Easter Countdown: 10) King of Kings (Hillsong)

Ten days until Easter - in case you needed a reminder! I love so much Christian worship music, from ancient hymns to the modern day, so narrowing it down to just ten was a real challenge. So many of them speak of the death and resurrection of Christ because, of course, that is the very basis of our faith in God. But ten songs it is and I'm really excited to be sharing a few facts and thoughts about each one. The criteria for the order is based only on displaying a variety of styles and artists each day, rather than any strict order of preference.

At number 10 - King of Kings by Hillsong. Released in 2019 (and not to be confused with the 1995 Hillsong song with the same name), this is the newest song in the list but has more than 20 million Youtube views (across the Live and Lyric videos). Words and Music by Jason Ingram, Brooke Ligertwood & Scott Ligertwood.

I love the structure of the song: verse 1 - the birth of Christ, verse 2 - the ministry and death of Christ, verse 3 - the resurrection and verse 4 - the Church and the Holy Spirit. The order is similar to other hymns and songs on this theme and helps us to understand the objective of all that God has done, resulting in praise to the 'three-in-one' God!

We firstly need a reminder that everything, including all that Jesus did, was already in the mind and plan of God from before the creation of the world - nothing ever takes God by surprise!

Then Christ came into the world, born in humble, poverty-stricken conditions. He taught and did wonderful things and made God known in His three and a half years on earth. Just a few days before His death, the King of Kings rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, but that triumph was not to result in an earthly coronation then. The Lord's mission was to suffer and die for our sins on the cross. "Jesus for our sake You died!"

But the great message of Easter is that Jesus could not remain dead. The grave could not hold Him and the stone had to be rolled away. "It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him" (Acts 2:24).

Now, because of His death and resurrection, Christ has secured His treasured church, made up everyone who believes on Him; each one given the Spirit of God and permanently freed to serve and glorify Him now and for all eternity!

Praise forever to the King of Kings!

VERSE 1: In the darkness we were waiting

Without hope without light

Till from heaven You came running

There was mercy in Your eyes

To fulfil the law and prophets

To a virgin came the Word

From a throne of endless glory

To a cradle in the dirt

CHORUS: Praise the Father

Praise the Son

Praise the Spirit three in one

God of glory

Majesty

Praise forever to the King of Kings

VERSE 2: To reveal the kingdom coming

And to reconcile the lost

To redeem the whole creation

You did not despise the cross

For even in Your suffering

You saw to the other side

Knowing this was our salvation

Jesus for our sake You died

VERSE 3: And the morning that You rose

All of heaven held its breath

Till that stone was moved for good

For the Lamb had conquered death

And the dead rose from their tombs

And the angels stood in awe

For the souls of all who’d come

To the Father are restored

VERSE 4: And the Church of Christ was born

Then the Spirit lit the flame

Now this gospel truth of old

Shall not kneel shall not faint

By His blood and in His Name

In His freedom I am free

For the love of Jesus Christ

Who has resurrected me