The King Came in Rags
The words “Christmas” and “Advent” hearken many memories. In one moment, we picture solemn evening worship services with candles, hymns, and Scripture reading. In another moment, we envision Christmas dinner parties, gifts, and cozy treats. We may also imagine a sweet little baby in a manger being cuddled by his mother as the shepherds come to pay homage. As grandparents travel cross-country or across county lines to see their grandchildren, memories are made during the Advent season. For many, these are the reasons Christmas is considered to be the most wonderful time of the year.
Focusing on the spiritual meaning of Advent, another common image is that of a coming King. We sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King!” And rightfully so. The Scriptures teach that God would send a great King to lead his people. We rejoice in the majesty and glory King Jesus brought with him as he entered the darkness to shine as a beacon for the nations. We celebrate his grandeur and mighty power as we should. Yet, we would be equally blessed to celebrate his humility.
Our King came in rags.
The King and His Coming
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is a beloved song that reminds us to bring “glory to the newborn King.” The newborn in that manger is the King of whom God said, “I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill” (Ps. 2:6). Though the kings and rulers of the nations rage and take counsel together against God and his people, God laughs. He laughs because, like the stereotypical school bully, these kings and rulers don’t realize there’s someone bigger and stronger around the corner. They haven’t eaten their spinach, but they think they’re Popeye. God has a terrifying word to speak: “I have set my King in Zion.”
This King—the one and only eternal Son of God—has the whole creation as his inheritance, and he perfectly reigns as God’s King (John 3:31–36). Jesus will break and dash to pieces all the kings, rulers, and nations who oppose him (Ps. 2:9). Yet, God has not left them without an opportunity to repent. He has given us all the opportunity to serve him with fear, rejoice with trembling, kiss the Son, and take refuge in Him. Blessed are all who take refuge in him (Ps. 2:12).
The promise of refuge in Christ is a joyous gift from God. We need refuge from the injustices around us. We need refuge from the corruption in a world that is groaning and decaying. Most importantly, we need refuge from God’s wrath toward the sin inside us. That’s when such a promise can seem so distant from us. Sure, God can save others, but not me. My life is too messy. I fail too often. My sin runs too deep. We are often well-acquainted with our sin, so we wonder if such a majestic King would ever stoop low enough to reach someone like us.
But Christ our King sympathizes with our weakness and he enters into our chaos and struggles.
The King Wasn’t Who We Expected
Jesus didn’t come in royal robes and pomp. He came in a dirty manger. There was no room for the Creator of the universe at the inn, so they sent his mother to the only place they had left. The situation may have been different if his parents were wealthy or had a better name, but Jesus came as the son of unimportant people from unimportant Nazareth. “And we wonder with Nathaniel: ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’” (John 1:46).
Jesus didn’t look like a King, either. His appearance was marred with no form, majesty, or beauty that would have captured our attention as he walked past (Isa. 52:14; 53:2). His face carried the marks of tears and grievous afflictions. We would turn our faces away and fail to esteem him as we ought (Isa. 53:3). Our Savior knows the depths of rejection and sorrow since the very people he came to save are the ones who rejected him (John 1:11). We all rejected him—at least until he opened our eyes to see how great he truly is.
Perhaps your life seems underwhelming, too. Jesus was a humble carpenter from a despised land. As you rise before dark to work at the factory, your life seems far from glorious. Jesus knows the toil of a forgotten laborer. Maybe as you lay awake with bags under your eyes nursing your infant back to sleep at 2 a.m., you feel unappreciated at worst and unnoticed at best. Jesus, too, knows of long, sleepless nights toiling for the good of others (Luke 6:12). Maybe you’re joyful and striving to glorify God in the midst of family dysfunction or a terminal diagnosis. Jesus, too, faced friends and family who misunderstood him and thought he was crazy (Mark 3:21). Regardless of where you are this moment, there is good news for you: our King came in rags. He came to reign, but he also sympathizes with us. He gives us rest (Matt. 11:28).
Does that catch you by surprise? The King of the universe cares deeply for you. Though Christmas is not about you, Christmas is undoubtedly for you.
The Despised King Is Our Savior
Why would a King take on rags and suffer like this? Why not wield his scepter and destroy all of his enemies in one instant? One reason is that Christians, too—those who he now calls friends—were his enemies. We all went astray like sheep and turned to our own way (Isa. 53: 6). Whether a wicked king of ungodly nations or a peasant farmer in rural Kentucky, we have all chosen to go our own way. We needed God’s King to be God’s suffering servant so he could become our Savior. The despised, rejected, hammer-wielding carpenter from no-good Nazareth came to bear our sicknesses and carry our pains (v.4). He came to be pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, and take upon himself the punishment that would bring us peace (v. 5). He accepted our oppression and affliction without making a sound. He is the sheep that was slaughtered for us (v. 7).
And it was all God’s will.
Our righteous, suffering King came to be crushed and made a grief offering in order to count sinful people like us righteous (v. 10–11). Jesus was numbered with the transgressors and bore the sins of many in order to intercede for us before God (v.12). Our mighty King will indeed make kings shut their mouths (Isa. 52:15). Yet, he also came to quiet the hearts of those who are longing for mercy, justice, and peace. God has heard our sighs and groans that are too deep for Words. We have a Savior who entered into our sinful world in order to free us from the guilt and pain of sin.
Maybe you feel too far gone. You’re not. Whether you’ve just injected your veins with heroin or you’ve walked away from God like the prodigal son, the suffering King is beckoning you to come to him. Maybe you’re saved, but you acutely feel the brokenness of your sinful flesh. You may have just lashed out on your children or fallen into the trap of lust yet again. The Suffering King is calling you to turn from your sin and run to him.
Our King came in rags. He became poor that we might become rich. This Christmas, he offers you the greatest gift of all—himself.
Chrys Jones (@chrys_jones) is a husband and father of four. He is a pastoral resident at Grace Church in Danville, Kentucky, and he writes regularly at dwellwithchrist.com. Chrys is also a Christian Hip-Hop artist and producer for Christcentric.