The Birth of the King

In the Spring of 2018, press gathered outside St. Mary’s hospital in London eagerly awaiting official word. Social media was frantic for news and speculation was rampant. Finally, the announcement was made. At midday on Monday April 23rd, Prince Louis Arthur Charles was born. The third child of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The baby boy set a royal record weighing in at 8 pounds, 7 ounces.

In celebration of this special occasion: A formal birth announcement was attached to a golden easel outside Buckingham Palace. Special ornate flags were hung throughout the Empire. Kensington Palace released an official tweet stating – “Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101 hours. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.” The church bells at Westminster Abbey were rung. Cannons were shot in celebration. There was a formal 21-gun salute fired from London Tower. Only seven hours after giving birth, the Duke and Duchess presented their son to the enthusiastic crowd waiting outside the hospital. As the royal parents traveled home from the hospital, news helicopters followed them televising the event to all Britain. Days later, the family released pictures of their newborn son, to an anxious and eager waiting world. Bazaar Magazine, Vanity Fair and every known media outlet in the free world announced the birth. All of this was done in celebration of a child who is officially 5th in line of succession to the Throne of Great Britain.

I mention the details of the birth of this British Prince to contrast it with the birth of the true Prince, the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ. Think back with me to the Biblical account of the birth of the Messiah King. On that night, in a stable where animals were normally kept, in quaint little town called Bethlehem, the King of Glory was born.

There was no fanfare or gathering crowds. No trumpets were blown and no cannons fired. No church bells were rung and no social media announcements were made. Instead, the King of kings was born, and none gathered except His mother, step-father and eventually a few shepherds. There were no neonatal specialists on staff nearby. No record of His birth weight or length written or recorded. Nor were there any baby pictures taken. Rather, gathered around the Eternal Son of God, robed in human flesh, were Joseph, Mary, some shepherds and probably a few barnyard animals.

What incredible humility is noted when one studies the birth of the Christ. The Boy that was born that night, some 2,000 years ago, was not 5th in succession to any earthly throne, but He is King of all nations and all people. In fact, to be clear, Jesus is not waiting for enough people to die in order for Him to become king. No, He was Born King! He is King of kings and Lord of lords!

The Divine child Jesus was not wrapped in silk and laid in a golden cradle in a well-guarded palace. No, He born in the backwaters of the Roman Empire in a tiny little town called Bethlehem. Then wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. There is a great deal of confusion that exists among Christians as to what a manger actually is. A manger is not a stable. A manger is a food trough. Either a wooden trough made by men, or hewn out of stone in a wall or cave. A manger is where fodder would be placed for the animals to eat. Think on this, think on the humility of this. Rather than being born into riches or earthly royalty, the Eternal Son of God, who was born of the virgin Mary, was wrapped in swaddling clothes and then laid to rest in a food trough! His birthplace was a stable and His crib a food trough. This should add rich new meaning to this verse: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9

How little do we rightly value the miracle and humility of the birth of God’s Son. So quickly does the focus of Christmas become gifts and garland and tinsel and trees, rather than the miracle of the virgin birth of God’s own Son. Too soon, do we focus on presents and poinsettias, rather than on the Prince of Glory who became flesh and dwelt among us.

What an event this was … the birth of the KING! I urge you to spend some time the next few days reading and re-reading the Biblical account of the birth of the Messiah and meditate on Christ’s humble condescension. Whether Jesus was born on December 25th or not, every person on the planet should think much on the miraculous birth of God’s Son and the sinner’s Savior.

No, there were no helicopters hovering over Bethlehem. There was no media circus or photographers from famous magazines. No journalists or reporters. But on that night the Lord of Glory was born and the occasion caused the heavens to ring as holy angels proclaimed “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth – Peace, good will toward men.” Surely it ought to move our hearts to remember how the Prince of Peace became flesh. And to glorify God that the King of heaven and Earth was made like unto us, that He might redeem us from our sins.

Jesus is no longer a baby in a manger, but a Risen Ruler and one day He is coming back, and when He does, every eye will see Him and every tongue will confess that He is King of kings and Lord of lords!

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