Kings are not known as being forgiving. Kings do not turn the other cheek. Kings do not usually pray for their enemies. Kings do not usually take on the servant’s role. Kings usually see themselves as being above the commoner. They are not “one” with them. Kings do not do menial tasks.
I am not sure if you ever caught this before, but Luke rather explicitly associates Jesus WITH criminals.
We know that Luke likes to present Jesus as being on the same “level” as the people.
Therefore, Luke changes the venue for Jesus’ “beatitude speech” from Matthew’s “lofty high mountain” to a rather mundane “level place,” on the plain — which is where — the common people live and work and have their being.
Kings are normally above and beyond and not WITH the people in question.
Well, in our text for today, Jesus is presented on the “same level” as common everyday criminals.
All we have to do is to recall the words of Isaiah 53 – where it says, “And he was numbered with the lawless.”
Jesus the common man…
Jesus the commoners’ king…
Jesus the guy next door…
Not only is Jesus WITH the criminals, but Luke is reminding us – that Jesus himself is being treated AS a criminal.
What kind of King is this?
For “this king” to cry out, “Father, forgive them” does not even raise an eyebrow from us. We expect it from him. This king easily forgives, as a matter of fact, he forgives 7 times 70 times…he forgives and he keeps on forgiving…
And this king is even not above “crying out loud” in public arena’s….showing his weakness for all the world to see.
He prays for those who act in ignorance…and do not know what they are doing.
He is a king who is scoffed at and mocked. He is poked fun of… and ridiculed!
He suffers even as others suffer…he always maintains solidarity with the common people.
As they are despised, he is despised. As they are derided, he is derided. As others are punished, he is punished. He is one with the vast sea of humanity.
He is even offered a cheap – poor – quality – watered down common form of wine drank by soldiers and common workers.
What king drinks rot-gut-white-lightning-watered down bathtub gin?
And what king gets unjustly put to death for no crime committed?
Who is this guy?
The name Jesus is really Yeshua or Joshua (as it is translanted in the Hebrew Bible) and means “he who saves.” Or “Yahweh saves.” Or, “he who will save!”
It is interesting that the Judean leaders, the Roman soldiers and the one criminal all call upon him to save himself, if he is indeed the Christ, the Messiah, the Holy One of God.
It is also interesting that it is “a” condemned criminal who gets what so many others, including Jesus’ own disciples, do not.
Dismas – the “good criminal” understood that Jesus had done nothing wrong. He did nothing unfitting, inappropriate or out of place. Certainly, he did nothing demanding his death.
Both Pontius Pilate and a common everyday criminal vouch for Jesus’ innocence.
But this king is crucified anyways.
The sign or the TITULUS above the cross even declares, “This is the King of the Jews.” (Again, for all to see!)
What kind of king is this? It is even stated: “You would crucify your king?”
What kind of king willingly dies for criminals and ruffians, sinners and those who would extort money?
What king would hang with such people much less die for such people?
There is but one that I know of…and as this liturgical year comes to an end…we look to hearing more about this King of the Jews…only next, from the Gospel according to Matthew.
Soon, we will begin preparation for his coming again…but first…we must acknowledge him as our king. …The one who rules and reigns over us…the one who has our allegiance…not only for this day…but for the entirety of our lives.
Today, we celebrate, Christ the King.