Perhaps you have heard this story. Many years ago, when Hitler's forces occupied Denmark, the order came that all Jews in Denmark were to identify themselves by wearing armbands with yellow stars of David. The Danes had seen the extermination of Jews in other countries and guessed that this was the first step in that process in their countries. King Christian, the Danish king, did not defy the orders. He had every Jew wear the star and he himself wore the Star of David. He told his people that he expected every loyal Dane to do the same. The King said, "We are all Danes. One Danish person is the same as the next." He wore his yellow star when going into Copenhagen every day in order to encourage his people. The King of Denmark identified with his people, even to the point of putting his own life on the line.

It's a wonderful story with a powerful point. The only problem is it isn't true. According to Snopes.com, "although the Danes did undertake heroic efforts to shelter their Jews and help them escape from the Nazis, there is no real-life example of the actions described by this legend. Danish citizens never wore the yellow badge, nor did King Christian ever threaten to don it himself. In fact, Danish Jews never wore the yellow badge either (except for the few who were finally deported to concentration camps), nor did German officials ever issue an order requiring Danish Jews to display it."

Wouldn't it be great if the story was true? If there was indeed a king who was willing to identify with his people, even to the point of being willing to die?

The true story is even greater than the one that is being passed around the Internet. The King of this universe willingly chose to identify with his people -- people who were marked for death -- and was willing to give up his life in an attempt to save theirs (ours).

"Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Although he was in the form of God and equal
with God, he did not take advantage of this
equality.  Instead, he emptied himself by
taking on the form of a servant, by becoming
like other humans, by having a human
appearance. He humbled himself by
becoming obedient to the point of death,
death on a cross."
(Philippians 2:5-8, God's Word)