Christ The King                          Luke 23:33-43                                   11/21/04

                                               “Jesus Remember Me”

Remember me.  I don’t know that being remembered is on any psychological list of human needs, but it should be.  The need to be remembered is a part of our psyche and a part of the history of humankind.

As far back as we can research, even to the cavemen, people have left signs of their existence – writings on cave walls, clay tablets, scrolls sealed in jars, monuments of every size and kind.  We need to know that we will be remembered.

 The Hebrew people, lacking a knowledge of or belief in an afterlife, said “Remember me” by having sons.  Thus, we have the question of two week’s ago, about who in heaven would be the husband of a woman who had been married to each of seven brothers, all trying to produce a son for the benefit of carrying on the line of the first brother who died childless.  You’ll remember, the Sadducees who asked Jesus about this, were trying to trick Him because they didn’t believe in an afterlife.  But even their question shows that need to be remembered.

 That need to have people remember us continues today.  It is expressed in buildings named for people, in records housed in archives or sent into space, in holidays like Veterans Day (celebrated just ten days ago), in official documents and in grave markers.  Remember me...

 The thief on the cross asked, “Jesus remember me”, but he wanted to be remembered in a different way.  Since death on a cross was reserved for major criminals, he would surely be remembered by some for the evil he had done in this life.  None of this mattered any more though.  He was dying and totally unable to leave a more favorable marker of his time on earth.  It was in this helpless state that he came to see that he was hanging right next to the only person whose remembering he really needed.  In his dying hour he desperately needs to have Jesus remember him, not just as a fellow sufferer or “hale fellow well met”, but remember him as one who would be given life everlasting in Jesus kingdom.

 There’s a debate almost every year at this time over how appropriate it is to still celebrate Christ The King in the U.S.  Modern Americans object to the hierarchal image of king and claim it is meaningless to those who have elected their leaders for over 200 years.  Feminists dislike the patriarchal or male imagery of “King”.

 One female writer suggested the change to “Kin and Kindom” as substitutes for King and Kingdom.  She even coined the term “Kinning” as a word to represent what Christ did on the cross to make us his kin.  While I don’t have any trouble with kingly imagery or with the observance of Christ the King, I do like the idea of Jesus death on the cross as “kinning”.   

 Jesus died that awful death so that we could be accepted into God’s family, so that we could be Christ’s kin.  He gave us baptism as sign and seal of His promise that we would be with Him in paradise, just like that thief on the cross.

Today, we celebrate the kinning of Grace Elizabeth Mitchell.  In a few minutes through the waters of baptism we will extend the promise to her that Jesus will remember her in His kindom, and be with her wherever she goes, now and always.  He will relate to her as His beloved little sister.  He will always be there for her in this life and the next.

 As her parents you promise to regularly bring her to God’s house for Jesus family reunion and to remind her of the relationship she has with Jesus.  This is vital if she is to grow in the grace that is her name.  

A baptism is probably the happiest celebration of any church.  While today’s baptism is just such an occasion, it is also touched with sadness because Grace’s father, Michael, must return to Iraq in a couple of days.  But, this can also make this baptism even more meaningful.  Let it serve, not only as Jesus welcome into kinship for Grace, but also as a reminder to you, Michael, that you are part of God’s family through baptism too.  You take that status with *you* wherever you go.  Jesus will not just remember you, He will be there with you, even in the horrible days of war. 

And while you are so far from home and family, take comfort in the knowledge that we, your fellow members here at St. Paul’s will now be kin to Grace as well.  As her kin, we promise in that baptismal ritual to act as her family, to care for her, keep her in our prayers and to be available should Jennifer need our help in caring for her.  And you will continue in our prayers as well. 

May the knowledge that we, like the thief, can say, “Jesus remember me” strengthen us. And may knowing that He has already taken us into His kindom comfort and unite us, now and always.  Amen