How Many Kings?

We think about Jesus’ birth, setting, songs, and joy at Christmas. But I wonder if you’ve considered lately how much Jesus loves you?

A favorite Christmas song speaks to this. It’s “How Many Kings,” originally released by Centricity Records and sung by a Canadian group called Downhere. Marc Martel was a lead singer with that group, and he added the song to his solo work. I’ve posted his version below.

Look at the lyrics of “How Many Kings” with me —

Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe, after all we’ve projected
A child in a manger?
Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother’s shawl
Just a child
Is this who we’ve waited for?

‘Cause how many kings step down from their thrones
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have, whether costly or meek
Because we believe
Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross He will suffer
Do you believe?
Is this who we’ve waited for?

How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me

Oh, all for me, oh
All for me, all for you
All for me, all for you
All for me, all for you
All for me, all for you

How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least?
How many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me

All for me, all for you

Jason Ronald William Germain / Marc A. Martel

John tells us in his gospel that Jesus was with God, was God, and that all things that were made were created by Him. Jesus existed in eternity past with the Father. He participated in the unfolding of the plan of redemption and, in fact, is our salvation. He had to step down out of glory to rescue us.

But Jesus did not come with impressive ceremony, as royalty, or with a throng of mighty men. Instead, He came as human flesh, born of a woman, a helpless infant.

God, the Father, sent His son, knowing He would die a criminal’s death. He did that for you and for me!

Marc Martel shared in an interview, “My favorite thing about Christmas is that as a believer, I am often challenged by the fact that God’s way of doing things often seems to be the opposite of what we would come up with. Instead of the world’s way of coming down to earth, which would involve celebrity, riches, and arrogance, our God and Savior chose humility, poverty, and the ultimate sacrifice of dying on a cross hanging between two thieves. This completely humbles me as a believer. I’m amazed at how God uses the mundane to save us from sin and ourselves.”

His love is unimaginable, unfathomable, and so amazing!

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
and were the skies of parchment made;
were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill,
and everyone a scribe by trade;
to write the love of God above
would drain the ocean dry;
nor could the scroll contain the whole,
though stretched from sky to sky.

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
the saints’ and angels’ song.

F.M. Lehman, 1917