One of my all-time favorite stories of the Incarnation–of Christmas–is the song “How Should a King Come?” by Jimmy and Carol Owens. Read it as a poem. It clearly lays out the contrast between how most kings would want to enter a city, and how the KING OF KINGS entered. He could not have made a more humble entrance. Any peasant, no matter how poor, knows that Jesus understands their meager beginnings. The anointed Messiah, Creator and Savior of the universe has been there. He has been there.
HOW SHOULD A KING COME?
Even a child knows the answer of course,
In a coach of gold with a pure white horse.
In the beautiful city in the prime of the day,
And the trumpets should cry
and the crowds make way.
And the flags fly high in the morning sun,
And the people all cheer for the sovereign one.
And everyone knows that’s the way that it’s done.
That’s the way that a King should come.
HOW SHOULD A KING COME?
Even a commoner understands,
He should come for His treasures,
And His houses and lands.
He should dine upon summer strawberries and milk,
And sleep upon bedclothes of satin and silk.
And high on a hill His castle should glow,
With the lights of the city like jewels below.
And everyone knows that’s the way that it’s done,
That’s the way that a King should come.
HOW SHOULD A KING COME?
On a star filled night into Bethlehem,
Rode a weary woman and a worried man.
And the only sound in the cobblestone street,
Was the shuffle and the ring of their donkey’s feet.
And a King lay hid in a virgin’s womb,
And there were no crowds to see Him come.
At last in a barn in a manger of hay,
He came and God incarnate lay.
And the angels cried: “Glory! Glory to God!”
Earth was silent so heaven rang: “Glory! Glory to God!”
Men were dumb so the angels sang: “Glory! Glory to God!
Peace on earth good will to men, Glory! Glory to God!
Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Glory to God! Glory in the Highest!
Glory to God! Glory in the Highest!
Glory to God!”
—What a perfect story of the Incarnation. God became a man and did it with humility! If the God of the universe can be humble, how can we be proud? On Palm Sunday many years later, Jesus could have come on a grand white stallion, but he came riding a lowly donkey, as prophesied:
“Look your King is coming to you, He is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9.
Dear God, bless us with that kind of humility—so that our hearts would draw others to You.
ΑΩ
A good recording of this song is available here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLF2jc7UDcY
Household Words: 