“But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”
Hebrews 1:2–4
As we near Christmas and inch closer to the day we’ve been anticipating, let’s do a quick recap. As a humble servant Jesus is the means by which our sins have been purified. Because this work is done, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father. As a result, Jesus is the sustainer of all things, in heaven and earth. And Jesus is the most caring King there ever was and there ever will be.
The words “caring” and “King” are not always associated with one another, right? When we hear old tales “a kind king” is normally the anomaly. But King Jesus is the most caring, loving, kind, humble, others-focused King we can ever know.
Their Trauma, Our Trauma
This type of care may be hard for many of us to comprehend because the closest sources of authority to kings we know are possibly parental figures, supervisors, bosses, and government officials, all of which at some point have caused us harm––maybe intentionally, maybe unintentionally.
And the reality is, many of us parent, lead, make decisions, or reprimand out of our trauma experiences. What I mean by that is some of our past experiences have a negative impact on us. They shape us (and our brain) to view the world and others in a slightly more negative light than we would have without that negative experience. And most of the time, we are responding in a way to protect ourselves from being hurt again, and our brain and body does this without even giving it a thought.
Here’s an example of what I mean: When I was about 8 years old, I was bullied one time by someone I didn’t know. They made comments about the way I looked and pushed me into the wall (Really sad, I know). As a result, I began to “toughen up” and appear less like a target and more like someone people didn’t want to pick on. I learned how to have a quick tongue that would cut others the moment they attempted to speak ill of me or my friends. It was a protective move from a traumatic experience.
I share this story because we all have experiences that have shaped us, and we all have been under the influence or authority of others who have also had negative experiences that have shaped them, and by proxy, they’ve hurt us. And this is true because we all struggle to separate our experiences from our beliefs about others.
His Trauma, No Trauma
But Jesus, who lived through one of the most traumatizing experiences by way of crucifixion, never has a trauma response that causes harm. He is able to separate the trauma from those he leads. He does not rule with a revengeful attitude, desiring to pay back us sinners for the pain our sin caused him. No, Jesus Christ leads us humbly, gently, and lovingly, no matter what our sins have been or will be.
In Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers, Dane Ortlund puts it this way:
“If you are in Christ, you have a Friend, who, in your sorrow, will never lob down a pep talk from heaven. He cannot bear to hold himself at a distance. Nothing can hold him back. His heart is too bound up with yours. . . . The Holy Son of God moves toward, touches, heals, embraces, and forgives those who least deserve it yet truly desire it.”
Our King is kind. Our King is the very definition of love. Our King is our source of joy. Our King is our hope. What other king has ever cared for his people like ours?
Today, I pray you are reminded of the King who runs this world. He is the same King who left Heaven and took the form of a baby inside a womb. He is the same King who was born to die so that we no longer would. He is the same King who will one day wipe away every tear and defeat Death once and for all. He is the same King who cares for you. Even when your feelings or thoughts tell you otherwise, remind yourself of these truths. Speak these truths over yourself, over your family, over your situation, and remember Jesus is a King who cares for you like no one else ever has.
