We love Kings and Queens. They fascinate us. From an early age our imaginations are captured through the allure of royalty. It’s why the majority of the outfits in my six-year-old daughter’s “dress up” box are Disney princess dresses. It’s why when I wrestle with my three sons, we hold each other down and ask, “Who’s the king?” We can’t seem to get enough of this idea of royalty. One of the lead stories this morning on the Today Show was about the latest book surrounding the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton; it was entitled, Kate & William: A Royal Love Story.
There is something so inherently powerful about the concept of a king or queen. It carries with it the promise of position, power and prestige. So strong is the gravitational pull, we tend to glamorize them as existing at the intersection of dignity and nobility. As though the mere claiming of a title somehow confers the very best of human virtues.
Of course we know this isn’t true. History is full of royal despots that captured or retained their thrones through cruelty, oppression and torture. Yet what unifies both good and bad kings and queens is the process they each went through to grasp their scepters of rule. There were always steps to the throne.
History tells us that kingship was conferred through marriage, death, deception, revolution, popular vote and victorious battles. Though the mechanism may have differed, one truth remained—no one was born king or queen. At best, birth pointed to a royal lineage and the potential for kingship at some future date. Prince William for example, was not born King of England. He was born a prince. To become king, him grandmother and father must both die. As blue as his blood may be, he is not yet a king.
How unique and interesting it is then when the Magi ask in Matthew 2 verse 2, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” The birth of Jesus is unique for many reasons, I submit though, that is was also unique that he was born King. There was never a process for Jesus to become King. There were never any steps to be taken toward his throne. Neither royal intrigue nor clandestine assassination plot was necessary. He was born King. Before his baby hands held a rattle, they held the royal scepter of creation. Before he cooed in his mother’s arms, He spoke the cosmos into existence. Being a King is his nature. He can be nothing less.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. Colossians 1:19
The babe in a manger that we celebrate at Christmas is also the King of creation. To overlook this is to miss the point of Christmas. The Magi did not fall at the feet of the baby Jesus because he was some ruddy-cheeked cherub. They fell and worshiped because he was King.
In the words of the classic carol, “Angels from the Realms of Glory”, I invite us all to,
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ the newborn King.
