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Once upon a time, there was a prince who was very powerful and respected by all the kings far and wide.
One day, this royal son fell in love with a simple girl from a poor family. He wanted her affection more than anything else in the world. But how could he win her heart?
His overwhelming power and position presented him with a great challenge. Of course, he could always command her to marry him. No one would have dared to refuse him or question his right for a moment. But how could he be sure of her love, which he craved so much, if she could not refuse him?
He could also arrive in a grand carriage and display his royal splendour. He could offer her the prospect of escaping her poor origins and living the rest of her life rich and carefree at the royal court. But wouldn't he always doubt that she had chosen him for his own sake?
The philosopher and theologian Søren Kierkegaard tells this parable to give us an idea of how God deals with human beings. God has the authority and omnipotence to force us to love Him. He could also reveal Himself in all His glory and simply overwhelm us. Everyone would surrender and worship Him. But He doesn't want that, because He longs for a relationship of love. He has chosen another way. Like the king's son...
The prince threw off his royal dignity and put on the clothes of a pauper. He looked for a job in the girl's neighbourhood as a simple carpenter. He didn't just disguise himself for a moment; no, he took on a whole new identity. He became one of her kind. Now he and the girl became close, and she was able to get to know him in a way that was important for the development of a real love relationship...
When a king leaves his palace to be close to his subjects, it makes the headlines. If such a prominent figure dared to live as an 'ordinary citizen' for a while, we would really be impressed.
But how can we put into words what Jesus has done out of love for us? He is the eternal, almighty Creator and Ruler of the whole universe – of all universes! The earth is but a speck of dust to Him, and the people on it but a flicker in the light of eternity. And yet He was willing to give EVERYTHING for them. For you and me!
When Jesus became man, He chose a poor family. He surrounded himself with ordinary people, and often with those who were most disreputable and despised. Instead of being celebrated as a king, He was persecuted and opposed. He was beaten, spat on, insulted, tortured and cruelly executed. Even in the most adverse circumstances, He never for a moment used His divine power to gain an advantage for himself. He was truly human, like us. He wanted to be.
Jesus was a king with a crown of thorns. He wanted to show us how great God's love is for us. He was one with God the Father and shared His power and glory.
But He left all that to become a man. And He did not choose a premium version of humanity, He chose the path of bitter suffering to the point of death. He understands us deeply. His love for us is immense. The Bible puts it this way:
"Though he was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross." (Philippians 2:6-8, NLT).
"For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NLT)
What do we say to this kind of love?
Bible texts for in-depth study:
Isaiah 53:4-6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-3, 14; 10:30; 14:1-3, 9, 13; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 5:17-19; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-19; Hebrews 2:9-18; 8:1-2
