November 20, 2016
Christ the King – The Reign of Christ Sunday Year C

“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. And 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!” 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

“Jesus is not coming to be just one more king (or ruler or president or whatever), but rather that he is ushering in an entirely new order — a world and order and reign and kingdom characterized by new life, hope, grace and above all love — the kind of love that never wearies in extending and receiving second chances.

Do you ever wish you could have a second chance? A second chance to say something different … or maybe not say something. A second chance to repair a relationship or make the most of some opportunity? A second chance to chase a dream you deferred or follow through on a responsibility you avoided? If you’re anything like me, you can probably think of more than a few things for which you wouldn’t mind a second chance. I read Luke’s depiction of the crucifixion and noticed just how many second chances there are here. The obvious one, of course, is that in this Gospel alone Jesus forgives those who crucify him — all those who crucify him, I gather, the active participants and passive bystanders alike. And then there’s the thief, who names his own sins and yet then asks to be remembered, to have a second chance, only to receive Jesus’ promises that he will join him in paradise. We do not experience the fullness of this kingdom in this life, I know, and that is what makes all of this hard. But we do get glimpses of it — foretastes of the kingdom, as our hymns and liturgy sometimes remind us — each and every time we hear Jesus’ words of absolution and promise of paradise directed not only to the crowds of his day but also to us.

Jesus is not coming to be just one more king (or ruler or president or whatever), but rather that he is ushering in an entirely new order — a world and order and reign and kingdom characterized by new life, hope, grace and above all love — the kind of love that never wearies in extending and receiving second chances.” (The King of Second Chances, David Lose, Monday, November 18, 2013)

Jesus our King was not afraid to take a stand, even though many mocked, scoffed, and derided him. I find the same seems to be true for Christians living in a post-election 2016 world. We are being mocked and ridiculed by our own fellow “Christians” for allowing this election to follow the course that it did. I guess I appreciate the power they seem to assign a “clown for Christ” like me for being an instrument for G-d. And now that “Christians” have allowed this travesty to happen (and by Christians I think they are saying “White Christians” though that will get me into a lot of trouble, but I am already in trouble because I was born white and I am a Christian) they ask the question “What will we do to fix it?” – meaning “What will I do to fix it?”

I wonder what they will say when I tell them there is nothing I can do that the Holy Spirit does not direct me to do – it is not I that does good or evil but the presence or absence of the Holy Spirit. “I cannot by my own reason or understanding come to faith in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, and enlightened me with his gifts….” So says the third article of the Apostle’s Creed from Martin Luther’s Small Catechism.
And Luther goes on to explain in the Large Catechism:

“But this is the meaning and substance of this addition: I believe that there is upon earth a little holy group and congregation of pure saints, under one head, even Christ, called together by the Holy Ghost in one faith, one mind, and understanding, with manifold gifts, yet agreeing in love, without sects or schisms. 52] I am also a part and member of the same, a sharer and joint owner of all the goods it possesses, brought to it and incorporated into it by the Holy Ghost by having heard and continuing to hear the Word of God, which is the beginning of entering it. For formerly, before we had attained to this, we were altogether of the devil, knowing nothing of God and of Christ. 53] Thus, until the last day, the Holy Ghost abides with the holy congregation or Christendom, by means of which He fetches us to Christ and which He employs to teach and preach to us the Word, whereby He works and promotes sanctification, causing it [this community] daily to grow and become strong in the faith and its fruits which He produces.” (The Large Catechism)
And then Melanchthon explains “Good Works” in the XX Article of the Augsburg Confession:
“Furthermore, it is taught on our part that it is necessary to do good works, not that we should trust to merit grace by them, but because it is the will of God. 28] It is only by faith that forgiveness of sins is apprehended, and that, for nothing. 29] And because through faith the Holy Ghost is received, hearts are renewed and endowed with new affections, so as to be able to bring forth good works. 30] For Ambrose says: Faith is the mother of a good will and right doing. 31] For man’s powers without the Holy Ghost are full of ungodly affections, and are too weak to do works which are good in God’s sight. 32] Besides, they are in the power of the devil who impels men to divers sins, 33] to ungodly opinions, to open crimes. This we may see in the philosophers, who, although they endeavored to live an honest life could not succeed, 34] but were defiled with many open crimes. Such is the feebleness of man when he is without faith and without the Holy Ghost, and governs himself only by human strength.” (Article XX : Of Good Works, The Augsburg Confession)

And so, I cannot fix anything, but the Holy Spirit working in us can achieve many things.  Our text today from Luke tells us that the religious leaders scoffed at Jesus as he hung on the cross. The Greek word used here for scoffed is “Ekmykterizo” and it literally means they “looked down their noses” at Jesus. There are many people who scoff at us who want to see Christmas remain a religious holiday, as there are many who scoff at us when they believe Christians who voted against one candidate are responsible for a lost election. They look at us over their glasses as if they are looking down their noses at us saying “How dare you?”

Now, the religious leaders we are told, were plotting for quite a while to get rid of Jesus. It was the religious leaders who whipped the crowd into a frenzy shouting “Crucify him”. You can hear the sarcasm in their words as they look down their noses at him saying “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Messiah.” Such arrogance. But of course, they know God better – they know that Jesus is the wrong kind of Messiah – or at least so they think. And then there are the soldiers, the Roman soldiers who mocked Jesus. The Greek word used here for mocked is different than the word used for scoffed. The word is “Enpaizo” and it literally means “acted like little boys”. You can imagine them mocking Jesus: “If you are the Kiiii-ng, If you are the Kiii-ng”.

This is how I feel listening to and reading the posts of those who are looking for anyone to blame in this election. They are yelling and screaming like little children. If we are looking to blame anyone, we should blame ourselves. We have allowed G-d to be removed from the minds of most people. We are to blame for allowing people to put their trust and faith in a person, and not in the Trinity.

Now is not the time for blame. Now if the time to proclaim Christ as our true King and to begin, again, to put the reign of Christ back into the minds of Americans.

Pastor Dave