Bible Passage: Luke 23:35-43
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: November 20, 2022

Bulletin November 20, 2022

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

There is no doubt whatsoever what Pontius Pilate wanted people to see when he had Jesus of Nazareth crucified.  Pinned onto the cross along with Jesus was a sign Pilate had prepared.  It said: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”  He had it printed on the sign in three languages.  It was written in Aramaic so the Jews could read it.  It was written in Latin.  Latin was the official language of the Roman empire.  And just in case there was anyone in town who didn’t know Aramaic or Latin, he also had it written in Greek, which was pretty much known throughout the Mediterranean world.  It was obvious what Pilate wanted people to see.  He wanted people to look at this man hanging on a cross and see him as a king.  The question is, what sort of a “king” were people to see?

Today is Christ the King Sunday.  Today we want to see Jesus as King!  And we are going to look at him in our text.  We are going to look at Jesus on the cross.  The question for us today as we see Jesus on the cross is:  Which King Do You See?

 The reason we pose that question is because in our text many different people see the King on the cross, and they all see a different king!  Let’s start with Pilate’s notice that he put on the cross.  This is the King of the Jews. (v. 38)  What “king” did Pilate want people to see on that cross?  Was he really trying to honor Jesus with that sign?  We know better!  The “king” Pilate saw, and wanted others to see, was a failed, “wanna-be” king.  A delusional and defeated rival to Rome.  He wanted everyone to see, and be put on notice, this is what happens to “kings” who dare to challenge Rome!

The Jewish leaders saw “king” too.  We are told, The rulers were ridiculing him, saying, “He saved others.  Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, the Chosen One!” (v. 35)  The rulers use the word “Christ.”  The Anointed One.  The Meshiach.  The Messiah.  They’re looking at Jesus with contempt.  Jesus is supposed to be the “Messiah-King.”  This guy is supposed to be the hope and deliverance of Israel, the “Lion of the tribe of Judah”?  He healed and helped so many, now he couldn’t even help himself.  Much less all of Israel.  He was an embarrassment, a ridiculous, disappointing King!

The Romans soldiers saw a king.  We are told, The soldiers also made fun of him.  Coming up to him, they offered him sour wine, saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”  (v. 36-37)  The word that is used for “made fun of” in the Greek is a word that has as its root “child.”  It has the idea of “playing with something like a child.”  They were playing with Jesus.  This was silly.  It was a hoot.  “This guy, a king!”  To the soldiers, Jesus was a joke of a King.

There was another take on Jesus as King.  One of those crucified with Jesus blasphemously chimed in, Aren’t you the Christ?  Save yourself, and us! (v. 39)  He too uses the word the Christ, Messiah.  Except this man doesn’t care about the “big picture” Messiah.  He wants a king who can help him.  He wants a puppet king, and he wants to pull the strings.  He wants a king who will get him off the cross and stop his pain and suffering RIGHT NOW!

Friends, all these views are still represented today in what people see in Jesus.  Some see Jesus as a failed political leader, a “wanna-be” liberator.  Some see Jesus as a silly man, just as crazy and delusional as the man who stands on the street corner in Times Square  and irritates and harasses the passers-by.  Some see Jesus as their own personal “genie.”  They believe we should be able to tell Jesus whatever we want, and he will do it.  A “sugar-daddy” king, if you will.  All these views fail to see the “real” King on the cross.

One man saw the real King.  The other man who was crucified.  He shows he is of a different stripe when he scolds the other, Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same condemnation?  We are punished justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong. (v. 41)  This man confesses Jesus has done nothing wrong.  Almost as if he sees Jesus as a lamb being slaughtered.

And then he says this, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. (v. 43)  I am taken aback immediately by the way he addresses Jesus.  You don’t address royalty by first name!  No subject would have said to Queen Elizabeth, “Hi, Lillebet!”  No commoner greets new King Charles III with, “What’s up, Charlie?”  This man calls the King next to him by name, “Jesus.”  Somehow he knew this was a King he could call by name.

He knew Jesus had a kingdom.  And he clearly believed that this kingdom lay in the future.  He speaks of Jesus coming “in” or “into” his kingdom.  It was obvious that Jesus was going to die; he was on a cross.  So this man must have believed that Jesus was going to live again!  This man saw Jesus as a King who would die and rise to rule!

But most striking of all is what this man asks Jesus to do.  Remember me. (v. 43)  That sounds like a dangerous thing to ask!  “Hey, Jesus, remember me?  I’m the guy who was on a cross next to you!  Remember, I was hanging there for all the bad stuff I had done?  Remember, I started out by making fun of you with the other guy who was crucified?  Yea, I’m that guy.”  Yet, he feels safe in asking Jesus to remember him!  He saw in Jesus a merciful and forgiving King!

Friends, through eyes blessed with faith, the King that man saw on the cross is the King we see, too!  Look at that cross!  There he is, King of kings and Lord of lords!  Yet you call him, “Jesus.”   He is the King to whom you can say, “Remember me!”  And when he does, he does not say, “I remember you!  You are that guy who always talked a good game, but in the heat of temptation you always crumbled!”  “I remember you!  You are that woman who always acted so pious and yet your heart was never content with the blessings I gave you!”  He remembers you in mercy.  He remembers you in forgiveness.  Remember, that’s why he’s on the cross.  When he remembers you, he says, “I remember you!  I died for you!  I did it all for you!”

And this King speaks those words to us no other king could ever speak to his subjects.  Today you will be with me in Paradise. (v. 43)  At some point on Good Friday, that broken man next to Jesus passed through the palace gate of heaven and into paradies.  The King was there. “Welcome home!”  Our “today” is coming.  Because this King died and rose and has come into his kingdom, a day is coming when you will walk through the palace gate of heaven and into paradies.  And the King will be there.  “Welcome home!”

Amen.