The Humble King

Last week I downloaded a new Christmas album from Amazon.com that has a variety of artist on it. I’ve really been enjoying the new versions of some of my old favorites. But there is a song on this album that is new. It’s by a band called Downhere, which I’ve not heard of before. The name of the song is “How Many Kings.” I had to listen to it twice this morning while I got ready for work because I liked the chorus so much. It goes like this:

How many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?

How many Gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me

Although it is on a Christmas album, this is a song I could listen to any time of the year. I will probably add it to my Christian playlist on my iPod so that I can hear it throughout the coming year.

I like this song because it is a great reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made to reconcile us with Himself. He didn’t wait for us to fix things, to make ourselves perfect and worthy of Him. He loves us just the way we are and did what was necessary to bridge the gap between an Almighty God and sinful mankind.

This song reminds me of chapter 2 of Paul’s letter to the Philippians:

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

 ⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
   did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
   by taking the very nature of a servant,
   being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
   he humbled himself
   by becoming obedient to death—
      even death on a cross!

Such humility in the One who deserves most to be exalted is astounding! It shows the real meaning of being humble, which is not to think less of oneself, but to think of oneself less. Jesus didn’t think of Himself; He thought of you and me when “he made himself nothing.” Because He thought more of us, He was exalted. Paul goes on to write:

 ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
   and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father.

In church last Sunday, we had a visiting pastor who preached on the Magnificat, Mary’s Song. Having been visited by the angel Gabriel and told she would have a child by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was herself the mother of John the Baptist. Elizabeth greeted her,

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. Luke 1:46-49.

Our guest pastor pointed out the use of the word “magnify” in this passage. Mary said her soul “magnified” the Lord. Using the illustration of a magnifying mirror, which reveals things we may not want to see on our own faces, he pointed out that when the Lord is magnified we see things about Him that we might not notice if we don’t get close enough. But as we come closer to our Lord, His wonderful attributes, His love and grace, the beauty of His sacrifice are magnified.

For me, thinking about how He left His throne in heaven to dwell with us, and to die for us, magnifies His majesty and fills my heart with joy. Have you considered this King who stepped down from His throne, this Great One who became the least for you? Come closer and see the wonder of His love magnified. It is magnificent to see.