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For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be on his shoulders. And he 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. 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 (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Wonderful – AMAZING, beyond understanding.
Counselor – to advise, consult, purpose, devise, PLAN.
GOD’S AMAZING PLAN
O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous [wonderful] things, things planned [counseled] long ago (Isaiah 25:1).
The birth of Jesus began the wonderful counsel (amazing plan) of God to bring HEAVEN to earth.
Isaiah 11:1-10
There are two comings (advents) of Christ:
(1) He came as a humble SERVANT to DIE for the sins of the world.
“...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
(2) He will come as a mighty WARRIOR to JUDGE the sins of the world.
“The Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds” (Matthew 16:27 NLT).
The OT prophets didn’t realize that there would be two comings of the Christ. Some prophecies contain aspects of both comings. ILLUSTRATION: Like looking at two mountain peaks from afar, not realizing that there is a large valley between them.
KING JESUS
1. Jesus is the PROMISED King.
“The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his” (Genesis 49:10).
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17).
“When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:12-13).
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land” (Jeremiah 23:5).
“You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:31-33).
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:1-2).
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2).
2. Jesus is the REJECTED King.
Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied (Matthew 27:11).
“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have not king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered (John 19:15).
a. He was HUMILIATED like a FOOL.
[The soldiers] stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set on his head. They but a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again (Matthew 27:28-30).
b. He was EXECUTED like a CRIMINAL.
Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS (Matthew 27:37).
c. He was MOCKED like a FAILURE.
...the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down from the cross, that we may see and believe” (Mark 15:31-32).
3. Jesus is the RETURNING King.
“For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation” (Luke 17:25).
The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet” (Psalm 110:1).
...endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).
a. He will return in POWER and GLORY.
Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! (Revelation 1:7).
“At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27).
They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is the Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers (Revelation 17:14).
b. He will reign over ALL the earth.
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).
“In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:64).
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory” (Matthew 25:31).
Why is an earthly kingdom necessary? Because Jesus must be triumphant in the same arena where He was seemingly defeated. His rejection was on this earth; His exaltation must also be on this earth.
Is Jesus your King?
