To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Luke 23:35-43

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Dear friends in Christ,

I was surfing through television channels one night, when I came across a show called, Undercover Boss. Have you ever seen it? The show’s format features the experiences of senior executives working undercover in their own companies to investigate how their firms really work and to identify how they can be improved, as well as to reward hard-working employees.

The executives alter their appearance and change their names. A camera crew films their every move under the disguise that the new employee (the undercover boss) is part of a documentary about entry level workers.

The undercover bosses are exposed to a series of predicaments, often with amusing results. The undercover bosses spend time getting to know the people who work in the company, learning about their professional and personal challenges.

At the end of their time undercover, the executives return to their true identity and request the employees they worked with individually to travel to a central location—often corporate headquarters. The bosses reveal their identity, and reward hard-working employees through promotion, or financial rewards; while other employees are given training, better working conditions, or, in extreme cases, termination.

The show has proven to be a hit and is now in its 6th year of production.

Watching that show got me thinking, imagine what might happen if Jesus were ever on Undercover Boss. Imagine the Son of God coming down to earth, becoming man, living and working among sinful human beings – and not being recognized for who he is or what he came here to do.

Wait a minute. I do believe that has already happened. As a matter of fact, that is the scene before us today. Yet as this scene unfolds, we are led to see Jesus for who he really is and what he came to do. On this Christ the King Sunday, let us take a closer look at:

The King and His Cross

At first glance: 1. He certainly didn’t look like a king

2. Yet that is exactly what He is

The scene before us has all the makings of a play. There are the main characters and the supporting actors. There are props, intense dialog, and plenty of action. However, before we review the characters, let me set the scene.

Jesus of Nazareth, a young man of 33 years has been arrested by the religious leaders in Jerusalem. Early that morning, they had Jesus brought before them. They asked him, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You are right in saying I am” (Luke 22:67-70).

The religious leaders had heard enough. Blasphemy! This man claimed to be the Son of God. He claimed to be the Promised Messiah. He forgave people their sins and performed amazing miracles. His influence among the people was increasing and their influence was decreasing. Something had to be done. It was decided. Jesus had to die.

Unable to carry out a death sentence on their own, the Jewish leaders take Jesus to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, and ask him to order Jesus’ execution. When Pilate realizes that Jesus has done nothing deserving of death, he tries to set him free. However, the religious leaders threaten to start a riot. This Pilate knew he could not afford. Timidly he gave into their demands. The permission was granted. Jesus would die.

Jesus and two other prisoners were led outside the city to a place called Golgotha, where they would be crucified. These three men would be hung on crosses until they were dead. This brings us to the words of our text.

As we now turn to our text, we step into this dramatic scene. As we do, let’s take a close look at the cast of characters. We’re told, “The people stood watching” (Luke 23:35).

A crowd of people had followed Jesus to the cross. Many were watching, pensive and curious. Some came just because they were swept up in the drama. Others came because they had followed Jesus. They had once sat at his feet and listened to him as he explained Scripture to them. They saw him perform miracles. They had believed he was the Promised Messiah. But now? Now they don’t know what to believe. How could Jesus be the Messiah if he was about to die like a common criminal? The atmosphere was that of sympathy, concern, disappointment, and uncertainty.

Then there were the religious leaders. Unbelieving and vindictive, smug and confident, their fear is turned into bravado. This king isn’t so dangerous anymore. They see Jesus as weak and pathetic, a fraud who claimed to be the Christ. They sneered at him and said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One” (Luke 23:35).

Beneath their bravado lies intense fear. What if Jesus really was who he claimed to be? They could not deny his miracles. He had healed countless people and even raised Lazarus from the dead. What if he really was the Christ, the one anointed and chosen by God to be the Messiah? Well, if he was and he proved it, they were in big trouble. But look at him! He’s been beaten. He’s hanging on a tree. He is going to die. Some Messiah! Besides, everyone figured the real Messiah would have gathered an army and freed them from the tyranny of Rome. He would have made Israel a world power and Jerusalem the center of the world! But Jesus didn’t do that. Look at him! They thought, “We’re right. He’s nothing but a fraud. Let him die. Let him die.”

