4. The King Who Reigns Forever
Question 1:
What friend from childhood has grown up to accomplish
something unexpected?
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
Albert Einstein didn’t pass his entrance exam the first time. When he graduated, he didn’t easily find work because he didn’t want to follow the status quo. It must’ve been a surprise when he earned a Nobel prize.
Abraham Lincoln was another man most people didn’t expect to succeed. After all, he failed in several business ventures, and during his service in the military, Lincoln went from being a captain to a private! Lincoln persevered and far exceeded everyone’s early estimation of him.
The work of Jesus exceeded anything people were expecting from the Messiah; although they had expected a warrior to deliver them from their oppressors, Jesus came to do far more than they could’ve imagined. Those who watched Jesus grow up and become a carpenter were likely surprised by His work as an itinerant rabbi. Even to those who knew of the angelic announcements surrounding His arrival, His ministry surely far exceeded anything they expected. Jesus became King of kings and Lord of lords—titles He holds now and forever.
THE POINT
Jesus rules His kingdom now and forever.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Some celebrate Jesus’ birth on more than just Christmas day, observing a season of “Advent,” a Latin word that means “coming.” They celebrate Jesus’ birth for weeks leading up to Christmas Day. As we reflect on the significance of this season, let’s not leave Jesus in the manger. Let’s use the season of Advent to reflect on God’s promises. Jesus came to the earth for the purpose of bringing us into God’s eternal kingdom. Jesus would grow up into adulthood and show us how to love God and people perfectly. He would be obedient to death on a cross and rise from the grave, taking away the sins of the world and giving us new life. As we celebrate Christmas, let’s celebrate the full narrative of Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection, and reign.
Isaiah 9:6-7 is a prophecy about Jesus that reflects the full picture of Jesus for all time and eternity. In our second session (pp. 23-24), we looked at Isaiah 9:1-3 and saw that “a great light” one day would appear in the region of Galilee. Isaiah went on to describe how God would bless the people with joy and freedom from their oppressors and establish a new kingdom that would be ruled by a new kind of king. Verses 6-7 describe that king.
The government will be on his shoulders. This is the image of a King literally putting on His royal robes, the clothing that represents who He is and the authority He has.
Wonderful. The Hebrew word refers to that which is supernatural and miraculous. This is the same root word for the miracles that occurred in Egypt (Ex. 3:20).
Counselor. This Counselor would speak advice that was extremely wise. Putting “Wonderful” alongside “Counselor” pointed to a Ruler who would express God’s wisdom in all His words and actions.
Mighty God. This is a common title for God and clearly points to the deity of this Ruler. This prophecy points to Jesus, who won’t just be a mighty man; He will be the divine warrior who fights for His people.
Everlasting Father. We associate this term with God the Father. While we acknowledge the deity of Jesus, the term here refers to the King’s style of leadership. Fathers were the heads of tribes who wisely led the people, and Jesus will wisely lead us forever.
Prince of Peace. Jesus will establish a kingdom of peace. He brought to us the ultimate peace through His death on the cross.
This description reveals both the character of Jesus and how He will reign over us. Jesus points us forward in hope to the day when He will come again. Jesus will come as the eternal King who will bring justice to the nations and establish His kingdom.
Luke 1:26-31
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.”
Eight centuries after Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah, events began unfolding regarding the promised child. The Gospel of Luke records the angelic announcement regarding the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25), followed six months later by the angelic announcement to a virgin in Nazareth named Mary. Gabriel, the same angel who announced the birth of John, now came to Mary with a greater announcement.
The word angel means, “messenger.” Gabriel’s initial message wasn’t complex, but it was confusing. Surely most of us would be startled if an angel confronted us, especially with such a message. Mary apparently was no exception, since Luke reported, “[she] was greatly troubled at his words” (v. 29). But “the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary.’”
Mary didn’t need to be afraid because she had “found favor with God.” To find favor with God means to be “full of grace.” This phrase clearly portrays Mary as a recipient of God’s grace. Thankfully, it can now be said of all who have accepted Christ by faith and have become His children that we also are full of grace.
Obviously, God was bestowing a special honor on Mary. Why else would He send an angel to tell her God was with her? Mary was troubled because she did not know why she was favored or blessed with the presence of God.
Twice in verse 27, Luke used the word virgin. Twice he drew attention to the single detail that’s critical to everything else. Luke’s emphasis highlighted God’s role in this event. This was no ordinary conception. Gabriel gave more detail in verse 35: “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” This angelic statement is clear: Mary’s son would “be called the Son of God.”
It is also significant that Gabriel made this statement to Mary about a child she would bear. Mary’s vital role emphasized that this child also would be fully human. Jesus became one of us. He was born, lived, and died as a human being. Jesus knows what it’s like to face tests, trials, and temptations—yet He never sinned. Jesus is the only true Savior because He lived the perfect life we should live before God.
Luke 1:32-33
32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
It was incredible enough that Mary, a virgin, would give birth to a son, but Gabriel proceeded to announce the role and character of Jesus. Jesus’ mission was unlike any other mission the world has ever seen because of who Jesus is, what He will do, and where He will be for all eternity.
He will be great. Of course, most parents think their children are great no matter what they do or who they become. Gabriel’s announcement pointed to someone infinitely greater, for great was a word used frequently to describe God in the Old Testament.
He will be called the Son of the Most High. Most High was a term reserved for God Himself. Not only is Jesus great, but He is also God’s Son. As the son of Mary, Jesus is fully human. As the Son of the Most High, Jesus is fully God.
He will be given the throne of his father David. God promised King David, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (2 Sam. 7:16). Jesus would rule over Israel, but it wouldn’t stop there! He was the One who spoke creation into existence, and as the resurrected Lord, Jesus would sit at God’s right hand.
Because Jesus is great and is the Son of the Most High, He will rule and reign above all forever. When we surrender our lives to Jesus, we receive the incredible privilege of joining Him for all eternity.
LIVE IT OUT
Jesus rules His kingdom now and forever. Choose one of the following applications:
Reflect: Take a moment and reflect on your life. How do you struggle with humility or being obedient to the Lord? How can you walk more in humility and obedience?
Remember: As you put away Christmas decorations, replace them with a visible reminder of Jesus’ current reign as King, for example: a ceramic church or a small globe as a reminder to pray for missionaries.
Reveal: Thinking about how Jesus is the King who reigns forever, how can you share this truth with someone this week? Plan to share the gospel with someone this week.
Heaven knew who Jesus was from the very beginning and the people of His day eventually were awestruck as well. But one day soon, everyone will see the King for who He is!
