Today
I am going to tell you a story about a king. As you know, a king usually wears
a crown made of gold, silver, and precious jewels. The king in our story wore a different
kind of crown. Listen as I tell you the story of "King Backward."
Once
upon a time, a long time ago, there lived a King. He was no ordinary king. He
was different from other kings because He did everything backwards from the way
other kings did them. From the very day he was born, you could tell that this
king was going to be different. Most kings are usually born in a palace, but
this king was born in a stable surrounded by donkeys, sheep and cows. It wasn't
a very big beginning for a king. In fact, very few people even knew that a king
had been born. Only a handful of shepherds and three wise men got the word that
a king had been born.
As
the infant king grew into a man, he continued to be different from other kings.
While most kings spent all of their time building up riches of silver, gold,
and jewels, this king owned nothing at all. And while most kings surrounded
themselves with servants, He chose to be a servant. He could often be found
helping others.
As
time went on, people became very unhappy with their King because He just didn't
act the way that they thought a king should act. Instead of riding into town on
a big white horse the way other kings usually did, their king rode into town on
the back of a donkey. Was that any way for a king to act?
And
the people He chose to be his friends! His closest friends were a bunch of
smelly fishermen and He could often be seen visiting with the poor and eating
with sinners.
Finally
the people decided that they had put up with this King long enough. If He
couldn't act the way a king should act, then they didn't want Him to be their
king any more. They made a plan to have Him arrested and thrown into prison.
Their
plan worked. When the day came for his trial, the King stood before the people.
Instead of shouting "Hail to the King, Long live the King!" they
shouted, "Crucify Him! He is not our king! Crucify Him!." So they
crucified the King. They nailed Him to a cross; they put a crown made of thorns
on his head; they poked Him with sharp sticks and made fun of Him. What a way
for a king to die! After He was crucified, they took His body and put it in a
borrowed tomb.
Wait,
that isn't the end of the story. Remember ... this King was different! King
Backward rose from the grave to live forever. Now, instead of being the
Backward King, He is the Forever King. He is the King to anyone who chooses Him
to be their King. Oh, there are still some people who call Him "King
Backward," but those who know Him don't call Him that ... they call him
King Jesus!
Jesus
wants to be your king too, and if you choose Him to be your King, you will live
happily forever, and forever after!
Dear
Jesus, today we crown you King and Lord of our life. Amen.
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