His Banner Over Me is Love
He met her when he was only fifteen and she was fourteen. It was love at first sight. When Shah Jahan became emperor, he could not help but take Arjumand as his wife and queen. They were inseparable, and their love and devotion to each other only grew stronger as time passed. She was not only his queen but also his most trusted confidant and his companion in every joy and sorrow. She traveled with him through the heat of battlefields and the grandeur of courts, her laughter breaking through his burdens like sunlight piercing storm clouds.
But the joy did not last forever.
In the summer of 1631, Arjumand Banu Begum went into labor with their fourteenth child. Minutes of agony turned into hours that stretched endlessly until silence fell, cruel and heavy. Mumtaz Mahal—a name bestowed upon her by her husband, meaning “Jewel of the Palace”—died that fateful day.
Heartbroken, Shah Jahan disappeared into the shadows, neither speaking nor sleeping for days. The whole kingdom felt his sorrow. When he emerged, his hair had turned white, and his face was ashen with grief. But he came with a promise—to build a monument in remembrance of his love and to lay her to rest within it.
Does this story sound familiar to you? If so, it is because this is the story behind the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
Named in honor of Mumtaz Mahal, it stands 108 feet tall at its apex and is made entirely of white marble, which reflects different hues depending on the intensity of the sunlight or moonlight. From the intricate calligraphy on its walls to the blooming gardens and its almost dreamlike perfection, I can definitely understand why it is named one of the eight wonders of the world. It stands as a testament to love and devotion.
This amazing structure reminds me of a similar story—a story of a Prince who lost His love and grieved as none before Him had grieved. But He emerged with a promise to build a beautiful home for her.
His name is Jesus Christ, and His love for us is like no other. He has promised to prepare a place for us:
"I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you unto Myself."
—John 14:2-3
Shah Jahan’s heart broke when he lost Mumtaz Mahal, the one he cherished above all. His grief moved him to create a dwelling of beauty and peace, something that would last forever. But Christ, in His love, did far more. He laid down His life and rose again, conquering death. His promise is not only for a home of splendor but for eternal life with Him. And we shall be the jewels of His palace.
"On that day the Lord their God shall save them as the flock of His people;
for like the jewels of His crown, they shall shine on His land."
—Zechariah 9:16
