Kings

There are hummingbirds that like to come in our yard.  It is an amazing thing to watch their flight.

Many times, when I am out there, I don’t actually see them at first.  I see instead the subtle movement of the leaves caused by the wind created by their wings.  Then I look to find their physical presence.  It is a subtle, quiet entrance.  All of sudden just – there.

This led me to make some comparisons and come to some conclusions.

I have given a lot of thought recently to the idea of leadership in the world today.  Whether we call them presidents, or kings or merely pretenders to the throne, we can know them by their methods and demands.

I will tell you now who my King is, and why I follow Him.

My King chose to be a servant, and asked me to do the same.

He shed blood, felt pain, and gave His life so that I would not have to, so that I could live.

I can only look back on history to know what and how this happened, but there were others who were present who still feel the effects of His life to this day.  Like the hummingbird wind He is suddenly – there.

When Christ was on the cross Satan was there.  He heard every cry of pain as the whip fell. He accounted for every drop of blood that stained the ground (and probably drew away from it). He watched His chest rise and fall with each agonizing breath, joyfully anticipating that last one (“there it goes, finally!”).

He danced with glee for three days when Christ gave His life (and “gave” is the right word. He did it willingly.).

As it turned out, three days was not as much of a celebration as he thought, when you think of all the days in eternity.

As he danced, he felt a breeze suddenly – there.

He heard a sound he thought was finally silenced.

A heartbeat, suddenly – there.

Imagine his dismay, and rage, as he turns to find the tomb that was supposed to be a grave, suddenly become – a Throne.

He is not so powerful as he thought.

He is so weak, in fact, that he was toppled by the wind from a hummingbird’s wings.

Then people started to listen to this Hummingbird King of mine, and so Satan changed tactics.  Since he could not kill the King, he turned to distraction.

He refused to admit his loss (like any narcissist) and began to wave shiny things in our faces.  Some left the path to follow the sad reflection of power that he has peddled since the Fall.

“Look at the shiny orange bauble I made just for you!  Worship it!  Prophecy in its name (remember Balaam)!  It will promise you anything you ask for!”

He conveniently fails to mention that it will starve you to death as you get nothing in return.

Your king will not bleed and die for you.  As a matter of fact, your king demands you bleed for him, so he does not have to get his hands dirty.  In the end, your king will bend the knee to mine.  Whether willingly or not, his face will touch the ground.  Your king does not know the meaning of sacrifice, selflessness, love, joy or peace. 

My King bled for me, in order that I might know the meaning of all those things, and be purified.

When you come to me to make demands in the name of your king, you will only see my back, because I am focused on my one True King who made every sacrifice that could be made for me.

I will defy you.

I will defy this little man who demands my attention.

If you do see my face, it will be with my blade bared.

If you see blood, it will be mine, from where you stabbed me with the sword I gave you, in order to bleed His grace upon you.  This is the meaning and purpose of “sacrifice” – to save someone other than yourself.

Because Christmas and Easter are not meant to be lived out on separate days once a year.  We who follow Christ are meant to live them both, every day of our lives.

The bottom line is this:

His life is the only one whose sacrifice is worth anything.  When I die, I will not save anyone or anything.  My life is only given any worth by His.

And My King tells me I am worth Everything!

Happy Easter.

©Dan Bode 2025