The King Who Reigns Forever
Yesterday was Christmas Day. For many, the day after Christmas can be a bit depressing — the anticipation and excitement of the big day are over. Families that were together have returned to their homes.
But that is not the end of the story. Jesus is not just the baby in the manger. He is the long-awaited Messiah, Savior and King.
A child will be born to reign on the throne of David. (Is. 9:6–7)
The prophet Nathan shared the promise of God with King David in 2 Samuel 7:16, that his house and throne would be established forever. That promise, delivered 1,000 years before the birth of Jesus, was amplified two centuries later by the prophet Isaiah in one of the most famous of the Christmas prophecies. By divine revelation, Isaiah declared, “Unto us a Child is born,” emphasizing His humanity; “Unto us a Son is given,” emphasizing His divinity.
Isaiah described the coming Messiah as “Wonderful” in that His presence and teaching would excite a sense of wonder in His listeners. He would be called Counselor as His wisdom and teaching would be supernatural. He would be called “Mighty God” as He would bring God’s power and presence in human flesh.
In calling Jesus “Everlasting Father,” Isaiah was recognizing Jesus as the Source of all eternity. And in calling Jesus the Prince of Peace, Isaiah was declaring that His domain would be marked by peace. Indeed, Jesus has made peace between sinful man and holy God.
The birth of Jesus was divinely announced. (Luke 1:26–31)
I am always astounded by the faith-response of the teenage maiden, Mary. The Angel Gabriel appeared to her to announce that God was coming into our world, and that she had been chosen to give birth to a son who would be the Savior of the world.
Mary didn’t reject the announcement but questioned the process with the words, “How can this be?” She was a virgin and had “never been with a man.” She was told that this was all part of God’s plan — in order for Jesus to fulfill His atoning mission, He would need to be both human and divine; God and man. Because she was a descendant of David, Jesus would be born into the tribe of Judah, in the lineage of David. Because he had no earthly father, He would be born the “Son of the Most High.”
“When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law” (Gal. 4:4)
Jesus is the King who rules forever. (Luke 1:32–33)
In Ephesians 1:20-23 the Apostle Paul declares that God exerted resurrection power when He raised Jesus from the dead, and has exalted Him high above principalities and power. The same message is echoed in Philippians 2, where Paul writes that because of the obedience of Jesus in emptying Himself and condescending to come to earth — ultimately to die on the cross — that God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name above every name. One day, “every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:10–11).
As His followers, we have the privilege of bending the knee and proclaiming Him King and Lord of our lives now!
By Don Fugate
Fugate is senior pastor at Foxworthy Baptist Church in San Jose, California.
