. God, in fact, freed the people from mighty rulers and kingdoms. God provided them instructions and ordinances allowing them to self-govern without kings. However, God’s people so much cried for earthly kings that God finally gave up and gave them Saul. I suspect it has always been the temptation of humanity to hope for someone who will have absolute power and take care of everything for us.

And here we are, confronted with the scandalous reality that challenges everyone and everything. Our king is crucified. In the eyes of the great and powerful around him, he is unimportant. A nuisance that needs to be purged along with thousands of others who died like him, hanging from a tree. Here is he, betrayed, abandoned, accused, condemned, tortured, naked, nailed, and about to be killed as a common criminal. God, out of God’s own pleasure, stripped off all greatness and power, for the salvation of all who believe. Here at his cross, God is allowing all the violence, all the resentment, all the fear, all greed, all the desires of supremacy, all the ego, all the shame, to die with him, so we can always start anew.

Beloved, for many, many, Jesus is still not important. That is OK. For us, born out of water and Spirit, gifted with faith, forgiven by his Word, he is the King of everything there is. The only one. He is the most important thing in our hearts, forever. He will come and rise again, with endings and new beginnings. Thanks be to God. Amen.