Behold your King

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 23:35-43.
The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God."
Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine
they called out, "If you are King of the Jews, save yourself."
Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews."
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us."
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal."
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."


Commentary of the day : Saint Gregory of Nyssa
« Pilate said:...: 'Behold your king' » (Jn 19,14)

Blessed be God! Let us celebrate the only-begotten Son, the Creator of heaven, who has risen again after descending to the depths of hell and who now covers the whole earth with rays of light. Let us celebrate the burial of the only Son and his resurrection as victor, the whole world's joy and life of all peoples...

All of this was won for us when the Creator was raised from the dead, casting off its humiliation and transfiguring what was perishable into imperishable in his divine splendor. And what is the humiliation he has cast aside? Isaiah tells us: «Without beauty, without majesty we saw him; no looks to attract our eyes, he was despised by men» (Is 53,2-3). When was he without majesty, then? When he bore the wood of the cross on his shoulders as the trophy of his victory over the devil. When a crown of thorns was placed on his head – he who crowns his faithful ones. When they clothed in purple him who clothes with immortality those who are reborn of water and the Holy Spirit. When they nailed the lord of life and death to the cross...

But he who was without majesty was transfigured in light, and the joy of the world awoke in his mortal body... «The Lord is king, he has clothed himself in beauty!» (Ps 93[92],1). What sort of beauty has he put on? Incorruptibility, immortality, the gathering of the apostles, the crown of the Church... Paul is witness to this; let us listen to him: «It was fitting that what is corruptible must clothe itself with incorruptibility and what is mortal must clothe itself with immortality» (1Cor 15,53). The psalmist also says: «Your throne stands firm from of old; from everlasting you are, O Lord; your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations» (Ps 93[92],2; 145,13). And again: «The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad» (Ps 97[96],1). To him be the glory and power, amen!