The Return Of The King

Long ago, in an obscure little village in an obscure little country under the rule of men from a far away land, a child was born who would be King

 1 The common people looked for His coming with great anticipation and other kings waited with fear.

 2 Those who lived under the sway of the dark ruler either ignored His coming or refused to acknowledge that such an unlikely candidate was even fit to be King. Their refusal to acknowledge Him as the prophesied King lay in the fact they expected the anticipated One to come from grander origins,

 3 to be raised with grander expectations, to have grander attributes, and who would promise grander things. They looked for a King who would come from royal blood

 4 [and He did],

 5 who would demand the attention of the people [He did not], and who would overthrow the foreign rulers who had so long occupied their sacred land [He would not]. Long before this Man entered the world, though, other kings had ruled this little obscure country - back when this little country was not so obscure. Back in the days of the kings, this tiny nation overpowered and destroyed all other nations who would stand in their way. Even before their kings, they drove out other kings and destroyed all enemies so they could possess the land.

 6 Once, this tiny country was unstoppable and they had a king to be proud of! Once, they were more influential, richer, and militarily more powerful than any other nation, and their kings enjoyed great success. Once, they gloried in who they were and what they had achieved; just to be born into this nation was considered a blessing, and they believed nothing would ever happen that would change that.

 7 They became proud and they soon forgot what made them great.

 8 And their glory was what led to their downfall. While the citizens gloried in who they were, they forgot who they were supposed to be, they forgot what they were supposed to do, and they forgot what had made them great. They soon turned to the base allurements and began to accept what had formerly been refused, approve what had formerly been prohibited, and love what was formerly despised. They no longer sought the upright to lead them, but soon welcomed in, those who were like the nations and kings

 9 They had, in times past, destroyed that they might not be corrupted. They began to listen to those who would tell them lies as though it was truth and would not heed those who spoke actual truth.

 10 Good became evil and evil became good.

I probably do not have to tell you this nation's fall was as grand as their rise to greatness. When one of their great kings died, the nation became two and never again attained to such greatness. But then - very quickly - this tiny nation that became two went into decline. Because their kings were evil and because they had no heart for good, they began to deteriorate from the inside. One nation immediately followed the path to certain destruction, but both would eventually come to nothing. Because they were led astray by men with evil intentions, because they were led by those who encouraged moral decline, and because they willingly, defiled themselves with those who were formerly their enemies, they quickly became a people unrecognizable by their forefathers, and this once-great nation was a nation no more. The nation that was established by
former slaves went, again, into captivity

 11 and the throne was left empty forever after. But they knew a King would come again.

 12 Some older men among the faithful who survived remembered the words of men long ago who foretold of the day when a King would come again and sit on the throne of their greatest king - and that He would reign forever! They longed for the day when the King would come and lamented their weakened condition as they waited. In their minds, the days of this King would bring about a restoration of their greatness and they could once again hold their heads high.

But it would be centuries before this King's day would come, and - in the meantime - this once-great nation became just a part of the territories of invading nations. More powerful nations fought with one another, while this tiny country was only the spoils of their victories. They no longer had their own king, but other unwelcome kings ruled them. Most citizens of this tiny country probably did not know, from time to time, who actually ruled over them until it came time to pay their taxes.

But then, as was prophesied, the day of this King came. When He was to be born, His mother was told that her Son would be great, and that He would be given the throne of the King.

 13 A poor young girl who lived far away from palaces or anything resembling royalty was told her Son would be King!?! This could not be! But it was true. And the King was born - but He did not look like a King! His birth was not fitting for a King,

 14 but those who knew the prophecies recognized Him as King even while He was an infant.

 15 Though born a King, He was common in appearance and He even worked for a living, just as His mother's husband did. [Yes, the man known as His 'father' was not really His
father.] For most of His life, in fact, He was virtually unknown among the people of His land who awaited the coming King. None would have believed He was the One, and, in fact, many refused to believe it once they were told. To those who had seen Him grow up, He was nothing more than the Son of a working man. This was not the King they expected - or wanted!

But when He was about 30 years old, He began to make Himself known among the people. It was subtle, at first, but nothing He did would convince the leading men of the day that He was the One whose arrival they had so long anticipated. He did not come as they expected, He did not look like they expected, He did not act as they expected, and He certainly did not promise what they expected. And to make matters worse, He reprimanded them even as He welcomed the lowliest kind of people and the outcasts of society. It was bad enough He would be seen with such people, but when this Man had the audacity to embarrass them in front of their own - this was too much!

 16 They were appalled at His behavior and openly condemned Him for associating with others they considered untouchable. He angered the very ones who would be in the
position to help His rise and they would not have this Man as their King!

So great was their anger toward this Man that they soon plotted to eliminate Him. As much as they tried to dissuade others, the common people listened to Him gladly and many were turning away from them.

 17 He had gone too far! Now, they determined, He must die! They would kill this Man who would be King!

And, so, with willing accomplices and in the dead of night, they took Him with a mob and, with a sham of a trial, condemned Him to death.

 18 They were not so bold as to do the deed themselves, so they used the government that ruled them and which they despised so much to do it for them. They put Him to death like a common criminal and - if not in life - in death, He wore the title He had claimed: "King"

19 Was this the end? Was this man a fraud who was not really the King? No, it was not the end, and, no, He was not a fraud. He was the King. He is the King. To the surprise of all and to the dismay of the King's greatest enemy, His death was planned all along. He was meant to die that others might live. The enemy was defeated! And - right now - He sits on His throne

 20 and rules, awaiting the day when He will return and assemble all those who still believe He is the King and who still serve Him, and He will take them home to reign with Him.

 21 This story is not make-believe. Everything is real. He will return, though some doubt it.

I am one of those who believe. - Steven Harper

Scriptures
1. Luke 2:7---2. Matt. 2:2, 3--- 3. John 7:41, 42--- 4. Matt. 12:23--- 5. Matt. 1:1 ---6. Josh. 23:9 ---7. Zeph. 1:12 ---
8. Jdgs. 3:7 ---9. 1 Sam. 8:5 ---10. Ezek. 13:6 ---11. 2 Chr. 36:17-21 ---12. Isa. 9:6, 7 ---13. Luke 1:31-33 ---14. Luke 2:7
15. Matt. 2:11 ---16. Matt. 12:14 ---17. John 11:47, 48 ---18. Matt. 26:47-68 ---19. Matt. 27:37 ---20. Acts 2:30-33--
21. 1 Cor. 15:20-28.

Steven Harper

Truth - is as old as God -
His Twin identity
And will endure as long as He
A Co-Eternity -- Emily Dickinson