A Most Unlikely Ruler

24 November 2019 – Reign of Christ

The lectionary readings for Christ the King Sunday bring things back into perspective. Through a gospel text that initially seems more fitting for Good Friday than Christ the King Sunday, the church is reminded of the mystery of Christ’s kingship in this bizarre coronation on the cross. . . . Over his head the paradoxical accusation stood, defying all common sense: “This is the King of the Jews.”

Of those who witness this event—mourning women, cynical religious leaders, horrified family members and cringing disciples—only one has eyes to see: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” pleads a fellow condemned prisoner. In Luke’s “upside-down kingdom” it is probably no accident that it requires crucifixion to see a king in these horrific circumstances. This gospel reminds us twice explicitly of the prerequisite to take up our cross in following Jesus. “Those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:23). For it is only from this angle that the kingdom can be seen rightly. –– Michael A. Van Horn

Luke 23:33-43

As we contemporary Christians clamor for more political control, celebrate our increased economic successes, and master the skills of big business, one wonders whether we are still able to see what the condemned criminal on Golgotha could see: the kingship of Jesus, the crucified one. . . .

In Matthew’s gospel, we are told, two of Jesus’ disciples are clamoring for high positions in the Messiah’s cabinet: they want to sit at his right and left hand when the kingdom arrives. Today’s gospel reading gives us an idea of what it truly looks like to be at the right and left hand of Jesus at his coronation as king. This is not the kind of promotion the sons of Zebedee had in mind!

Luke’s beatitudes promise the kingdom to the poor, the hungry, those who weep, those who are hated, reviled and defamed. . . . The church urgently needs to recover a vision of the kingdom of God that can be only clearly seen from the angle of the cross. From this place alone will we be able to hear Jesus say to us, as he did to that dying criminal, “you will be with me in Paradise.” –– Michael A. Van Horn

Jeremiah 23:1-6

In the kings of Judah, the reality most often fell far short of the ideal. And so Israel hoped and longed for a truly just and holy king. Jeremiah, in whose day the earthly monarchy would come to an end, looked forward to the . . . virtuous branch who would reign as true king and would shepherd God’s people. –– Joseph McHugh

Colossians 1:11-20

This hymn of praise acknowledges all that Christ the King has done to establish the kingdom of God, of which, by the shedding of his blood, we are privileged to be part. Jesus is the image of the invisible God and the firstborn of all creation. . . . By our baptism we have been incorporated into Christ the King; we have become a holy nation and a royal people. –– Joseph McHugh

Michael A. Van Horn, an Evangelical Covenant pastor, served Trinity Church of Livonia, Michigan, for ten years and is now a missionary with the Rock of Ages Ministries, Cleveland, Tennessee.

Joseph McHugh, a freelance writer on scripture and other religious topics, published Getting to Know the Bible: An Introduction to Sacred Scripture for Catholics (ACTA Publications, 2003).

Homily Service 40, no. 12 (2007): 58-68.