Jesus Is The King Series

Theme: Jesus the King

Text: Matthew 2:1-11

Greetings:

Illustration:

A pastor was greeting the believers after the Christmas service. He saw a young man, called Jim,

Pastor told Jim:

“Jim, it’s time for you to join the Army of the Lord. We need to see you every Sunday.”

Jim replied:

“Pastor, I’m already in the Army of the Lord.”

Pastor said:

“But, I only see you on Christmas and Easter?”

Jim told to Pastor:

“I’m in the Secret Service.” (Adopted).

I like to leave with you three important aspects of our King Jesus. Jesus, the King is the King of Jews. He is the King of Kings and the King of Truth.

1. King of Jews

We have some stories around the world about how the Kings became gods of their tribes then became to their nations, for, ex., Zeus, King Rama, King Buddha became gods, and King Nebuchadnezzar established an Image in his likeness to be worshipped (Daniel 2). In our days, we have seen Jayalalitha(former CM of TN) as the goddess of the AIADMK. So we have several stories of the Kings becoming the gods of their subjects. But, Jesus became a King to make the gentiles understand the value of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the King of Jews but rejected by his people (John 1:11). The first reference to the King of Jews is found in Matthew 2:2. The Magi asked King Herod about the birth of the King. The last reference to the King of Jews was mentioned by Governor Pilate. He asked Jesus whether he was the King of the Jews? (Mark 15:2, John 19:14-15). The title King of Jews was used only by the Gentiles, Magi, Pontius Pilate and Roman Soldiers (Pulpit Commentary). But the Jewish leaders prefer the designation King of Israel (Matthew 27:42, Mark 15:32, Luke 23:37).

While we trace the tradition of the title and implications of King of the Jews goes back to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Israel was the Chosen people (Exodus 7:6), treasured possession (Deuteronomy 7:6), God was their rightful King and sovereign ruler. But they rejected God not to be their King. God was their King till they asked for a separate King like other nations (1 Samuel 8:5, 19). Saul was their first King, and Zedekiah was their last king before their captivity to Babylon. So, thereupon the Jews expected the arrival of Messiah the King (Micah 5:2, Isaiah 9:6-7 and Psalm 22:27-31). They envisioned that Messiah would come as a Political ruler, revolutionary and royal Lord. The prophecy in the Old Testament refers to Jesus as the King of Jews, Israel and Judea (Micah 2:13 and Zechariah 9:9). The prophet Micah told that Jesus would come from Ephrata because it was the home of many saints. It was six miles to the south of Jerusalem (Barclay).

The Magi thought Jesus would be the future political ruler, So they presented the child with offerings of gold, frankincense, and Myrrh indicative of Kingly worship (Matthew 2:11). But at the time of the Trial of Jesus, the Jews once again rejected Jesus not to be their King (John 19:15). But the Governor Pilate made publicity by writing that “the Jesus of Nazareth is the King of Jews.” (John 19:19).

The Roman Historians Tacitus and Suetonius wrote that everywhere the eastern men were looking for the advent of a great King who was to rise from among the Jews based on Isaiah 9, 11 and Daniel 7 (Ellicott). Many Jews at that time lived in Egypt, in Rome, and Greece; many, also, had gone to Eastern countries, and in every place, they carried their sacred writings and diffused the expectation that some remarkable person was about to appear as King (Albert Barnes). It is also a strange thing that a baby to be born as King. The normal process is they have to be princes before they become a King. The Kingly status of Christ was conferred on birth (Carson).

Herod was indeed great; in some ways great as a ruler, builder and administrator; in other ways great in politics and cruelty. He was wealthy, politically gifted, intensely loyal, an excellent administrator, and clever enough to remain in the good graces of successive Roman emperors. “Though Herod was very old, and never had shown affection for his family, and was not himself likely to live till a newborn infant had grown up to manhood, he began to be troubled with the dread of a rival. A man may be persuaded of many truths, and still hate them because they interfere with his ambition or sinful indulgences. Such a belief will make him uneasy, and the more resolved to oppose the truth and the cause of God.” (Matthew Henry).

2. King of Kings

Illustration:

At a tea for officers and their wives, the commanding general of a base delivered a seemingly endless oration. A young lieutenant grumbled to the woman sitting beside him, “What a pompous and unbearable old windbag that good-for-nothing is!”