In the movie Anna...
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In the movie Anna and the King, one of the king of Siam's favorite wives leaves him to join a Buddhist monastery where her former boyfriend has become a monk. She is accused of unfaithfulness and dragged before the court where she is caned for her wrongdoing, a prelude to her execution. Anna, who witnesses the beating, intervenes and causes them to stop. Now the king is in a dilemma. He has no desire to kill the woman who has left him, and he was planning to rescue her from death. But, since a woman, Anna, has made such a public spectacle of challenging an ancient judicial procedure of Siam, the king has to keep up appearances and show that he was not influenced by someone as weak, in that culture's view, as a woman. As a result, his former wife is executed.
Jesus acted so differently. He, too, grieved over those whom he loved and wished to save them. But he did not let his pride stand in the way. On the cross of Calvary, he put aside his royal prerogatives. He humbled himself and gave his life for the world. And the King of the Jews, the King of Creation, has thus made it possible for us to enter his heavenly kingdom, where we shall live and never die.
Jesus acted so differently. He, too, grieved over those whom he loved and wished to save them. But he did not let his pride stand in the way. On the cross of Calvary, he put aside his royal prerogatives. He humbled himself and gave his life for the world. And the King of the Jews, the King of Creation, has thus made it possible for us to enter his heavenly kingdom, where we shall live and never die.
