Coronation: Behold Your King

“…behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’”

Matthew 2:1b-2

Travel back in time with me for a moment. Unroll this ancient scroll. To see, to hear, and to ponder the words of a pagan, who out of Divine Providence even he was used to advance the purposes of the King of Kings. See below at a distance thousands upon thousands of Israelites encamping in their distinct twelve tribes, all pointing toward Bezalel and Oholiab’s masterfully crafted tabernacle who God Himself blueprinted and where the Holy of Holies resides. See how oblivious these nomadic people are to the potential peril they are in as the pagan prophet on top of Mount Peor is ready to curse them and their children into extinction. Watch and listen as he lifts his eyes to the heavens and begins to declare the oracle:

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; …and one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!”

A lump begins to swell up in the prophet’s throat. For the third time he has tried to bring curses to the Israelite camps, but the God of gods forbade him to do so. Instead, the Lord God provided words of blessing to pass through the pagan prophet’s lips. And now, unknowingly, this pagan prophet has just prophesied a vital piece to the puzzle of the Promise given unto Abraham. The Promised son of Eve, of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will have dominion over all peoples. He shall be like a star, and He will carry a scepter as a king, and rule righteously with Divine Judgement.

As the years went by, the Lord God revealed these events to Moses, and how did Moses rejoice. For it meant that the Promise given unto his forefathers continued even to his day. The People of God would no longer be nomads, vagabonds in a forsaken wilderness; they would have a holy city and a holy leader who descended from the Divine Heavens, and He would direct them into all truth and grace. He would free them not only from slavery from the Egyptians, but slavery from their sins. This would be the KING OF THE JEWS.

But it is unlikely that Moses (or even Balaam, the pagan prophet) knew the full scope of the nature of this leader. And who could blame them if they could only see this Promise still afar off? The Promise was seen, but not presently. The Promise was beheld, but not quite near. And besides, how could they possibly understand that God Himself, the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS Himself would be the One to descend. How could Moses have truly understood the magnitude that no longer would Israel be encamping around a tabernacle, but that God Himself would be tabernacling amongst them.

Let us flip through the pages of this Divine Codex. Seventy Scores into the future. Moses’ undisturbed bones have rested far too long. David’s throne has been vacant for far too long. The prophets’ lips have been shut for far too long. The world was promised Peace yet it remains in its Curse. Behold. Lift up your eyes O Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve! Behold a Star has arisen. See how she shines brightly for her Maker. Watch as she glimmers Hope and Peace for all Humanity. Treasure up these things in your Hearts, O Man, as she dances most beautifully across the Heavens and her Planets. For she has a message to announce, and it is simply this, “I have Risen out of Jacob. I am the star of the King of the Jews. Follow me and worship your King!”

Now, see, O Sons of Adam. Hear O Daughters of Eve, men from the East, men who could see the stars and discern the Times and the Seasons of Humanity. These wise men—these Magi— these pagan men of the East have lifted their eyes and seen this Brilliant Star. They heard of an ancient Hebrew prophet during the time of Babylon’s reign on Earth. The king of that time called him Belteshazzar, but his name was Daniel. He was the wisest of Magi, and the Hebrews did well to preserve his scrolls. They remembered Daniel’s prophesies and they had heard of Balaam’s Oracle, and surely the Lord God stirred up in their hearts and minds to know that truly this is the Star of Jacob.

So, they journeyed across deserts and wildernesses upon Persian camels, stopping only when necessary. They navigated through cities and dunes with only the Star to guide them. At last, they reached Roman-occupied land and headed to Jerusalem, the city of the Ancient King David and Solomon. It was nothing compared to their own kingly cities and yet they felt the weight and the presence of History upon walls and roads. Kings both good and bad ruled here. Moved by the Spirit to execute Divine Rule and Judgement, some more imperfectly than others. Ancient Hebrew runes told of stories of King Hezekiah and King Josiah and their memorable Passovers. Here did The Shepherd King David compose music and sang to his God. But here now dictates Caesar.

These Erudites from the East inquired for the King of the Jews. They head to his palace. In comes Herod the King, a man whose head could not contain his own ego. Herod the Great, who was granted power not from God, but from Roman senators to puppet over Judea, a land stripped of its former glories by a many oppressive empires. The “Great” Herod sits at his throne as he hears these Eastern Gentiles inquire of his newborn son, but he has no newborn son. He is puzzled, irritated. Nervous, even. The religious rulers who stood by Herod grew perplexed. What king could these Gentiles be speaking of? “We have seen His star, oh king,” says one of the Magi. “We believe Balaam’s Oracle spoke of it. As did Daniel. Perhaps this King would be better known to you by Mashiach? Or Christos? If he is not born here, then where could we possibly find Him so that we might worship Him.”

