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!”
The woman turned to him, her face red with rage.
“Excuse me, Lieutenant. Do you have any idea who I am?”
“No ma’am,” the man replied.
“I am the wife of the man you just called an unbearable old windbag.”
“Oh,” said the lieutenant. “And do you have any idea who I am?”
“No,” said the general’s wife.
“Good,” said the lieutenant, getting up from his seat and disappearing into the crowd (adopted).
Jesus is the King of Kings from eternity to eternity. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness is everlasting (Psalm 136:3). For the Lord, your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. (Deuteronomy 10:17). “David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, ‘Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head overall. Wealth and honour come from you; you are the ruler of all things” (1 Chronicle 29:10-12). The Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar when he acknowledged God he expressed that His dominion is eternal dominion. He does right and all his ways are just (Daniel 4:34, 37).
Jesus is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15). He is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. (Revelation 1:5). In the end, Satan, the beast and the Serpent will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”(Revelation 17:14). And on His robe and His thigh, He has a name inscribed, “KING OF kings, AND LORD OF lords (Revelation 19:16). All authority is indeed given to Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Do not believe that Devil is greater than your God. He is a liar and tells lies from the beginning. Jesus proved what he said to Satan that dominion belongs to God. (Luke 4:5-8). We can keep adding on the bible verses such as Psalm 47:8, 93:1, 97:1 and 1 Chronicles 16:31. We worship the King of Kings, who has authority over everything you face on the earth. Hence, do not worry. Cast all your burdens upon him.
3. King of Truth
Jesus is not a king as the world celebrates Kings, princes, and rulers because the Kings of the world have power, wealth and lord over others. Kings use force and killing to get their way. With Jesus, none of these is true. Jesus had no shelter to lie on. Jesus never used any violence to establish his kingdom. He told Peter to put away the sword. Jesus taught that He is the Truth and full of Truth (John 14:6, 1:14,17). He will only rule the nation with justice and righteousness. Even today, Jesus rule the hearts of People with that Truth.
Gospel of Matthew ascertains the kingship of Jesus Christ in his genealogy (Matthew 1:1-16) to show that he came from the royal line of King David to whom God had made the promise, that He will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. The genealogy of Jesus includes the names of 14 kings that descended from King David (Matthew 1:6-11). The divinely appointed kingship is found in Genesis 17:6 God made a promise to Abraham (Matthew 1:1-5). The wise men from the east came to Jerusalem (Matthew 2:2). And when they found Him, they presented Him with costly gifts, fit for a King - Gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). The Kingship of Jesus was announced by John the Baptist while he preached, ‘Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' (Matthew 3:2). Jesus Himself preached the same message (Matthew 4:17) as well as the disciples whom he sent out (Matthew 10:7). He also taught the multitudes many things about His kingdom in His Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3, 10). Jesus taught the mysteries and values of the Kingdom of God in the parables he taught them (Matthew 13:10, 11, 24, 31, 33, 44, 45, 47).
Conclusion:
John 18:33-19:16 this passage enormously explains the nature of the Kingdom of Jesus and his Truth. Take this truth to everyone but before that apply it in your day to day life. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He is greater than your boss. He is greater than the person who is subduing you unjustly. He is there to bring justice and righteousness to your life. He will deal with everyone who deals with unjustly, unfairly. He brought justice to David, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Israelites and keeps adding on.
