The King's Birth

All of the events surrounding Jesus' birth point to the fact that the baby who was laid in the manger was in fact the long-awaited and promised king.

• Jesus was descended from king David. Mt. 1:1, 17

• The universe proclaimed that the king of the Jews had been born. Mt. 2:2

• Jesus fulfilled the scripture which prophesied that the ruler of God's people would be born in Bethlehem. Mt. 2:5-6

 

The Message & Activity of the King

• Jesus' preaching fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy that the child who would be born and shoulder the government would bring light to Galilee. Mt. 4:12-16; Isaiah 9:1-7

• Jesus announced that the kingdom of heaven was close at hand and that to enter the kingdom a person had to do God's will. Mt. 4:17; 7:21

• Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom. Mt. 4:23

• Jesus' casting out of demons by the Spirit of God revealed that the kingdom of God had come unto them. Mt. 12:28

• Through many parables, Jesus accurately explained the nature of the kingdom. Mt. 13:19,31,33,44,45,47; 25:1

• The message of the kingdom is the good news of salvation, a salvation which Jesus himself has made possible. Mt. 24:13-14; 1:21; 16:25; 18:11

• The kingdom belongs to those who like little children will humbly accept the message. Mt. 18:3; 19:14

• Some of those who lived then did not die until the Son of Man came in his kingdom. Mt. 16:28

• In the manner which was prophesied about the coming king, Jesus triumphally entered Jerusalem on a donkey as the people praised God for Jesus being the son of king David. Mt. 20:4-9

• Jesus acknowledged that he was the king of the Jews. Mt. 27:11

• He died under the title of king of the Jews. Mt. 27:29, 37

• Following his resurrection, Jesus claimed that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to him Mt. 28:18

Since the kings of Israel were anointed, it is most appropriate that Jesus is known as the Christ (the Anointed One), that is, he has been anointed King over Israel (God's people).

Barry Newton, Copyright © 2001

Other articles which might be of interest:

Jesus is Good News

Jesus - Our Hope For True Freedom

Would Jesus be the Same Today As He Was Then?

When God Says, "You Belong to Me"

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