King Jesus, David's Line, Lk.1.32f.

“He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end” (Lk. 1:32f.). Before Jesus ever came into our world, His mother was made familiar with the significance of His life. God sent His angel-messenger to Mary so that she would know what her Son would do and be. He was the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. Jesus’ greatness was witnessed in the way He lived His life, and the manner wherein He fulfilled His office of Son of the Most High. Greatness was the consequence of His excellence, majesty and virtue. All He set out to do, He brought about just as God had designed. He was tireless in His pursuit of excellence and the methods He deployed to satisfy His Father’s delights were without parallel in the history of man. Just as David was the king after God’s own heart, this Descendent of King David would assume His ancestor’s throne with a glory and magnificence that ancient Israel’s kingdoms could never imagine. Yet, the similarities are striking: David was of the tribe of Judah, the son of Jesse, born and anointed for kingship in Bethlehem, reigned and was buried in Jerusalem. He was a shepherd, musician, poet, warrior and king – an accomplished man of God. God commissioned the prophet Nathan to familiarize David with this Jesus who would follow him: “I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever… And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever” (II Sam. 7:12, 13, 16). Jesus fulfilled and is fulfilling His office. The scorn, scourging and crucifixion have not ended His reign! Isaiah was right when he prophesied “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom” (Isa. 9:7). The One who “has been born King of the Jews” still is (Mt. 2:2). The kings and queens of Great Britain for many generations have been crowned in Westminster Abbey. Above the chancel where the coronations are consummated there is written the truth of those heavenly voices who declared, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Rev. 11:15). Jesus is all that Gabriel promised Mary He would be. He is “great…Son of the Most High…[occupies] the throne of His father David…reign(s) over the house of Jacob…His kingdom will have no end.” How great is He in your day-to-day life? What is the strength of your embrace of Jesus as the Son of the Most High and the occupier of the throne of your life? Does Christ reign over your house? Are you nurturing His kingdom that will have no end?