King Clovis I
Originally scheduled for September 29
The name of King Clovis the First is likely enough unfamiliar to
you. That’s not surprising; he lived about 1500 years ago. He is
known as the first King of France, as he unified the tribes known as
the Franks into what today is approximately modern France.
Late
in his reign he converted to Christianity, in particular the Nicene
variety of Christianity. His decision on which of the two versions
of Christianity at the time (the other was Arianism) set the
standard for what is today France. The theological point at issue
was the nature of the Trinity; not coincidentally, your view agrees
with his. As part of his conversion, he naturally received some
instructions on the subject. When his teacher came to the point of
telling him about the crucifixion, his reaction was noted at the
time. The instructor told him that Christ was…
eventually, he
was killed. Crucified…nailed on a cross of wood.” Clovis came to his
feet. He struggled to comprehend the injustice. His eyes shifted
back and forth as he looked for meaning in the killing of this
Jesus. Sacrifice was understandable, familiar, but only to a
reasonable purpose. For a man to die there had to be more—an
offense, a crime, or a kingdom to win. He assumed his most
commanding posture. “If I and my men had been there, we would have
avenged his death!”
Clovis had a typical viewpoint of a medieval king. There were
only two reasons to execute a man. One was that he tried to take
over the kingdom, and failed. The other was that he committed some
sort of crime. How then, could the Romans have possibly executed
Jesus? You see from his reaction that he was outraged at this
violation of justice. It is the particular duty of monarchs to see
to it that justice is done. Failure is not forgivable. “If I and my
men had been there, we would have avenged his death!”
So new
to Christianity, Clovis would have to learn that justice was done
that day. Christ was performing the thing he was sent for: the
Atonement. Nailed to that cruel cross, he paid for the sins of
mankind — and therefore God’s justice was satisfied. Justice was
done; it just wasn’t done to us. Christ paid the price of your sins
and mine that day. Love triumphed over justice.
Communion is
given to us as a form of remembrance of this most vital lesson. Yes,
it is outrageous that Christ suffered on our behalf, but suffer he
did. The least we can do is remember his suffering with gratitude.
As you partake, remember that the bread represents his body nailed
to that cross. The cup shows his blood, shed for the remission of
our sins, in accordance with the law of God. The innocent one was
sacrificed for the sake of the guilty. Let us remember that grace.
