REASON #1 Why Christmas Should Take Your Breath Away: Our King Has Come!

Note: For the remaining 20 days until Christmas, I plan on writing one post a day about Christmas. The following is the first entry.

Six months into the conception of John the Baptist, the angel Gabriel was sent to the virgin Mary. What was his message? She, though a virgin, would bear a son. And not just any son, but a king. Consider that. A meek, lowly child born to a castaway virgin with no royal pedigree would be the eternal king. Look at Gabriel’s words: “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 1:32, ESV).

What does it mean for Jesus to have the throne of his father David? It means that Jesus is the promised King who would reign over the people of God and lead them in righteousness and peace. King David was an upright man and God richly blessed David and Israel on account of his righteousness. But two things went wrong: David was sinful (Bathsheba and census) and his reign came to an end. Somehow there needed to be a perfect king who would reign forever.

God promised this kind of king to David: “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” (2 Samuel 7:12-13, ESV). This king would come from the line of David and would not just have a very long reign, but an eternal reign. This king was not Solomon nor Hezekiah nor Josiah. No, they all died, and they all sinned. A perfect, never-ending reign needed to come, and we have that promised by Gabriel in Jesus Christ.

Don’t think small thoughts of Jesus as King. His reign is comprehensive and rule is complete. As king, this infant alone has authority to forgive the sins of everyone, including his mother who birthed him (Luke 5:20-26). As king, this infant has authority over all demonic powers. They recognize his authority and beg not to be tormented (Luke 8:28). As king, this infant would crush the greatest enemy (Death) by rising from the dead. As king, this infant would have authority over all men and women who have ever lived, and everyone from Muhammad to Mao Tse Tung to Clara Barton will have to given an account to him (1 Peter 4:5).

Come, let us adore this infant king!