Archives for December 2011

I finally watched The Lord of the Rings movies. Not just the movies, the extra long, super nerdy, extended editions. I didn’t not see them earlier on purpose. I just got real busy for about ten years.
But good grief, it was worth the wait. I love this thing more than doughnuts.

But the one thing that I keep coming back to is this idea of “The Return of the King”. It’s a pretty universal theme in literature (and Disney movies). A king in exile. A battle. His rightful ascension to the throne. It speaks to our human understanding that something is wrong with the world we live in. That we need to be rescued. It’s that need that makes us weep when Aragorn finally gets that crown on his head. And it’s that need that consumes me each time I read this:

Then I saw Heaven open wide—and oh! a white horse and its Rider. The Rider, named Faithful and True, judges and makes war in pure righteousness. His eyes are a blaze of fire, on his head many crowns. He has a Name inscribed that’s known only to himself. He is dressed in a robe soaked with blood, and he is addressed as “Word of God.” The armies of Heaven, mounted on white horses and dressed in dazzling white linen, follow him. A sharp sword comes out of his mouth so he can subdue the nations, then rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the raging wrath of God, the Sovereign-Strong. On his robe and thigh is written, King of kings, Lord of lords.
Revelation 19:11-16 (The Message)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. ⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
⁵ And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ⁶ And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. ⁷ The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Revelation 21:1-7  (English Standard Version)

Lots of people are scared of the book of Revelation.  But I love it.  Sure, there’s a lot of blood.  It’s not pretty.  Some bad stuff goes down.  It also can be a little weird.  There are things there that I can’t begin to understand.

But it’s all worth it. 

Because in the end, the King returns. 

Come quickly, Lord Jesus.  Come quickly.

Jesus had to become an embryo.
He had to become a fetus.
He had to become a newborn baby.
A two year old.
A teenager.
An adult.

Jesus could not be fully human until he experienced the same development that each of us must go through.  But God chose to do that.  He didn’t have to.  And that fact humbles and mystifies me.
What kind of love would propel God to step out of Heaven into the helpless body of a baby?  And then surrender himself to the limitations of that human body up to death on a cross?

It’s this knowledge that makes me break out into the ugly cry every time I see a nativity scene.  Here’s hoping you do the same 🙂