The King And The Maiden

Suppose there was a king who loved a humble maiden. The king was like no other king. Every statesman trembled before his power. No one dared breathe a word against him, for he had the strength to crush all opponents.

And yet this mighty king was melted by love for a humble maiden who lived in a poor village in his kingdom. How could he declare his love for her? In an odd sort of way, his kingliness tied his hands. He could demand her as his wife, wine and dine her with lavish gifts, impress her with his power and wealth, but a simple thought nagged him. Would she truly love him?

The King, convinced he could not win her affection without crushing her freedom, renounced his throne. Clothed as a beggar, he approached her village to win her love. During his time in the poor village, he often felt depressed. The young maiden rejected his advancements and gifts. The friends he made betrayed him. People mocked him openly in the streets. Eventually, he was accused of a crime he didn't commit and executed.

This story is a retelling (with a twist) of Søren Kierkegaard's short story "The King and the Maiden." It is a reminder that during Christ's lifetime, he too, experienced the depression, hurt, and rejection of a broken world when he renounced his throne and hung on a cross.