A paradox

Merriam Webster's online dictionary describes a 'paradox' as : 1) a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true, 2) a self-contradictory statement that at first seems true, and 3) an argument that apparently derives self-contradictory conclusions by valid deduction from acceptable premises.

Hmmmmm....

The Court of the King is where I live - the court of Jesus Christ, that is. We are told by the writer of Hebrews, 'So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.' (NLT)

And thus we come to the first 'paradox' of Christianity - a king who allows his subjects the same type of access he would give his closest advisors and family; 'subjects' who, in the Gospel, are described as slaves and sinners.

Not exactly the kind of person most Kings invite to supper.

Merriam-Webster describes a 'king' as: 1) a male monarch of a major territorial unit; especially one whose position is hereditary and who rules for life, 2) a chief among competitors, as well as one possessing or held to possess sovereignty. The definition that comes quickest to mind for me is that of a 'sovereign': 1) one that exercises supreme authority within a limited sphere.

Supreme authority. As far as the world is concerned that most often means power, prestige and control. The history of human kings is, unfortunately, littered with more despots and abusers than 'good' kings. Most kings and sovereigns keep all power to themselves and are protected by a cadre of advisers, security and yes-men. Kings rarely invite the rabble over for tea, let alone lay down their lives for them.

And in case you think King Jesus was not a strong king, this is the way the Holy Scriptures picture Him in Psalm 2.

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me,
Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance,
and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron;
thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way,
when his wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

And yet this king - capable of and given the right by God to 'break' and 'dash' - tells his subjects or believers to come 'boldly' before his throne. This king tells us we are 'adopted' into his family. He is called our 'brother'. And - humblest and most amazing of all - He gets on his knees and washes his subjects dirty feet!

For the month of January, the Court of the King posts will deal with some of the paradoxes of the Chrisitan faith: How can a man be both a lion and a lamb? How can we be broken and yet made whole? How can laying down you life bring life? How can the least be the greatest? How can we, in poverty, be richer than Midas?

I don't have all the answers, but I have a lot of questions and here, in the Court of the King, we can explore them together.


The image above is "The Victorious Lion of Judah' by Michael Dudash. Image used courtesy of Tapestry Productions.com http://www.tapestryproductions.com/ourartists/michaeldudash.php