True Kingship

'When 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. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."'

--Luke 23: 33-43

One lasting image of kingship for me is Arthur, King of the Britons, giving his credentials to Dennis and unnamed, poor woman – who, it should be noted, didn’t vote for him.  I'll let the scene speak for itself:

King Arthur meets his constituents. 

That scene in the early moments of Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a classic. While our system isn’t perfect, at least we don’t rely on strange women distributing swords to declare who our leaders will be - though there are some years when I wonder if that wouldn't be better. In a world that has fewer and fewer traditional monarchies – and in a country where we literally fought a war over whether or not we should keep being part of one – we may not think much about what kingship or sovereignty means on a daily basis, but the celebration of Christ the King comes around each year to invite us to do just that, and what’s more, it reminds us that our true king turns the whole concept of kingship on its head.

Christ the King Sunday was celebrated by Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, and a few other Protestants this past Sunday. It marks the final day of the liturgical calendar, the last Sunday of Ordinary Time. The day was created in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, making it one of the newest Christian feasts. The world was just seven years removed from the Great War, but fascism was on the rise, and in less than 15 years there would be a Second World War.  In response to the growing popularity of authoritarianism, the pope wrote in his encyclical Quas Primas, that the faithful should gain strength and courage form the celebration of this new feast, as they were reminded that Christ must reign in their hearts, minds wills, and bodies, and that the leaders and nations would see that they were bound to give respect to Christ and see that the Church had the right to freedom and immunity from the state. It may not carry the same weight in our Episcopal tradition as it does for our Roman Catholic siblings, but Christ the King was a day created in a time when the world most needed to remember that Jesus is the only true sovereign, and some might argue that we find ourselves at such a time once again.

A visible reminder for us here Good Shepherd in Asheboro is our Christus Rex – literally ‘Christ the King’ – which dominates our sanctuary. Those entering the space are drawn to it, as Jesus' arms are outstretched to welcome everyone into our space and to offer comfort and solace. It is both a powerful image - signifying Jesus' victory over sin and death and his reign over the universe - as well as one of vulnerability - as his wounds are still visible, if you are close enough to see them. 

The Christus Rex at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Asheboro, NC.

Much has been made of art depicting a victorious, kingly Jesus. As Christianity spread throughout the known world – particularly after the First Crusades in the 11th century – Jesus was depicted more and more as a conquering warrior, but when we look at the readings prescribed for Christ the King Sunday – not only this year but every year of our liturgical cycle -  ‘victorious’, ‘conquering’, and ‘warrior’ aren’t the words I suspect we’d use to describe the kingship of Jesus. 

Especially given where we find him in our Gospel text this year – at the place called the Skull. It’s here that the King of Glory reigns. And what are the words, the characteristics that we might use to describe his kingship? There’s forgiveness – Jesus asking God to forgive the very people who are killing and mocking him, for they know not what they are doing. There’s grace for the criminals, the seditionists, who are crucified with them, as the first derides Jesus, but he doesn’t retort or condemn him, and when the second asks Jesus to simply remember him, Jesus doesn’t tell him he needs to be baptized first, nor does he chastise him for his crimes, but he gives him the free gift of pardon, reminding everyone for all time that in his kingdom even condemned criminals can be redeemed. There’s a cross instead of a throne – the one and noble tree, to borrow the words of the Pange Lingua that we sing during Holy Week. There’s a crown of thorns – a derisive gesture on the part of the soldiers who crucified him – instead of jewels. Let’s face it, we whatever image that comes to mind when we think of kings, we don’t exactly have a picture here that fits any of our prescribed notions of such, do we?  This scene is a mockery.  It’s a joke; a complete flipping of every idea that the world has ever had about kingship, sovereignty, and power.

Crucifixion, by Hans von Tubingen

But that’s the point with Jesus. Throughout Luke’s Gospel, which we’ve been reading all year and finish up today, Jesus has been telling us, in his own words spoken through parables what his kingdom –  or what he called the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God – looks like: a wasteful, prodigal child returning to a father’s loving arms; a shepherd foolishly going off to find one lost sheep; an ugly mustard shrub providing shelter for the birds; a rich man’s feast open to the poor and marginalized. A day called Christ the King  may seem to invite a Gospel reading like Matthew, chapter 24, with images of Jesus coming with the angels, riding on the clouds and shining like the sun at the trumpet call. That's kingly, right?! Instead we get Jesus being crucified because the kingship of Jesus is summed up right here at the cross. 

Many who followed Jesus wanted him to overthrow Rome and set his kingdom up to look every bit as cruel, with their enemies treated as bad or worse than Rome treated them. These were the zealots, and there are still around. They’ll tell you that there are folks who get left out of Jesus’ kingdom. But throughout Luke’s Gospel this year we’ve seen Jesus buck that trend, and he does it one last time here on the cross when he forgives his murders and grants Paradise to the seditionist. And isn't that something? The seditionist asks to be remembered in Jesus' kingdom, and everyone else was clammoring for a kingdom of power, might, riches, and glory. But Jesus tells him that he'll be with him in Paradise, an old Persian word for a walled garden. The world wants a kingdom, Jesus offers Paradise.  Wow!

If someone tells you that you – or anyone, for that matter – gets left out of Jesus’ kingdom, don’t’ believe them. Remember Jesus’ own words in John 12: 32, that when he is lifted up upon the cross he draws ALL the world to himself – and ALL means ALL…y’all!.  This is where our king, the King of glory, reigns, hung upon a tree. And by doing so, by flipping the narrative of power and kingship, Jesus makes it possible for literally EVERYONE to be part of his kingdom. That is some good news right there! All we have to do is tell everyone that it is so and live our lives as if we actually believe it.

This is the scandal of the Gospel. And if we are members of Jesus’ kingdom, we’re not members of any other; and if Jesus is king, then nobody else is. It’s him and his kingdom. There’s nothing like it, and there’s nothing better! And Jesus didn't say that his kingdom was far off or that we had to wait for any End Times for it to get here. What did he say? The kingdom of God has come near to you! It is here! And it is within all of you!

Empires fall, all terms of office and reigns of those in power end, but Jesus shall reign wherever the sun doth its successive journeys run, his kingdom stretches from shore to shore till moons shall wax and wane no more.