Sunday, december 6, 2020
THE BABE BORN KING – “KING OF THE JEWS”
John 18:37 “…You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born,
and for this I have come into the world…”
18:36 “…My kingdom is not of this world…
My kingdom is not of this realm.”
- king, not of a land distinguished by its own language, law, customs
but ruler’s sphere of authority – hearts & lives of subjects
- committed to Him & His will
- kingdom, future expectancy of set up on earth
present expression wherever obedient to King Jesus’ rule
(Spirit empowered to obey, that kingdom in Spirit expressed)
- this babe, the Christ-child, reveals to us another kingdom
Matt 2:1 “…after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea
in the days of Herod the king”
- Herod was a usurper to the throne & hated and feared by Jews
Herod in 37BC captured Jerusalem and declared himself king
Herod killed his wife because of her highly esteemed Jewish lineage
Herod killed his 2 sons thinking Jews would rebel & make one king
Herod killed all male children in Bethlehem two and under
- Christ resisted the kingdom of Herod coming in weakness as a baby,
making Herod so insecure he murdered hundred of toddlers
- intensity of conflict of kingdoms (God’s & world’s)
“…magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem…”
- wise men, Gentiles, traveled about 1,500 miles over 2-3 months
to ask one of the most important questions of all time
- why make to long, difficult, dangerous journey to a nation they had
previously defeated?
they believed the holy Scriptures & 500 years earlier via Daniel
Matt 2:2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?...”
Matt 2:2 “Where is He…”
- seeking & searching diligently amidst an evil kingdom
seeking “while He may be found” – Isa 55:6
“when you search for Me with all your heart” – Jer 29:13
Searching where He has revealed Himself – John 1:14; Heb 1:2
“who has been born King…”
- unique; no man is born king (into royal family, become a king)
- born King – because Jesus was both human and divine
Isa 9:6 – “…a child will be born to us…”
‘born’ – His incarnation, became flesh, into this earth
- “…a son will be given to us…”
‘given’ – His pre-existence eternally with Father God
Mic 5:2 “…One…for Me to be ruler in Israel…
His goings…from long ago, from the days of eternity.”
- this One they sought was a man and divine
(so emphasis His relating to us, loose the aura of who He is – King)
“…of the Jews?...”
- this One they sought was from the nation of Israel
- of God’s terms – “The God of Israel” – His redemptive plan
- of God’s promises – Abrahamic covenant – Gal 3:8
- Davidic covenant – Isa 9:7 “on throne of David”
- Lk 1:32-33
- Jewish roots – if Jesus is not “of the Jews”, then we have a cultural
or cultish Jesus
- “…son of David…son of Abraham.” – Matt 1:1
Matt 2:2 “…For we saw His star in the east…”
- From the Jewish Scriptures they would have understood
Num 24:17 “…a star shall come forth from Jacob,
and a scepter (kingship) shall rise from Israel…”
- His star led they to Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) where 1,000 years earlier
David, the divinely appointed Jewish king, had been born
- His star – God’s light – everything about Him is light
His star – God’s leading – everything about His Spirit is guidance
His star – illuminating and leading to the Christ-child, King of Jews
Lk 2:32 “A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Thy people Israel.”
“…and have come to worship Him.”
- voluntarily bowing the knee; willingly submitting to His kingship/rule
‘yes’ to His kingdom rule in my life
‘yes’ to living a counter-cultural lifestyle that transforms our lives
- worship = recognizing & allowing Him to rule in your life
worship = recognizing that His is not only King of the Jews,
but also of the Gentiles & the nations
b) Gentiles – Rom 15:12 “…He will arise to rule over the Gentiles…
in Him shall the Gentiles hope.”
c) Nations - Rev 11:15 “The kingdom of the world has become the
the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ;
and He will reign forever and ever.”
When they found the Child, they worshipped the One who is wholly
man, wholly God and according the flesh, a Jew.
God in flesh, the King of the Jews and King of Kings, the Lord of lords
the Sovereign of the universe and the Savior of all who put their
trust in Him
They didn’t have all the answers, but they knew the right question
John 18:37 “…You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born,
and for this I have come into the world…”
18:36 “…My kingdom is not of this world…
My kingdom is not of this realm.”
