Is this the king of the Jews?

Dr. Luke presents a brief but grim depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus, charged and convicted of the crime of being the king of the Jews. In fact, over his head, written in three languages, is the charge against him: “This is the king of the Jews.”

In a matter-of-fact way Luke simply notes that they came to the placed called Calvary, and crucified him with two insurrectionists whose plans for violently overthrowing the Roman government backfired. At this point condemned men usually confess their sins and ask God for forgiveness. Jesus prays, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

People stand around looking on. Some, like the remnant of his followers brave enough to stick around, are devastated. Others are bewildered, confused. Elders and priests, members of the clergy, look on with contempt and arrogant self-satisfaction for getting this deed done. “Let him save himself if he is the Messiah, the chosen of God!” they sneer. Is this the king of the Jews?

Jesus wears nothing but the crown of thorns fashioned for him by insolent and rude soldiers the night before. He watches them divide his clothes and shoot craps for certain ones. They don’t get too many rabbis on this detail so his rabbinic wear attracts a lot of attention. Most of the “messiah” figures they get are the rough violent type from the caves of upper Galilee. Not much of value from their raiment. As the soldiers offer the rabbi sour wine from their rations, they mock him as they do all the other “messiah” types: “If you are the king of the Jews save yourself.” Is this the king of the Jews?

Jesus hangs between two insurrectionists caught and convicted for attempts to overthrow the government. They are passionate, violent zealots, giving their lives for the Jewish nationalist cause. Some would regard them as patriots and heros. One of them begins to curse and slander Jesus. “If you are the Messiah save yourself . . . and us!” Is this the king of the Jews?

The apostle Paul tells us Jesus is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Col. 1:15). All things, visible and invisible, were created by him and for him. He is the head of the church, the first-born from the dead, and preeminent in all things. He is not only the king of the Jews, but King of kings and Lord of lords.

Paul further tells us that it was through the blood of the cross that all things were reconciled to God. Clergymen who accuse, governments that victimize, and zealots who slander. All of creation, in and under the earth. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Somehow Jesus used the cross, the Roman instrument of shame and torture and example of what happens to those who oppose the government, as the means of coming into his kingdom. I think the other criminal beside Jesus saw a glimpse of this. After rebuking his rude compatriate, he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

We need occasions like Christ the King Sunday to remember that the cross is the gateway to God’s kingdom. We need to remember that we follow Jesus into the kingdom by way of a cross of our own, taken up at our baptism when we relinquish our own lives for the sake of living within his. Death to self, life to Christ. Remember, it is not about you, but about what God wants to do in and through you.