Christ the King

 As Barber Bill cut Bob's hair, they talked about God. Barber Bill said, "I don't believe in God." Bob asked, "Why not?" Bill replied slowly. "When I see the sick, poor, hurting, helpless, & abandoned-if there was a God, He'd do something." Bob didn't push. He just paid Bill & left. Minutes later, he came back. "I've decided I don't believe in barbers." Barber Bill was perplexed. "Why not?" Bob replied, "When I left, I saw kids with long hair, some men needing a shave, & other men with ragged hair. Barbers must not exist." Barber Bill retorted, "I'm here. They just don't come to me." Bob replied, "Remember God? DITTO." 1 of the 2 criminals crucified with Jesus also wouldn't believe. Some people never will. Let's turn to Lk 23:32-43. 322 men, both criminals, were also led out with Jesus to be executed. Were they robbers? Murderers? Part of Barabbas' crew of revolutionaries? We don't know. All we know is that Romans usually executed only violent criminals. These 2 were most likely violent. 33When they came to Golgotha (Skull), they crucified Jesus & the 2 criminals. One on his right, one on his left. The implicit message? Jesus is a criminal. Unwittingly, they fulfill Isa 53:12 & number Jesus with transgressors. 1 by 1, soldiers throw each man on a crossbar. Drive a spike through a hand at each end. 4 soldiers then raise the crossbar to fasten it near the top of a standing post. The man on the crossbeam dangles. Soldiers then put 1 ankle over the other & drive a spike through them into the upright post. As they work, 34Jesus starts praying. "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they're doing." He keeps praying as they cast lots to divide his clothes. Several groups of people are there. 35aThe people stood watching. Are they spectators? Just there to enjoy the show? Are they stunned disciples, watching mournfully? Luke doesn't say. (Is he giving them the benefit of doubt?) 35bThe rulers sneer at Him. "He saved others. Let Him save Himself if he's God's Christ, the Chosen One." Their words drip scorn. 36aSoldiers also came up to the cross. Why? To mock Jesus by playing a cheap trick on Him. He looks thirsty. So, 35bthey offer him cheap wine vinegar. Parched or no, a taste is all He can stand. They also keep 36bmocking Him. 37"If you're the king of the Jews, save yourself." They'd done many crucifixions. They think they "know" a truth. No one comes down on their own. Soldiers, rulers, common people, & 2 criminals all came to the cross. Some curious. Some for the show. Some to ridicule & mock Jesus. All but Jesus & the criminals chose to be there. But it doesn't really matter why they're there. What does matter? All are in the presence of the King of kings. How they respond to Him now will determine their eternal destiny. If they walk away without giving Him their lives, they'll walk away judged. (Maybe we should, too.) The charge against Jesus? 38 There's a written notice above him. 'This is the king of the Jews.' It's the real reason He's there. It's also Pilot's jeer at the Jewish rulers. The irony? It's true. Mt 27:44 says both 44criminals crucified with Him heaped insults on Him. 39aOne kept on hurling insults at him. 39b"Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself & us!" Is he really concerned about Jesus? No. Only us. And really, only himself. There's an old counseling axiom. 'Hurt people hurt people. Abusers were often abused as children. So, what childhood violence got these criminals here? We can only imagine. But that axiom is only partly true. Hurt people are tempted to hurt others. But they, & we, face a choice when tempted. Rise above it. Or go ahead. This criminal chose the only way he could still hurt anyone. He hurled insults at Jesus. Both men hang beside Jesus. Both see the way He suffers. Both hear Him praying for others. But one's habit of violence is deep. He won't change. But the other? As he watches, his heart softens. He sees God's Son & believes. 40aHe rebuked the 1st criminal. "Don't you fear God? You & I are under the same sentence. He then confesses 41aWe're punished justly. (How could he know? Do they know each other?) He sees the truth. 41bWe're getting what we deserve. Unlike most prisoners, he offers no excuses. He makes no protest of innocence. Why? Seeing Jesus, he sees pure sinlessness. And his heart breaks. 