The Birth of The King

Usually, when a King’s son is born, there is a great deal of fanfare and celebration. There is hope for the kingdom, and that this king will be great and good and continue to add to the good legacy of the now reigning king. We don’t expect that this time of celebration would be ignored or disrespected, and no honour given or acknowledged.

This is what would be appropriate and good for an earthly king. However, in the birth of Jesus, the king of the universe came among mankind. How could this be, and why would God himself humble himself so immensely? Jesus was born of a humble virgin who later married Joseph after Jesus was born. They didn’t have a lot of money, so they couldn’t sway the innkeeper to give them a room, and even though Mary was about to give birth, he was gracious enough to give them the stable where the animals were kept for lodging. It probably didn’t smell very pleasant, but it had a roof and some walls.

God’s then chosen people did not recognize something very glorious in the common events of life. However, some foreigners who studied the scripture and listened to God’s gentle voice by the Spirit came to worship the Messiah and brought appropriate gifts for a king. Do we recognize God in the ordinary? Also, some common shepherds were visited by an Angel, but who would listen to them? They had very little social status.

God didn’t do things as the then-chosen people expected. (The chosen people today are those who are in Christ, both Jew and Gentile.) They had God in a box, and they, in a sense, demanded that God do things according to how the world does things. See also what the Spirit says to the church today, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20). The church too often doesn’t let the Lord change things to his ways.

The chosen people in Jesus' time wanted God on their terms, rather than letting God be God and doing things on His terms. We might have expectations of God, but God is far greater than our worldly expectations. Judas may have wanted Jesus to be more political in his approach to his kingdom and may have tried to force Jesus’ hand by forcing him to do what he thought was for his good—to be political rather than give his life. As the scripture states, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8).

Jesus is the King of the universe. He is 100 % divine and 100% human, and he is the only one who has never sinned. He is the only one that can provide redemption. He is the second person in the Trinity. He is God in the flesh. (John 1:1,14) How great is God that he would come to reign in the hearts of men and his kingdom be established now in this life and later absolutely realized in heaven. However, this gift is not automatic; it must be received on God’s terms. Who in their right mind would not worship Jesus? Humanity is invited to a love relationship with the Trinity through and in Jesus Christ. Could anything be greater?

Jesus is not just a King; he is the King. He is the King of the universe. Why would a King allow his subjects to disrespect him, as they did and do for a time? Jesus is the King of all that is good, just and righteous. He holds the universe together and gives man breath and spiritual and eternal life to reign with him in his kingdom. One day, all men will be judged on what they did with the gift of redemption in Jesus Christ, and all wrongs righted. God comes humbly, but He is God, and he doesn’t force his love on anyone. He comes gently that we might receive him. As Gregory the Great stated, “Believers should climb, like ascending a ladder, from the fear of the Lord to wisdom and understanding.”[i]

Man can know God by observing nature, by his conscience, but most perfectly by God’s revelation and that revelation is recorded in the Bible. God will speak to you through his word and it is illuminated by the Holy Spirit. The Bible might seem like a very ordinary book, but it is the Word of God.

How do you come to Jesus? God’s word says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). When you are ready to turn from sin and place your faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah and God in the flesh than you can pray and ask for forgiveness, and if you are sincere God will raise you from spiritual death to spiritual life. This is what it means to be born again. Then you will have a personal love relationship with the living God, and God will and can be in your life. After being born again you learn to live in the kingdom as Jesus' apprentice or disciple. We can learn to walk with him in his kingdom as his disciple.

C.S. Lewis, stated, “repentance isn't just feeling bad; it's a radical surrender like a rebel laying down arms, admitting wrongness, and turning back to God, a process requiring God's help (His "love and reason") to transform us from imperfect beings into Christ's image. It's moving "full speed astern," letting go of personal will to embrace God's greater purpose, a humbling yet liberating act of letting God's power work within for true change, not just forgiveness.

The King is born. Celebrate this Christmas, the birth of the King. Honour that King by responding to his gift of redemption. Bow down and worship him and honour him with your life and your gifts. Is he not worthy? As the Scriptures state, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, We have t been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life” (Romans 5:8-10). The bottom line is our destiny is either heaven or hell, but heaven is available to all on God’s terms.

Do you love Jesus, or do you love sin and the world’s ways? Let’s get to know Jesus in God’s Word and by the Holy Spirit and walk with him in love, enjoying him and finding peace and strength. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1-2).

Learn how to spend quality time with God in prayer, the prayer of quiet, intercessory prayer for others and petition for yourself. Above all, enjoy God and learn to walk in sync with Him, living in His kingdom now and forever.

We can learn to live for his glory or for his good. To live for his glory is to live for the good of God, and living for God’s good is always the good and the best for us. Living for God’s glory brings the best of this life, even though it involves sacrifice and also makes a difference in eternity. Nothing is more valuable than a quality love relationship with the living God.

As C.S. Lewis said, “God cannot give us happiness or peace apart from himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” It is only found in the King. Celebrate the birth of the King. Celebrate the King.

As the Christmas song "Silent Night" states in a couple of stanzas. “Jesus Lord, at thy Birth, Jesus Lord at thy Birth.”

[i] Gregory the Great, Moral Reflections on the book of Job 2:49.