You'll Know The King...

More than twenty years ago, we moved to Atlanta after a Swedish owned corporation bought out the company where my husband worked.  For nearly a year, he served as the vice-president of engineering.  Some of his responsibilities included attendance at corporate sponsored events.  One of the most memorable was a formal dinner at the Ritz Carlton in honor of the king and queen of Sweden.

This country girl from Texas had never seen quite so many forks and spoons at any one place setting before in my entire life.  There were eating utensils at the top of the plates, on either side of the plates and still more brought with additional courses.  Multiple glasses and cups were at each setting, as well.  Tables were adorned by lovely floral centerpieces, and chandeliers provided soft light.  The orchestra, complete with a harp, played at one end of the ballroom, and wait staff stood at attention.

Official parties from Sweden, the United States, the state of Georgia, and the city of Atlanta entered the ballroom in groups of two to twenty.  As the ballroom filled, the whispers across the room grew louder with each party’s entrance.  “Is that the king and queen, yet?”  “I think I see the king.”  Finally, I overheard the comment of one woman, weary with the speculation as to how to know when the king entered:  “You’ll know it’s the king when you see him wearing the crown.”

This Easter season, I am reminded of another king who wore a crown some two thousand years ago, the Lord Jesus Christ.  The symbols of Easter, the cross, the empty tomb, and the crown of thorns have been replaced by a rabbit, eggs, and candy.  However, the value of those Easter symbols can never be replaced or displaced.  As the mother of two sons and the grandmother of six, I cannot imagine a love so great for anyone that I would be willing to allow one of my sons or grandchildren to die in their place.  Yet, two thousand years, the God of all the universe chose to love me enough to allow His Son to leave the glories of heaven in order to be born in this place and die for me.

Several years ago, I had the privilege of traveling to Israel.  As we stood on the Mount of Ascension, I recalled the story in God’s Word of Christ, Peter, James and John, as they stood in that very place.  However, I was distracted by an awful odor from a camel yard near the sight.  Mentally, I prayed to the Father:  “Lord, I am so grateful to be here, but, I confess, I will be so glad to get home to America, where the water can be drunk and where everything is clean and not so dirty.”  Suddenly, I heard His still, small voice, “Gerry, aren’t you glad my Son didn’t feel that way when He offered to leave the splendor of His heavenly home to walk where you walk today in order that you might live for eternity with me?”

The Lord Jesus Christ relinquished the title of favored son in order to walk in this world, sometimes wearying, sometimes wicked, and sometimes wonderful.  He lived a life of perfect love, a revolutionary life of passion for people, and a life that looked to eternal values rather than temporal wealth.  He never met a funeral where He didn’t raise the corpse, an ill person He didn’t heal, or a sinner to whom He didn’t offer forgiveness.  Yet, for all of that, He was falsely accused, tried, and crucified.  The only crown this world offered Him was a crown of thorns, pressed down into His brow, as He was beaten for my transgressions, struggled beneath a cross that I deserved, ridiculed by a crowd of Roman soldiers, and deserted by most of those who had called Him Friend, Teacher, and Lord.  His response:  “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing?”

As dark as that moment must have been for Mary, as she watched her son cry out, “It is finished, she, too, must have clung to the hope of life in the midst of death, as she recalled all that her son had taught to his followers and disciples.  How she must have rejoiced on that first Easter morning when the tomb was found empty!  How her heart must have leapt as she recalled Jesus telling Martha that those who believed in Him would never die!  How she must have wept with tears of faith and promise that there is a power over death and the grave!  Praise God that because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we, too, can rest in the same peace and power, knowing that Easter is far more than new clothes, a basket full of candy, and a once-a-year church appearance.  It is about a personal relationship with a living Lord and a soon coming King who, according to Revelation 14:14, will come to this earth, again, wearing a crown of gold, befitting His power, His kingdom, and His place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

You can, indeed, recognize the King by the crown that He wears.  Have you ever met Him as the sacrificed King, crowned by painful thorns?  Before you can know Him with joy as the King over this world, you must first meet Him at Calvary and rejoice over the empty tomb.  How will you celebrate this Easter, oblivious to or thankful for that crown of thorns so long ago?

© 2010 Gerry Sisk

(03/31/10)