King of Kings

 

4-year-old grandboy's Christmas castle

"On His robe and on His thigh He has the name written: KING OF KINDS AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:16)

Bible trivia question: Is "Joy to the World" really a Christmas hymn?

Well, let's examine the lyrics to find the answer:

"Joy to the world, the Lord has come. 

Let earth receive her King!"

Hmm . . . On the first Christmas, Jesus came as a lowly babe in a Bethlehem manger, not as a king.

"He rules the world with truth and grace

And makes the nations prove

The light of His righteousness

And wonders of His love."

No, biblically speaking,  "Joy to the World" is not a Christmas hymn celebrating the first advent of Jesus Christ. (Sorry to burst your favorite-Christmas-song bubble.) "Joy to the World" is a celebration of Christ's second coming to earth as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, and that's something to celebrate! So, sing on, beloved: 

"Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat, repeat, the sounding JOY!"