The King in Disguise

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1) … “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14) … “I go and prepare a place for you, and I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn 14:3).

The child in the stable, the child that we celebrate at Christmastime, arrived in Bethlehem with a past, a present, and a future.  He existed long before that winter’s night.  He existed “in the beginning”; so far in the past that He was there at the start as the Creator himself.  “For in Him [Christ] all things were created (Col 1:16).  “All things came into being through Him” (Jn 1:3).

In His present, which began with the Christmas story, Jesus walked the earth as fully God and fully man.  He was a king in disguise if you will.  He downplayed His kingship even as He invited the world to join His kingdom of God; a spiritual kingdom in the hearts of men, not a political kingdom of military might.  We only get glimpses of His kingly identity such as on the cross in His identification as “King of the Jews”.

Looking forward, we wait for a glorious future when this King will be fully revealed.  The day prophesied by Zechariah – “And the Lord will be king over all the earth” (Zech 14:9) – is coming.  The fulfillment of the promise of Jesus the coming King, is made clear throughout the book of Revelation.

“And there arose loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Rev 11:15).  “And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True … And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called the Word of God … And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS’ ” (Rev 19:11,13,16).

And with an incredible hand of grace reaching out to us, He has invited us to reign with Him.  “And He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.  And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’  And He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’  And He said to me, ‘It is done.  I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.  He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son” (Rev 21:4-7).

“And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (I Jn 5:5).  By virtue of your belief in the Son of God, all the promise of Revelation chapter 21 is yours.  You are the overcomer; you are the son of God.

Jesus Christ was and is and is to come the preeminent “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev 19:16).  And by faith in Him, you are invited to join Him in this glorious future.  Will you accept His invitation?