Knees Bent: From Lion King to O Holy Night
In The Lion King, the newborn cub Simba is presented to the world in a ceremony where he is anointed as Mufasa’s heir to the throne. Once Rafiki ascends the crest of the cliffs to extend the newborn male cub to the world, the animal kingdom unites spontaneously, as if in the presence of the divine, falling on bent legs and paws in humble wonderment and adoration. |
What’s the one Christmas song that gives you goosebumps whenever you hear it? For me, it’s O Holy Night. The line that gets me, even as the buildup crescendos, is Fall on your knees, Oh, hear the angel’s voices! because it brings to mind that same scene from The Lion King. Except in this case, I picture the infant Jesus being extended for all the world to pay homage. I envision the Father proudly affirming, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him! Mt. 17:5 The sight of which causes the entire created order in all its vastness, not just the animal kingdom like with Simba, to bow prostrate in worship to our most Glorious God and King! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory! Revelation 5:5
Just this last week, I was driving down a lightly traveled road in the Mississippi Delta. The sun’s magnificent rays were settling in for the evening while O Holy Night came over the radio. I would have been remiss to do anything other than pull off the side of the road with windows down and volume cranked up, not a care in the world who might drive by. I had no choice but to hit the dirt sobbing, asking repeatedly- “God, why have you been so good to me? Why would you wipe my slate clean of sin? Why do you love me so? Why me?” I knew He wouldn’t answer audibly, but I certainly felt like He could. And you know what? The day I quit weeping over the goodness of God to a healed soul like me is the day I need to pass on to glory. He is so indescribably kind.
Whether it is believers or unbelievers makes no difference; Every knee on earth will indeed bow, at some given point, along with every tongue from every tribe on earth, that will likewise confess, “Jesus is Lord!” (Philippians 2:10-11) The one group will exclaim “Jesus is Lord” ecstatically from a place of joy, passing them on from glory to glory or life unto life. They are the ones who accepted Him while on earth and will be rewarded accordingly. All others will find themselves on bent knees, too, but their acknowledgment of Christ’s Lordship is an admission of defeat, a situation in which it will be too late.
My challenge to you is simple. Listen to any rendition of O Holy Night; Josh Groban’s is a great option.
While you listen, don’t be ashamed to fall on your knees and bow before Him, even in a public setting like a church service, Christmas event, or a country road in the Mississippi Delta watching the sunset go down. As to what others may think? I’d be more concerned about what Jesus thinks than other people do. Consider it an exhilarating precursor to what will happen at the final judgment. And who knows, it’s the Christmas season. What better occasion to hear a trumpet resounding from the east. And here’s the best news: if you do hear it, you’ll be in a perfect state of mind (and posture!) to receive it.
Jesus said, for those who have ears to hear, let them hear.
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