Advent Wednesday #2

SERMON - Born a Child and Yet a King!

INI

Text: Luke 1:31-32a

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.”

In Christ Jesus, the One who is David’s Son but also David’s Lord, dear fellow redeemed:

For just a few moments before we begin a full consideration of our text, I would like you to switch gears, leaving Advent and Christmas behind, and move forward to Easter Sunday afternoon. In Luke 24 we find the account of the two men on their way to Emmaus. Jesus appeared to them, although their ability to recognize Him was withheld temporarily. Jesus asked them why they were so very sad, and they explained that Jesus had died and their hopes that He would be the promised Messiah were dashed. They then went on to explain their confusion at the reports of the women earlier that day and their wonder at the confirmation of Peter and John regarding the empty tomb. Jesus admonished them: “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” (vs. 25-26) They failed to understand the reality they were experiencing, because they failed to understand and believe the Old Testament prophecies that were being fulfilled before their very eyes!

Now consider by way of contrast the picture on the front of your bulletin this evening. It depicts the magi who traveled a long distance to present their gifts to a Child, whom they knew to be God’s promised King. They came because they understood and believed the Old Testament prophecies. As we continue to pray in these Advent meditations—COME, THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS, may we recognize that Jesus was born a Child and yet a King! This was accomplished in accordance with Old Testament prophecy and in order to fulfill God’s divine plan for each of us!

I.

The wise men came to Jerusalem to find and then worship a new-born King (cf. Matthew 2:1ff.). We cannot be certain which prophecies led these men to search for Jesus. They mentioned seeing “His star in the East” (Matthew 2:2), which suggests they at least had access to the Mosaic book of Numbers and the prophecies of Balaam. Balaam, a false prophet hired to curse Israel as they prepared to enter the Promised Land was forced by the Spirit to declare regarding God’s promised Savior: “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17). The reference to Jacob, of course, refers to Jesus’ human lineage, while the reference to the Scepter suggests His kingship.

These two thoughts are revealed with even greater clarity by Isaiah. He recorded this prophecy: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (9:6-7). Jesus was that Child. He was the Son given to us. He was the “Wonderful Counselor” sent by His Father to reveal to fallen mankind divine truth. He was Himself the “Mighty God” and declared to be the “Prince of Peace” who would restore peace between God and man. He was the “Everlasting Father” in this sense that He is the originator of everlasting life to all who believe. This Jesus, Isaiah said, would sit as an everlasting King upon the throne of David! Indeed, COME, THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS born a Child and yet a King just as prophesied in the Old Testament and confirmed in every detail by the history of Jesus Christ as revealed in the New Testament Gospels.

II.

Yes, Jesus came as a Child and as a King to fulfill God’s divine plan for each of us! That divine plan called for the salvation of our souls, but why did God’s plan call for Jesus to be born as a seemingly defenseless Child before becoming that almighty and everlasting King? Why could Jesus not simply come in His divine glory as depicted in the Revelation and defeat Satan in mortal combat? Would it not have been quicker and easier? Perhaps that could be argued, but it would not have accomplished that which is necessary. Because of man’s sin and the judgment upon sin demanded by our just God, payment had to be made. Someone had to suffer the just consequences of sin. Either we had to do so ourselves, or someone else in our place. God, who loved us as the One who created us, determined to rescue us from the just judgment we deserve by having His own Son take our place.

In order to do that, however, Jesus had to become true man! As true God Jesus was not subject to the law, but was above the law, which is a reflection of His very essence. Nor was it possible for Him to suffer the consequences of breaking the law—death. In order to submit Himself to the law and suffer the judgment of the law, Jesus had to become true Man. The apostle Paul explains this in his epistle to the Galatians: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (4:4-5). Our redemption required the incarnation of God’s Son—Jesus had to become a human being, and so was born of the Virgin Mary!

At the same time, however, Jesus was born a King! He was not a King like other kings. What other king was born in a stable and placed in a manger? What other king never owned a house or a palace he could call his own? What other king had no royal robes and never held a bejeweled scepter? Yet, Jesus was indeed a King—a King unlike any other king, for His kingdom was not of this world, as He Himself declared (cf. John 18:36). Jesus was a King, whose birth the angelic choirs announced. Jesus was a King, before whom the elements of this earth yielded, and at whose name demonic powers shuttered. Jesus commanded eyes to open and illnesses cured. Jesus’ kingdom is not limited geographically or chronologically—it exists within the hearts of men and women everywhere and in every age. As the apostle Paul explained to the Ephesians: “He (God the Father) raised Him (Jesus) from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (1:20b-23).

As our King, Jesus was born to conquer Satan, to remove sin, and to overcome death on our behalf. This He has done and will continue to do until He returns at the end of time. Then He will come—not as a seemingly helpless Child, but as a conquering Judge calling everyone to stand before Him. Then He will bestow upon us the gift of eternal life that He has promised, while sentencing those who oppose Him to everlasting judgment with the devil and his evil angels. This, my dear friends, is what we can confidently expect, for it is exactly what Jesus has promised to do in His Word! COME, THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS! We thank You for coming so long ago as a Child, even as it was prophesied that You would! We praise You for being a King and look forward with joyous anticipation to Your return in glory at the end of time! May we ever be found to be Your loyal and faithful subjects! Amen.

—Pastor Paul D. Nolting
Soli Gloria Deo!