Take a look at Jesus, the gentle King

Kings, rulers, dictators, and presidents come and go. We are reminded of that in this election year and as we read headlines announcing the end of Fidel Castro’s dictatorship. A number of years ago an Asian leader, named Pol Pot died. He was a despot and ruthless ruler. He was rouge – as in Khmer Rouge or “Red Khmers,” the radical left wing group that seized control of Cambodia in April 1975.

A ruthless king

Under the leadership of Solath Sar, alias Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge renamed Cambodia “Democratic Kampuchea” and proceeded to turn it into anything but a democracy. They emptied all Cambodian cities of their populations; abolished banking, finance and currency; outlawed all religions; and completely eliminated ownership of private property.

Obviously, not everybody willingly went along with this plan. So Pol Pot’s party proceeded to get rid of the opposition. It is estimated that one to three million people were killed. It was a time referred to as “The Killing Fields.” Not until three and half years later – when neighboring Vietnam invaded and took control – did the killing stop.

Pol Pot was so cruel and his legacy so hurtful that when he died in April 1998 people wanted to see his body not to mourn him, but to make sure he was dead. Pol Pot was a despot – ruthless, ruinous, “rouge” as in red – blood red from the millions he massacred.

Jesus, the gentle king

Jesus is not a despot, a dictator, or a leader of a ruthless regime. Jesus is at the same time powerful and gentle. He is humble and kind.

Jesus once said to his disciples, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercises authority over them call themselves ‘benefactors.’ But you are not to be like that.” (Luke 22:25-26) Jesus proved his point on that same night by getting down on the floor and washing his disciples’ feet. (John 13) “I am among you as one who serves,” he told them. (Luke 22:27)

Jesus is not like any other king or president or prime minister on this planet. He is completely gentle and compassionate, completely truthful and righteous. He is the King of kings predicted by Zechariah’s prophecy: “Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9) He is the heavenly King who “humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8)

He loves you in your loneliness

Jesus is gentle enough to love you when you think no one loves you. He is humble enough to come down to your level, hug you ’til the hurt goes away, and remind you that he, the gentle, silent “Lamb of God,” atoned for your sins. He is kind enough not to scream at you when you blow it, not to reject you when you are less than perfect, not to humiliate you by announcing a list of your sins. Jesus our gentle Savior-King preferred to use his own blood as an eraser to wash you clean before God the Father.

He is the only gentle king the world will see

Jesus is the gentle and righteous King. He’s the only truly 100 percent gentle and righteous king this world will ever see or need. Other lords lord it over their people – dominate them by brute force, threat, and sword. Or they sway them by sweet talk and political promise with little or no substance. Jesus is never like that. He is not harsh. He is not phony. He is not a ruthless Pol Pot. Nor is he a politician.

Jesus Christ is the King and Lord that you need: righteous, to take away your sins, and gentle and humble to be willing to do so. If he would ride a donkey for you, suffer beatings for you, die on a cross for you, rise from the dead for you – he can and will do anything for you. Put all your trust in him.