All In

“They’re in trouble…again”

He nodded.

The messenger continued. “This time, it’s bad. Even the leaders, especially the leaders, those who are supposed to be good examples, to be teachers, they’re the worst. They twist and pervert and break every law. They bend every jot and tittle to their own benefit, to line their own pockets.”

He let out a long, sad, sigh.

“They make a big show of being kind and generous. But they give little and take much. They pretend to be righteous, religious, holy, but inside they’re wicked, hateful, greedy. They say they pray, but it’s all for show. They never really do.”

“You say the leaders are corrupt; but you haven’t mentioned the rest of the people.”

He opened his mouth to respond, then closed it again. He folded his arms, rubbed his chin, closed his eyes for an eternal moment. His eyes were sad when they opened again. “They, the people, well, they’re like sheep, without a shepherd.”

He stared at the messenger without saying a word.

The messenger shifted from side to side. “Would you like me to send a representative to speak with them…again?”

He lifted a small smile. “Thank you, but no. We’ve done that time and again. They turned a deaf ear to most, and killed the others.”

“What should we do?”

“I will go to them.”

He smiled and nodded. “Finally. I’ll call the legions, all twelve. Now they’ll see. Now they’ll listen. Now they’ll bow…every last one.” He raised a golden trumpet to his lips, pulled in a deep breath—

“Wait. Not yet. Someday, but not today. I will go to them…as one of them.”

The messenger narrowed his eyes and tilted his head. The words were muffled because the trumpet was still against his lips. “What?”

He stood from the royal throne. Everyone around bowed. “I’ll go alone.” He removed the crown. “As one of them.” He took off the royal robe. “I’ll eat with them, sleep with them, walk with them, talk with them.” He lifted a smile that all at once held great joy and sorrow. “I will, be with them.”

There was a gasp that seemed to echo throughout the entire kingdom.

He removed every royal vestige.

The messenger, with trumpet still part way to his lips, but now, his mouth and eyes were gaping. “But…but, how? You? There? Will it work?”

He looked at the messenger for a long moment. No one moved. Silence ruled, until… “I’ll be killed.”

This time it sounded like rolling thunder throughout the entire kingdom as warriors, all at once, stepped forward and raised swords.

He raised a hand until all went silent. His eyes still fastened on the messenger. “Yes, it will work.” He let out a small laugh. Actually, Gabriel, I have a message for you to give. “Go to a young girl named Mary, you’ll find her in Nazareth…”

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23)