Read Luke 23:33-43
33When they came to the place called “The
Skull”, they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals, one on his right and
the other on his left. 34Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They
don’t know what they are doing.”d
They
divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice. 35The
people stood there watching while the Jewish leaders jeered at him: “He saved
others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah whom God has chosen!”
36 The
soldiers also mocked him: they came up to him and offered him cheap wine, 37and
said, “Save yourself if you are the king of the Jews!”
38 Above
him were written these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One
of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah?
Save yourself and us!”
40 The
other one, however, rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God? You received the
same sentence he did. 41Ours, however, is only right, because we are
getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.” 42And
he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!”
43 Jesus
said to him, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.” [1]
Think
This coming Sunday in the Christian lectionary is ‘Christ
the King’ or ‘Reign of Christ’ Sunday.
It is the last day in the year before we begin preparing for Christmas
on 1 December. In this passage Jesus is
crowned King.
Ironic. His Kingship
is made known in what looks like defeat on the cross. Yet he promises: “…today you will be in
Paradise with me.”
Pray
Christ, my King. As I
get to the end of the year I am aware that I have not made you King of
everything in my life. I thank you that
your Kingship is made known in the brokenness of the cross. And even as I realize my own brokenness – you
promise me victory, paradise, healing and wholeness.
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