- king, not of a land distinguished by its own language, law, customs
but ruler’s sphere of authority – hearts & lives of subjects
- committed to Him & His will
- kingdom, future expectancy of set up on earth
present expression wherever obedient to King Jesus’ rule
(Spirit empowered to obey, that kingdom in Spirit expressed)
- this babe, the Christ-child, reveals to us another kingdom
Matt 2:1 “…after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea
in the days of Herod the king”
- Herod was a usurper to the throne & hated and feared by Jews
Herod in 37BC captured Jerusalem and declared himself king
Herod killed his wife because of her highly esteemed Jewish lineage
Herod killed his 2 sons thinking Jews would rebel & make one king
Herod killed all male children in Bethlehem two and under
- Christ resisted the kingdom of Herod coming in weakness as a baby,
making Herod so insecure he murdered hundred of toddlers
- intensity of conflict of kingdoms (God’s & world’s)
“…magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem…”
- wise men, Gentiles, traveled about 1,500 miles over 2-3 months
to ask one of the most important questions of all time
- why make to long, difficult, dangerous journey to a nation they had
previously defeated?
they believed the holy Scriptures & 500 years earlier via Daniel
Matt 2:2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?...”
Matt 2:2 “Where is He…”
- seeking & searching diligently amidst an evil kingdom
seeking “while He may be found” – Isa 55:6
“when you search for Me with all your heart” – Jer 29:13
Searching where He has revealed Himself – John 1:14; Heb 1:2
“who has been born King…”
- unique; no man is born king (into royal family, become a king)
- born King – because Jesus was both human and divine
Isa 9:6 – “…a child will be born to us…”
‘born’ – His incarnation, became flesh, into this earth
- “…a son will be given to us…”
‘given’ – His pre-existence eternally with Father God
Mic 5:2 “…One…for Me to be ruler in Israel…
His goings…from long ago, from the days of eternity.”
- this One they sought was a man and divine
(so emphasis His relating to us, loose the aura of who He is – King)
“…of the Jews?...”
- this One they sought was from the nation of Israel
- of God’s terms – “The God of Israel” – His redemptive plan
- of God’s promises – Abrahamic covenant – Gal 3:8
- Davidic covenant – Isa 9:7 “on throne of David”
- Lk 1:32-33
- Jewish roots – if Jesus is not “of the Jews”, then we have a cultural
or cultish Jesus
- “…son of David…son of Abraham.” – Matt 1:1
Matt 2:2 “…For we saw His star in the east…”
- From the Jewish Scriptures they would have understood
Num 24:17 “…a star shall come forth from Jacob,
and a scepter (kingship) shall rise from Israel…”
- His star led they to Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) where 1,000 years earlier
David, the divinely appointed Jewish king, had been born
- His star – God’s light – everything about Him is light
His star – God’s leading – everything about His Spirit is guidance
His star – illuminating and leading to the Christ-child, King of Jews
Lk 2:32 “A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Thy people Israel.”
“…and have come to worship Him.”
- voluntarily bowing the knee; willingly submitting to His kingship/rule
‘yes’ to His kingdom rule in my life
‘yes’ to living a counter-cultural lifestyle that transforms our lives
- worship = recognizing & allowing Him to rule in your life
worship = recognizing that His is not only King of the Jews,
but also of the Gentiles & the nations
- Jews – Lk 1:32 “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
b) Gentiles – Rom 15:12 “…He will arise to rule over the Gentiles…
in Him shall the Gentiles hope.”
c) Nations - Rev 11:15 “The kingdom of the world has become the
the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ;
and He will reign forever and ever.”
When they found the Child, they worshipped the One who is wholly
man, wholly God and according the flesh, a Jew.
God in flesh, the King of the Jews and King of Kings, the Lord of lords
the Sovereign of the universe and the Savior of all who put their
trust in Him
They didn’t have all the answers, but they knew the right question
|
Lexington Foursquare Gospel Church
(PO Box 570) 21 Snowy Egret Lane Lexington, VA. 24450 |