On the back of a swaying donkey, 

the little virgin mother rode the

rock-strewn paths over mountain

and desert to the city of David where 

her child would be born . . . outcast.

Outside the inn. 

Outside the city.

Without the normal comforts of any common birth,

and . . . with no recognition 

of His identity 

except what God by His invasion, 

announced to shepherds.

But King He was, announced to Mary by Gabriel's 

luminous presence.

...behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a

son, and you shall name HIM JESUS.

He will be great and will be called 

the Son of the Most High;

and the Lord God will give Him 
the throne of His father David;

and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever,

and His kingdom will have no end."

Luke 1:31-33 NAS 

A King, she bore in holy awe.

A secret King born to rule no earthly turf

but all the Kingdoms of all the World

and all the kings of all those kingdoms.

He was King and the only Monarch 

ever born.

King from birth by 

sovereign right of His Father's Throne.

But kings are not born in stables and 

carried on the backs of donkeys.

Kings are served and feared . . . powerful and wealthy!

This King of All Other Kings - 

born in obscurity, living in poverty.

A King like no other. 

Gentle, mild, vulnerable.

Peaceful Lamb-King. 

Meek by nature, vulnerable by choice,

riding the donkey of our independence

to His cross of massacre.

Kings of the East traveled far to

visit Him - taught by Daniel long years before

that this King would be King of All

and worthy to be worshiped.

Daniel saw the King - "one like the Son of Man" -

reigning in 

His Awesome Majesty on 

the Throne "ablaze with fire"

and he was filled with dread before the sight.

Daniel kept alive the vigil for that King's birth and left

it as his legacy to the foreign land of the East.

In the place of his torment,

and of cruel heathen kings,

Daniel saw the distant future and the

Dominion of the Real King.

Down some 500 years to the Star's appearance,

the story passed and Magi had waited.

And when they (the Magi) saw the star, 

they rejoiced exceedingly with

great joy. 

Matthew 2:10

Great exuberance!

Their joy, the sign of their esteem

for the Baby King.

A regard shared by no one else.

All others went their normal way, not sensing

the universe's shift. 

The Magi knew a King had been born and 

paid dearly to see Him. 

Earthly kings, willing to honor another King

- higher than themselves - 

invested in His future with their treasures,

and fell down in worship of the Child.

(Matthew 2:11)

They were not deterred that a common stable

welcomed such a King,

but bowed in homage before the Lowly Child,

first to name Him King of the Jews,

while Herod seethed with kingly murder.

A stark contrast between kings . . . .

The shepherds had a visitation of angels,

the glory of the good news.

There has been born for you a Savior, who is

Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

But no mention of a King. 

The Gentiles know the King of the Jews

before the Jews know their own King.

Only Mary and the Magi had heard

that grand announcement . . . not merely Savior but

a coming King!

One to reign . . . not as selfish dictator,

not as cruel despot . . . but as Prince of Peace.

A king unlike any other.

Perfect in Holiness, Just in Knowledge.

Sole and Only Son of the Creator but who 

took His place among us,

sealing His right to rule us 

by His lowly walk . . . with us. 

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Copyright © 2001 Martha Blaney Kilpatrick