Luke 23:38

³⁸There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

Why the pomp and circumstance in today's service? Because today is the Last Sunday of the Church Year. It is the Sunday that anticipates the Last Day of the world, the Day of Judgment, the Day Christ comes in power and glory, the day that the doors of heaven are opened and the King comes to take us into his kingdom. It is quite fitting that the new church doors be dedicated on this day.

It is not by accident that it comes at the end of November. November is a dark and gloomy month. The days are getting shorter and darker. The weather is cold and dreary. The trees have lost their leaves and everything looks dead. All we see is darkness and death. It looks like life has ended. It looks like the end of the world. It forebodes the final judgment of all mankind.

On this last Sunday of the church year we look to the heavens to see the King of kings coming in the clouds, surrounded by his legions of angels with great power and glory to judge all mankind.

So the Gospel reading for today, the crucifixion of Jesus, seems a bit oxymoronic. We're supposed to be anticipating the return of Jesus as the all powerful king of the universe, coming to judge all men, but instead we hear about his horrible death on a Roman instrument of torture. What should be a Sunday about God's power and reign over all, talks rather, about his weakness and death.

Indeed, "the foolishness of God is wiser than our wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than our might." The Jews demand signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified. And yes, that's a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles. But to those who are called, the cross of Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. (I Corinthians 1:17-18, 24-25).

Indeed, it was in the weakness of Christ that he established his reign. It was through his greatest humility and shame that his glory shines forth. The cross brings to light for all the world to see what is God's plan of salvation, it is the mystery that was hidden for ages, so that through the church the wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 3:9-10).

The foolishness of a cross is the wisdom of God, the plan of salvation for the world. God's kingdom was established on the cross. It we look closely at the cross, we will see that Jesus was proclaimed king at his crucifixion. Pontius Pilate asked if he were the King. Then the soldiers proclaimed him King by putting a purple robe on him, giving him a scepter made of reeds, and placing a crown of thorns on his head, all the while shouting, "Hail to the king." The priests, scribes and elders pronounced him King and called for him to save himself. And the sign Pilate placed over his head on the cross read, "This is The King of the Jews." In fact, there is more "King" talk in the narrative of Jesus' crucifixion than anywhere else in the Bible.

What an oxymoron! God chose weakness to display his strength. God chose death to give forth life. God chose foolishness to utter his wisdom. He even chose non-believing scoffers to proclaim him King. God chose to die in order to become King over all. God chose a cross to be his throne of glory. Now that's something we humans would have never dreamed up!

The cross of Jesus is his throne where we come to seek mercy and grace. It is from a cross that our king rules his kingdom. His greatest glory is his sacrificial death for mankind. "Draw near to the throne of grace with confidence, that you may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:13).

His cross is his glory, because on the cross he redeemed you and all mankind. He became fully human and took our human nature for himself. He took human flesh and blood as his own. He took human sinfulness as his own. He became what it means to be truly human; more than we ourselves. We, in our sinful nature, don't accept the vocation of "human being," instead we want to be superior. We want to dump God and take control. We want to be autonomous, to be in charge and run our own lives. We don't accept the role of human very well, nor do we want to allow God to be God. We want to exchange places and become gods in our own little way. (Genesis 3:5)

But Jesus took not only a body like ours, he took our sin and made it his own and paid for it in order to be our redeemer. He gave his life as a sacrifice. He atoned for your sin. He takes your selfishness and pride to the cross where he humbled himself unto death and gave himself up on your behalf. He paid for all sin so that you might receive forgiveness. That is what gives him glory; because of that God has exalted him above all things; he bestowed on him the name that is above all names (Philippians 2:9); he has put all things under his feet (I Corinthians 15:27) and made him King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). His kingdom came on Golgotha; His reign has begun.

And in your Baptism he laid claim to and became your King. He forgave your sins and took you into his kingdom (Acts 2:38). Baptism is the river whose streams make glad the city of God (Psalm 46:4) and washes away your sin (Acts 22:16). In Baptism He grabbed hold of you and snatched you out of the kingdom of Satan. "God has delivered you from the domain of darkness and transferred you to the kingdom of his Son in whom you have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13). Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation and by him you were created. He is before all things and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17). He is King over all!

In Baptism Jesus became your King and you became his subject. You are now citizens of the heavenly kingdom. In Holy Communion you are joined to his nature, and become one flesh with him (I Corinthians 10:16). He is your king, and in Communion he provides all things for his citizens. He protects and defends you from all harm. He is your mighty fortress where you are kept safe from the enemy (Hymn: A Mighty Fortress). He is your refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). Because you are His baptized people, you will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. He makes wars to cease, he breaks the bow and shatters the spear. The Lord of hosts is with you; the God of Jacob is your fortress. (Psalm 46:various)

Today you pray, "Thy kingdom come." That is to say, "May you truly reign in my life. May love, joy and peace be visible in my life as signs that I truly am your citizen and you truly are my King. May my life identify me as a true child of God living in his kingdom. By your word and the Sacrament, make my heart open to you that you might reign over all that I do, say, and think. For you are my King of Kings. To you I owe complete obedience and love and trust." Jesus is your King!

The King of Glory will come for you on that Last Day. He will come with legions of angels and with great glory. But that glory is you—the saints caught up in the air and gathered around him. For you, his bride, the church, redeemed sinners made clean by his blood, those who by faith have become his children are his true glory. You are his pride and joy. You are the jewels in his crown. "'You are mine,' says the Lord, 'in the day when I take up my treasured possession, I will spare you from judgment as a man spares his son.'" For on that day of judgment there will be great weeping and lamentation. Many will cry out to the mountains to fall on them and cover their shame. That will be a day of condemnation for all who do not believe. But for you who by faith have already passed from death unto life (John 5:24), it will be a day of great joy. Let the mountains fall on you to cover your shame with the true righteousness of Christ. It will be the day when Jesus says to you what he said to the thief of the cross: "Truly, today you will be with me in paradise." He will spare you as a man spares his son (Malachi 3:17). "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2)."

Look to the cross and behold your King. Look hard and you will see his love. Look hard and you will see his glory. Look hard and you will see yourself, dead in Christ to your trespasses and sins, and risen in Christ to newness of life in his kingdom forever and ever (Romans 6:4), Amen.