Overseeing this tragedy were the Roman soldiers. They didn’t care what happened to Jesus. To them he was nothing, just another criminal to crucify. However, they too got caught up in the drama. We’re told, “The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself” (Luke 23:36,37). As if that was going to happen! What a joke! They said, “Let’s drink to the king. All hail the king of the Jews!”

Next we’re introduced to the props in this scene. Of course there was the cross, the central piece of the entire scene. But don’t forget the sign attached to it. Above Jesus’ head was a written notice that said, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Luke 23:38).

Pilate had the notice written in three different languages: Latin, Greek and Aramaic. Now whoever came by would be able to read who this person was. It was Pilate’s attempt to get back at the leaders for forcing him to do something he didn’t want to do. He knew it would upset them, and it did. The leaders tried to get Pilate to change what he had written but he refused. As it turned out, Pilate ended up stating the truth, in spite of himself.

Last, but not least, we’re introduced to the two men who were also being put to death alongside Jesus. Defiant, angry and sarcastic, Matthew’s gospel account (27:44) tells us that both joined in mocking Jesus. They heard what the others were saying and joined in – in an effort to save themselves. But how could he? Look at him! He’s dying, just like they were. At that moment, in the eyes of many, Jesus certainly didn’t look like a king.

Let’s step away now for a second and let me ask you, “Have you ever done what the people in this scene are doing? Have you ever doubted that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the world? Ever doubt that he’s paying attention and knows what’s going on in your life? Honestly? It’s true. There have been times when Jesus certainly hasn’t looked like a king to you and me. But you see here’s the thing: while Jesus may not have looked like a king as he hung on the cross, that’s exactly what he is.

After everything that was said and done to him. After enduring the insults, the beatings, and the pain, Jesus still possessed the power and might to save himself. But he didn’t. Instead, displaying a kind of love that we can’t even begin to comprehend, Jesus chose not to save himself so that he might save you and me.

Here is the truth: Jesus did not come to this earth to establish an earthly kingdom. He came to establish a spiritual one. He came to save sinners. If he had come down from the cross, if he hadn’t died, you and I would still be in our sins. And here’s why: God the Father still demands that human beings be perfect, and that’s the problem. We’re not. Not even close. We continue to break his commands every single day. We doubt. We question. We take his name in vain. We promise to love and worship him as long as it’s not too big of an inconvenience. Every single one of us; myself included. This is what we do. As a result, our sins damn us to hell.

Ah, but God the Father could not bear that thought. He said, “This is what I will do. I will send my Son, my only Son, he will come to earth, and he will become human. I will have him live under all the commands and regulations as everyone else, except he will never sin. He will live the perfect life no one else could. And then I will punish my son instead of everyone else. Then, those who believe in my Son to be their Savior, I will declare to be justified. They will be declared not-guilty. They will be holy once more in my sight. And they will have the gift of eternal life.

There was no way Jesus was coming down from that cross. He had a job to do and he aimed to do it. And by that selfless act, he saved you and me.

Jesus also saved the man next to him. We’re told that one of the criminals recognized the error of his ways. He ended up rebuking the other, pointing out that they were getting what they deserved. He then said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). And Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). That very day, the soul of this man and the soul of Jesus would be together in heaven.

Look at him now. When you look at that beaten man on the cross through the eyes of faith, what do you see? I hope and pray that you see Jesus for what he really is – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We can say that because we know Jesus did not stay dead. We know that three days later he rose from the grave, proving himself to be the Son of God and Savior of the world. His resurrection proves there is life after death!

There is a reason this cross is the main focus of this sanctuary. Every time we gather for worship we have a visible reminder of what Jesus did for us. He chose to give his life on a cross so that he might save you and me.

Look at him now. When you look at that beaten man on the cross through the eyes of faith, what do you see? Lord willing, you see a king! Alleluia! Amen!

And now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding, keep our hearts and minds focused on the cross and our King. Amen.