The meaning behind the shirt
A play on Hoyle
This shirt is a play on the famous cards. The top king represents the first coming of Jesus (the king who was sacrificed). The bottom king represents the second coming of Jesus (the king who will rule the nations). Both the sacrificed king and the ruling king are the same person... Jesus... and He is the "King of Hearts".
The sacrificed King
The top king came to show the love of God and to lay down His life for us. Sin had separated man and God, and only Jesus, the one who knew no sin, could become that sacrifice
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
~ John 15:13
In God's plan of salvation Jesus would succeed where Adam failed. He would come to earth and live a perfect life. Then, as a man, He suffered and to died for us.
"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."
~Romans 5:6 (See also Hebrews 10:10-14).
Jesus became the sacrificed king for us that we might have life.
And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
~Revelation 5:9
The ruling King
The bottom king is soon coming King. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords who will rule the nations.
"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. "And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
~Matthew 25:31-33
Symbolism in the shirt
The king of hearts (Jesus) is both the sacrificed king and the ruling king. Even today, religious Jews argue about the nature of the Messiah. Some hold that Messiah (the Christ) must suffer and others hold that He must reign. Still others believe that there will be two Messiahs (remember most Jews believe that Messiah is yet to come.)
The Old Testament clearly portrays Messiah as a sacrifice for the salvation of His people. You see this in the embodiment of the story of Joseph. Just as he was mistreated by his brothers and later became their salvation (see Genesis chapters 37-46), some believe that the Messiah will follow this pattern.
The Old Testament also clearly portrays the Messiah as a ruler and a warrior... much like king David. Just as David rose to power and crushed his enemies, some believe that the Messiah will follow this pattern.
So which is the right Messiah? Both of them! What even the Disciples failed to understand was that Messiah would come to rule, but first, He would suffer and become the salvation of His people.
This shirt is a play on the famous cards. The top king represents the first coming of Jesus (the king who was sacrificed). The bottom king represents the second coming of Jesus (the king who will rule the nations). Both the sacrificed king and the ruling king are the same person... Jesus... and He is the "King of Hearts".
The sacrificed King
The top king came to show the love of God and to lay down His life for us. Sin had separated man and God, and only Jesus, the one who knew no sin, could become that sacrifice
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
~ John 15:13
In God's plan of salvation Jesus would succeed where Adam failed. He would come to earth and live a perfect life. Then, as a man, He suffered and to died for us.
"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."
~Romans 5:6 (See also Hebrews 10:10-14).
Jesus became the sacrificed king for us that we might have life.
And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
~Revelation 5:9
The ruling King
The bottom king is soon coming King. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords who will rule the nations.
"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. "And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
~Matthew 25:31-33
Symbolism in the shirt
The king of hearts (Jesus) is both the sacrificed king and the ruling king. Even today, religious Jews argue about the nature of the Messiah. Some hold that Messiah (the Christ) must suffer and others hold that He must reign. Still others believe that there will be two Messiahs (remember most Jews believe that Messiah is yet to come.)
The Old Testament clearly portrays Messiah as a sacrifice for the salvation of His people. You see this in the embodiment of the story of Joseph. Just as he was mistreated by his brothers and later became their salvation (see Genesis chapters 37-46), some believe that the Messiah will follow this pattern.
The Old Testament also clearly portrays the Messiah as a ruler and a warrior... much like king David. Just as David rose to power and crushed his enemies, some believe that the Messiah will follow this pattern.
So which is the right Messiah? Both of them! What even the Disciples failed to understand was that Messiah would come to rule, but first, He would suffer and become the salvation of His people.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved