👑The King Who Will Return

I’ve always been a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings, and one of my favorite scenes is when Aragorn is finally crowned king, and he smiles.
It’s a brief moment, but it carries the weight of the entire journey. After everything that’s happened, that smile is full of peace, victory, and quiet joy.

Stories like this often fill me with deep encouragement, because they seem to carry echoes of something eternal. Many narratives are built with meaning, crafted to communicate a message the audience is meant to sense. For me, I’m always watching with eyes trained to look for Jesus, because my world centers around my Creator.

This is one of the reasons I love this story so much. I hope that as you read, the parallels I’ve found will encourage the Body of Christ, and maybe even speak to someone who’s had a hard time seeing the hidden King for themselves.

Seeing the Story Differently

When I first watched the trilogy, my attention was fixed on Frodo and his mission to destroy the ring. I was so captivated by the climax of his journey that I didn’t pay much attention to the other arcs unfolding around him. Even in later rewatchings, my focus stayed locked on Frodo and Sam.

Until one day, I watched again, and this time, my eyes were drawn to Aragorn.

The Hidden King

He is introduced under a different name: Strider.

When the hobbits begin their journey, they are told to look for him, but he doesn’t immediately reveal himself. Instead, he watches from a distance, staying close, ready. At the first sign of danger, he steps in and rescues them.

At first, the hobbits are unsure of him. But they soon realize: he is for them. Over and over, Aragorn proves himself by showing up in their moments of greatest need.

After Frodo is wounded by a Ringwraith, Aragorn sends him ahead to Rivendell for healing. When Frodo wakes, after what we assume is a long rest, Aragorn is there with the others, glad to comfort him.

A Fellowship is Formed

Rivendell is where the Fellowship is created. Frodo agrees to carry the ring to Mordor, and everyone else steps in with their gifts and strengths to help him get there. Different backgrounds, different histories, different personalities, one mission.

Every person brings something essential to the table.

Everyone has a role.

Everyone matters.

They all had their jobs to do, each equipped in their own gifting to see that the mission was accomplished.

The Church: A Fellowship in Christ

This is exactly what the Church is meant to be.

When we step into God’s family, something similar happens.
People who would never naturally cross paths, some who were once enemies, strangers, or complete opposites, are suddenly part of the same story. Spiritual battles become shared battles. Wounds begin to heal. Old divisions crumble. Forgiveness becomes possible.

This is the beauty of the Body of Christ: we’re a fellowship.

Each of us is called, equipped, and placed together for something bigger than ourselves. And once we understand the “why,” unity becomes powerful. Love becomes real. Mission becomes shared.

We’re stronger together, because we follow the same King.

The Servant Who Was Always King

As the story progresses, Aragorn doesn’t just fight battles, he serves. He protects. He leads. In every trial, he is a steady and present help.

While Frodo and Sam crawl toward Mount Doom, Aragorn leads a distraction army straight to the Black Gate to pull Sauron’s gaze away. As Frodo fights to keep going, Aragorn fights to shield both him and Sam.

And once the ring is destroyed, once evil falls, it isn’t Frodo who is crowned.

It’s the servant.
The helper.
The warrior.
The guide.

The King.

And when Aragorn receives his crown… he smiles.

That smile always reminds me of Jesus and the victory He has over sin and death, through His crucifixion and resurrection.

Fixing Our Gaze on Jesus

We often think our faith journey is about us making it to the finish line, our effort, our strength, our perseverance. But the truth is, the story was never centered on us.

Right before the ring is destroyed, there’s a scene that always hits me hard.

Frodo makes it all the way to the edge of Mount Doom… and still chooses the ring. After everything he’s endured, the pull is still strong. He doesn’t want to let it go.

Then Gollum attacks. It’s frantic and brutal, an image of what sin really is. It fights us relentlessly. It feeds on the pieces of us that refuse to yield. We can walk faithfully with God and still find ourselves facing temptations we thought were long buried. And sometimes, we even reach for them “just one last time.”

But sin always costs something.

In the struggle, Gollum bites off Frodo’s finger. Gollum celebrates with the ring, then falls into the fire and dies, destroyed by the very thing he worshiped. Frodo survives… but he is broken, exhausted, and forever changed.

This moment reminds us: even near the end, the battle is real. But we’re not fighting alone.

Even in the hardest moments, when faith feels thin and temptation feels loud, Jesus is still fighting for us. Still leading. Still cutting a path forward.

In my own life, Jesus has been everything: Savior, Protector, Helper, Guide, Redeemer, Vindicator. He hasn’t always walked the road for me, but He has always gone before me, clearing the way, strengthening my heart, fighting battles I didn’t know were happening, and surrounding me with a fellowship of believers who help carry me when I’m tired.

Like Frodo, I’ve grown weary.
Like Sam, I’ve needed help to keep going.
And like Aragorn, Jesus has carried the weight I could never bear.

The Story Was Always About Him

It has always been about the King.

The One who put on the clothes of a servant.
The One who walked with us and died for us.
The One who lives, who will return, and who will take His rightful place.

Jesus stepped into our suffering to do what no one else could: lay down His life.
He didn’t just save us, He entered the mess Himself.
From the moment humanity fell, the promise of redemption was already moving toward the cross.

He didn’t remain distant.
He became flesh.
He entered our brokenness to restore us.

He was good when He created us.
Good when He commanded us.
Good when He chastised us.
Good when He forgave us.
And good when He redeemed us.

Jesus is the King Redeemer, the One with the final word, the final victory, and the final smile.
Because the whole story has always belonged to Him.

Of course He smiles.

He is the King whose story has no end.
And because our King lives, we too shall live.

“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The King who will return.

"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True… On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
And the Lord will be king over all the earth."
Amen. Amen.