Jesus: King for a Powerless World

We are powerless creatures living in God’s world. The world, the flesh and the devil hold us in bondage to sin and self. Without a liberating power from without, we are doomed.

Enter the King, God’s appointed agent to establish His rule among His people and provide protection from their enemies.

David was the second king to be appointed by God over the nation of Israel. Through great victories against the surrounding nations, he extended the nation out to God’s promised borders and secured peace and prosperity for God’s people. Yet David was but a shadow of a greater king still to come. This promised king would come through David’s line and would rule triumphantly forever.

Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:11-16) 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Many centuries later, the angel Gabriel was sent to a young Jewish peasant girl living in the small backwater city of Nazareth.

And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." (Luke 1:30-33)

Jesus, the root and shoot of David, has been appointed king by God. He now rules over the universe as king of kings from His throne at the right hand of the majesty on high. His power reigns in us and for us His people, setting us free from the world, the flesh and the devil, so that we can live lives of righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).