THE CHILDREN'S KING

Amongst the excellent titles of the Lord Jesus is that of "The great King". He was the only monarch to be born king. This fact caused some wise men, or Magi, from the east to take a dreary desert journey of six weeks or more so as to pay homage to Him. You will remember that the shepherds, simple folk and taken by surprise, were given detailed directions where to find the infant King. But to the wise men, who had evidently been expectant of His birth, was given a star - His star - for guidance. As to their gifts, the gold doubtless spoke of the fulness of the divinity of Jesus. The frankincense - so-called because it gives off its fragrance freely - looked forward to the perfection of His manhood in the sight of heaven and of those on earth who had eyes to see it. The myrrh, a fragrant gum given out in the form of tears by a plant of that name, must have foretold the sorrows and sufferings of Jesus.

Kings do not always wear their crowns! I remember seeing six kings walking with a number of presidents and chancellors, all bareheaded and without apparent protection in a London street. The occasion was the funeral procession of King George V. For the Christian believer, however, it is a constant privilege to see with the vision of faith "Jesus... crowned with glory and honour". The beginning of the epistle to the Hebrews displays to us other royal jewels also, such as the sceptre, or rod, of His upright sway and influence over His people. His throne is an eternal one and His enemies will be as a footstool of His feet. Though He was a man of sorrows here, His anointing was with the oil of gladness and His companions share His joy.

During the pathway of Jesus on earth there came a time when He entered Jerusalem to the acclaim of those who surrounded Him. His entry was a royal one, riding as a king upon an ass and her colt. This was a beautiful picture of the way in which the King claims both older and younger subjects. "The Lord has need of them" He had said. Some years ago an army General had to take possession of Jerusalem in the course of war. It is said that he would not do so with his troops mounted but they would enter bare headed and on foot into the city out of which the Saviour had been led to His crucifixion. Do you rejoice in the crucified One as your King?

J.C.Evershed