The Victorious Shout of the Lord – As Seen in a KIA Commercial

The Lord sometimes comes in unexpected ways and in unexpected packages. The Jews of Jesus’ time were expecting a Messiah who would ride in on a warhorse, and after a bath of blood, reestablish an earthly kingdom of David in all its glory with economic prosperity and military superiority. But Jesus defied their expectations and asked them to risk the unexpected. He came not in might, but humbly, riding on a donkey. He spoke with a rural “hick” accent common to Galilee  and hailed from a town so lowly that only a footpath went to it. Even one of His apostles wondered what good could ever come from Nazareth. He ended his earthly ministry dying on a cross.

Yet to those who risked the ride, the Lord reappeared gloriously resurrected, with might and power in His hand. St. John, who saw Him in His glory, said,  I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet  and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man … and his voice was like the sound of many waters (Rev 1:10,15). So He came in humility and mercy, but when He returns you’d better be ready, by His grace, for He comes in judgment. And the mighty shall be cast down and the lowly raised.

Some of this occurred to me as I watched this KIA commercial the other day.

It is filled with unexpected things. A rather well-heeled couple comes to the valet to get their luxury car. And yet a strange Christ-figure meets them and challenges to take the risk of a different ride. He tells them that the world of luxury has blinded them from the world of true luxury. (Pay attention, Christian!) He offers them a blood-red key (that brings to mind the Cross) to a different ride than their worldly luxury car.

At some point the couple is led to a KIA car—not exactly the first luxury car that would likely occur to this couple, that is clearly more used to a Rolls, or a Mercedes, or maybe even a Bentley. To them it must have seemed as meek and humble as riding on a donkey. What kind of luxury is this?

But entering the car with the strange, Christ-like figure they are surprised. Interestingly, after being handed their blood-red key, they are in a car with a resurrection-white interior. Driving past, they are grateful that no one outside seems to notice or be impressed. But they are, and the Christ-figure tells them that this is what true luxury is like.

And then in the most unexpected twist of all he lets out a voice “like a trumpet blast and the rush of many waters!” And the unimpressed, unbelieving world outside is literally blown away. Judgment day! This world cannot endure the war cry, the shout of Jesus, who shall come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire.

Enjoy the commercial and pay heed, fellow Christian. Christ asks humility and a forsaking of the lies of this world. But only to usher in a greater glory!