A Christ? Herod wonders. Could they be looking for the Christ? He calls upon scribes. He orders for them all to remember any mention of the Mashiach or Christos’ whereabouts in their sacred writings. Indeed, they recite the words of the humble prophet Micah saying,

‘And you,

O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

    who will shepherd my people Israel.’

Herod the king tells these Men from the East to look around Bethlehem, and to report back to him so that he, too, may go and worship. The Magi saddle their camels and about an hour of following their Celestial Compass she rests over the roof of an unimpressive house. They get off and unpack their bags and heartily shout Shalom with their thick Eastern accents. Jospeh pokes his head out the threshold and sees these four (who knows the number!) impressive men. They tell Joseph of the Star and of their journey. Joseph who is now a veteran in seeing all the wonders that God has done—with angels giving visions and heralding shepherds and his then betrothed wife giving birth miraculously as a virgin and prophets prophesying over his Boy upon His purification—   welcomes them with no doubt but all joy. He takes them to Mary’s room, a very small place, but they all crowd together and huddle to see Mary with her Baby Boy. He is almost two years old, but her motherly arms still cradle Him as if He were just born. Immediately, the Magi—men who have been in palaces filled with gold and silver, in throne rooms where the weighty smell of incense permeated not only the air but their hearts and mind—collapsed in full worship. For even though this Young Child was not adorned with chains about His neck, nor did a golden crown rest upon His head, nor did His hands carry a brilliant scepter, it is in the humble opinion of this writer that they knew that He was not only the KING OF THE JEWS but also the King of their Souls. And they worshipped at His tiny feet with tears of joy and quivering fear, knowing that He would be the One to undo this Most Ancient Curse and carry out the Promise unto all Nations, both to Hebrew and Gentile.

Perhaps they didn’t know the significance of their gifts, either, but I believe they did. They offered Him gold for His royal lineage and frankincense for His priestly order, gifts only for the One True King. For only the One True King of Jerusalem could be both King and Priest, as in the Old and Eternal Order of the Ancient King Melchizedek—the King of Peace and the Priest of God Himself. These were not random gifts, no; they carried weighty intention. But then they offered him myrrh, a spice meant for embalming, a spice that symbolized suffering and affliction. Why give a child such a macabre gift? And why would Mary and Joseph accept this myrrh with such gratitude? It was because they knew who this Child was to be. Their Jesus was on Divine Commission from His Heavenly Father Himself; He was to save His People from their Sins by dying in their place.

Hear O Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve, for this Most Righteous King was not to put on His Royal Diadem until He put on His Crown of Thorns first. He was not to wield His Mighty Scepter until He gladly embraced the nails that pierced through His hands and feet first. And we could not taste the sweet fruit of the Life-Giving Tree from the center of that Beloved Garden (which we so desperately long to return to) until first that Child grew and matured and waxed with Brilliance and Brio and carried the Tree of Death on His back and walk to where with that Very Tree He would be hanged for our sakes.

You see, my fellow Man, Christmas is not solely of the birth of a Baby Boy. It is of the Birth of your Savior. It was the Birth of the Lamb of God who takes the Sins of the World and puts it upon Himself for us. Christmas is the fulfillment of the Promise and of the undoing of the Curse. It is the fulfillment of the Patriarchs and Prophets. It is Immanuel, God with us. It is the Proclamation of the Gospel, the Word made Flesh. Christmas is about the Birth of Your Suffering King, who momentarily endures the sting of Death but then vanquishes it with His Glorious foot to finally reign as your Glorious King.

Come and let us adore Him, no longer as a babe in a manger. No longer as a child in Bethlehem. No longer as a man riding on a donkey into Jerusalem. But now as a Victorious Warrior on top His White Horse ready to liberate His Captive People. Adore Him as the King of Glory.

Behold Him, O ye sinners! Behold Him all ye wise and foolish. Behold His glory all ye wealthy and poverty-stricken. All you who are needy and hungry and feeble. Those in prisons and in peril. Those on Mount Zion and in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Behold the King of Glory. Be wrapped by His Rich Mercy and Perfect Justice. Be enchanted by His Love and devastating Holiness. Taste of His Goodness and Kindness and Strength. Give Him your all! For He alone is Worthy of Wisdom and of Power and of Praise. He alone is Worthy of Glory, Honor, and Strength. Behold all ye Peoples, Your King. Behold Him now and rejoice forevermore. Behold Him now as He puts on His Royal Crown and wields His Mighty Scepter. Behold Him, The King of Glory. Amen!

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