24 November 2013 - christ the king
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Can we share this vision of the penitent thief? Are we able to look at Jesus, bloodied and suffering, and still behold the King of the Jews, the King, indeed, of the entire world? Can we hear the sneering of the rulers and the soldiers and still behold the King of kings?
He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
And yet he himself reconciles all things "making peace by the blood of his cross". We expect a powerful king to be elevated above suffering, above concern. But this is not what a true king is. This is not how true power is exercised. The LORD therefore tells David:
'You shall shepherd my people Israel
He is not just the "commander of Israel" but he is it's shepherd even before that. He is not to be aloof. He is to have a heart for his people.
Jesus is the one through whom all things were created. But he does not withdraw thereafter. He is the one in whom "all things hold together." He offers to hold us together even when everything is falling apart in us and in the world. In order to reunite all that is falling apart he offers his reconciliation, bought "by the blood of his cross."
We need to realize, then, that his suffering on the cross is his love for us as he holds us together and redeems us. The power of this King is to not let go even through death. He holds us together with him even unto new life on the third day. Without his embrace we have no hope in the face of death. But it is never too late to turn to him and hear him say:
"Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise."
We will be with him in Paradise if we just turn to him and ask. Therefore, "Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord."
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