"King of Kings" is the single from Brandon Heath's latest Christmas EP, We Need Emmanuel. Within the lyrics is a passionate invitation to both the searching and the faithful to come find hope in Jesus.
Come find the peace that passes understanding/Come see the reason all the angels sing/Come all ye hopeless and all ye faithful/Lyin' in a manger is the King of Kings/Lyin' in a manger is the King of Kings
The birth of Jesus was always God's plan It's more than just another story/A girl, a child, three kings/This one uncovers heaven's glory/For all eternity
How does the story of Jesus' birth uncover heaven's glory? When the Bible talks about how God worked through sending Jesus to earth, it's sometimes referred to as the mystery of God now revealed. (Colossians 1:26) You see, the Christmas story and all that followed afterwards in the life of Christ wasn't an afterthought in God's mind.
1 Peter 2:19-20 calls Jesus the Lamb of God, who was made our ransom before the world was even made. Isaiah 49:5-7 tells us that it was always God's plan that Jesus would be a light to all humanity. Jesus would bring salvation both to His chosen people (the people of Israel, who were the first to know God and through whose lineage Jesus was born) and to Gentiles (people from every other tribe and nation). God's plan in sending Jesus is good news for you and me.
The birth of Jesus is good news for humanity Come find the wonder of a new beginning/Come see the One who changes everything/Come all ye sinners, your deliverer's /Lyin' in a manger, the King of Kings/Lyin' in a manger is the King of Kings
Let's look at a few verses from the Christmas story.
Luke 2:11-14 NLT: "...but the angel reassured them. 'Don't be afraid!' he said. 'I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger. Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the armies of heaven--praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.'"
We hear these verses sung in Christmas carols every year, but have you every stopped to think about why the birth of Jesus was cause for such praise to God, and proclamations of joy and peace for humanity?
We have all sinned and broken God's commandments, and we feel shame due to some of the choices we've made in life. Jesus reconciles us to God, forgives our sin, and frees us from shame. There are all kinds of things in this world that try to make our hearts restless. In Jesus, we find peace, joy, and hope. We're all searching for a sense of direction and meaning in life. In Jesus, we find truth and purpose. We yearn for belonging and acceptance. In Jesus, we are fully known and deeply loved.
We all need to hear, either for the first time or as reminder, that Jesus is the answer to every longing in your heart and every need in your life. I love this song because it does just that.
Final Thoughts Come all ye hopeless and all ye faithful/Lyin' in a manger is the King of Kings
I'm not sure where on your faith journey this devotional will find you, but can I ask you a something? Have you leaned into the invitation of these lyrics to "come and see the One who changes everything?" Have you encountered the Deliverer that Brandon sings about in this song? Have you personally trusted Jesus as your Savior, King, and Friend and surrendered your life to Him?
The thrill of hope your heart longs for is found in relationship with Jesus. It's a free gift Jesus offers everyone who would believe in Him because of His love and kindness. Why don't you take that step today?
Jesus followers, I have some questions for you too. Do you remember the wonder and worship that filled your heart when you first started following Him? Do you remember the peace and joy that having a new-found friendship with Jesus brought you? Maybe at Christmas time, He's wanting to restore that in us. Maybe He wants to take us from just going through the motions to having hearts that are grateful and tender toward who He is and what He's done for us again. Why don't you ask Him to do that for you today? I'm asking Him to do it for me.
Find "King of Kings" on Brandon Heath's Christmas EP, We Need Emmanuel. Buy it on Apple Music or listen on Spotify. Read the full lyrics of "King of Kings" here.
NRT contributor Jasmin Patterson is a lifelong fan of Christian music who is passionate about helping others connect with Christ. She lives in Kansas City where she serves in college ministry and runs a blog to help seekers and believers discover and live biblical Christianity.
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