41bThis man has done nothing wrong." Prussian king Frederick the Great once toured a Berlin prison. Prisoners kept falling on their knees before him to protest their innocence. All but one. He remained silent. Frederick called, "Why are you here?" "Armed robbery, Your Majesty." "And are you guilty?" "Yes, Your Majesty. I deserve my penalty." Frederick summoned the jailer. "Release this guilty wretch at once. I won't have him kept in this prison corrupting all the fine innocent people in here." That's how God forgives. Surrender any pretense of innocence. Surrender, & God both forgives & releases us from guilt. But God gives much more than we expect. This criminal? He surrenders all pretense of innocence & asks for mercy. 42"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Not 'take me with you.' Just 'remember me.' He leaves it to Jesus how to respond. And Jesus? He does what God always does when we surrender. As soon as we do, God overwhelms us with the mercy we wanted. But God doesn't stop there. God always adds abundant blessings. And Jesus does. 43aJesus answered him, "I tell you the truth. This is Jesus-speak. 'Listen up! This is important.' 43bToday you'll be with me in paradise." Jesus does more than forgive him. (Jesus doesn't say it, but no one gets to paradise carrying their sin.) At his surrender, Jesus grants him eternal life in His KoG. That is the king we serve. 9yo Mark's teacher called his mom before school was out. "Mrs. Smith, something unusual happened today in Mark's 3rd grade class. What Mark did was so surprising I wanted to tell you immediately." 'Uh-oh!' Mom thought. Teacher continued, "I haven't seen anything like it in all my years of teaching. This a.m., I taught creative writing. I started telling the story of the ant & the grasshopper. The ant worked hard all summer & stored up lots of food. But the grasshopper played all summer & didn't work. Winter came. Without food, the grasshopper began to starve. So, he begged, "Mr. Ant, you have lots of food. Please share with me." Then I gave them a creative writing assignment. "Boys & girls, your job is to write the end of the story." Your son, Mark, raised his hand. "Teacher, may I draw a picture?" I answered, "Yes, Mark, you may draw a picture. But first you must write the story's ending." As always, most children wrote, 'The ant shared his food, & both lived through the winter.' But, as always, a few wrote that the ant said, 'No, Mr. Grasshopper. You should've worked all summer. I only have enough food for myself.' The ant lived & the grasshopper died. But your son's end of the story was different from any other child I've ever taught. Mark wrote, 'The ant gave all of his food to the grasshopper. The grasshopper lived through winter. But the ant died.' And his picture? Mark drew 3 crosses at the bottom of the page. Today is Christ the King Sunday. The 1st thing we learned today is what kind of king we serve. Even as they crucify Him, Jesus prays urgently for His enemies. Even while they drive the spikes through His hands & His ankles. Even as He hangs on the cross, struggling to catch His breath. He keeps praying for them. What kind of king does that? I wonder what the Father would've done if Jesus hadn't prayed so urgently. Would He have wiped out the human race? We certainly deserve it! But Jesus always keeps praying. For all of us. And the Father keeps answering his prayer. Jesus came, planning to offer Himself on the cross to pay the sin-debt we could never repay. That's our king. He'll never give up on us. That's how much He loves us. The 2nd thing we learn is that it's never too late for God to change a heart. Both criminals saw Jesus crucified. Both saw His responses to hatred, anger, & abuse. To one, it meant nothing, To the other, it meant conviction of his sin, surrender, & the response of faith. Lord, remember me. One got a momentary diversion from his pain. The other got, "Today, you'll be with me in paradise." It's never too late. Not for us. Not for others. Never stop praying for those we love who haven't yet come to faith. It's never too late because Jesus won't give up. (We shouldn't either.) That's reason enough to be thankful all year long. Not just Thanksgiving. Let's pray. Christ the King - Luke 23:32-43 Page 1 of 1