King of Kings
We’re all familiar with the story of Jesus' birth and his rise from humble beginnings. He was born in a lowly manger in an obscure town. His dad was a simple carpenter and mom was almost put away for being pregnant out of wedlock. Jesus came from such meek beginnings that the Jews didn't look upon him as a king– a prophet maybe but not the messiah, not the one who was to restore the Jewish kingdom. He didn’t look like a king. Where was his army? They failed to see the king of kings was indeed among them. They failed to see what made Jesus so special?
Simply put, Jesus was God in the flesh (John 1:1,14). He created all and sustains all. The beauty that you see around you is his handy work, from the warm sand that tickles your feet to the stars draped across the heavens. The world Jesus spoke into existence was perfect until Adam and Eve sinned against him. Jesus knew before he created us that we needed to be saved (Rev 13:8) and his plan for salvation was set long before Adam took his first breath.
The Old Testament foretold of the messiah and from Abraham to Zachariah the Israelites eagerly awaited on the promise of the future king's arrival. Jesus in all his majesty stepped down from heaven to save his greatest creation, us. It's an amazing concept to grasp: Jesus gave up the power and glory of his deity so he could become a man. Jesus went from the highest form of existence to the lowest. Jesus went from an eternal existence of joy, love, and happiness to a limited life and felt hunger, thirst, and pain. God’s plan for salvation was perfect for only as a mortal could Jesus experience all the temptations we go through. He thus became the perfect mediator between us and God (1Tim 2:5).
Can you imagine how Jesus must have felt knowing he created the world but the world didn't know him? Jesus could’ve easily stopped his enemies from torturing him to death. He could’ve called on legions of angels and stepped down from the cross but he freely laid down his life. Paul best describes the awesome majesty of our sacrificial king: “who, though he was in the form of God… emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him… so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Phil 2:6-910).
Truly we serve the king of kings and lord of lords.
Think about it.
Amen!
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