Christ the King

Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43

Do you remember the story of Kai Leigh Harriott?  She was three years old when a bullet shattered her spine leaving her paralyzed.  Her sister and she were playing on their porch in Dorchester, Massachusetts, when Anthony Warren shot into the air to frighten the occupants of the first floor apartment.  The first bullet horrifically found Kai Leigh.  Three years after Anthony Warren had his day in court, and Kai Leigh wanted to be there to confront her attacker.  She did and said, “I forgive you Anthony Warren.  What you did to me was wrong, but I still forgive you.”  That story touches me every time I think of it and I appreciate that Anthony Warren changed his plea of “not guilty” to “guilty.”  Kai Leigh is quoted as saying to the press latter, “It’s kind of hard [to forgive] but as soon as you do it, it’s not that hard anymore.”

Today’s scriptures are both about Jesus as King.  The Colossians is straight forward as it is probably a baptismal hymn, and thus a proclamation of Christ’s supremacy.  It is made clear that Christ’s power has been since the beginning and will continue, and we are reconciled to his power in the blood of the cross.  Luke’s account of the crucifixion includes the ironic statements of the people crucifying him as well as the first criminal, as they deride him by calling him King or Messiah, and there is even a sign that reads “King of the Jews” on the cross.  They did not realize how correct they were.  More importantly the second criminal understood the situation, Jesus did not deserve to be on the cross like himself and the other bandit, and he asked Jesus to be remembered when he arrived in His Kingdom.   As Luke writes in Chapter 19 v. 10, “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost,” that is exactly what Jesus does for the second criminal when he promised they would be in paradise. 

What is important is Jesus forgives and saves everyone from the cross.  This is his Kingdom, unlike earthly kingdoms.  Kings and elected officials get their power from the public.  It does not seem obvious at first since the elected officials of today we know nee the public for the power, but that was also true to Kings, as well, even if the power came from intimidation.  A week King would easily be taken over by another, but the power came from people, while Jesus’ power is beyond people.  “He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Col. 1:17).  So our King is this Christ, who lets His Kingdom be known by His blood and the greater power of Resurrection. 

The question becomes for us to follow Christ, “Is this a Kingdom Issue?”  If we want to follow our King, we need to see it not like our earthly Kings and Leaders.  We do not give the power to be led, we ask for forgiveness and live on faith.  We are to Forgive as we are forgiven, as we were taught to pray.  Kai Leigh knew that it was a Kingdom Issue to forgive the man that paralyzed her, and what a wonderful model for all of us.  I have a hard enough time asking the question to myself, “Is this a Kingdom Issue?” when a car cuts me off in traffic, so I try to remember Kai Leigh’s example.  And better yet my King’s example that forgave even from the cross as He was saving all.