Born to Be King (Part 3: From the Manger through the Cross to the Throne

The purpose of Jesus’ birth was not to get him just to the cross. The purpose of his birth was to get him to the throne of his Father’s kingdom with a rescued humanity as his subjects. As we saw, Jesus expected to go to the cross. His death on the cross was essential to accomplishing our salvation and essential to fulfilling his purpose. His death for our sins and his resurrection to provide eternal life to us was the victory that shook the heavens (1 Cor. 15:54-57; Romans 8:28-39). Romans 8:34-37 says, “Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. . . . But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (NASB95). So Jesus came to go from the manger through the cross to the throne. The Son of God became human in order to die on the cross for our sins so that he would be raised back to life to reign forever (Phil. 2:5-11).

Jesus said, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, this is the reason I was born” (John 18:37). Jesus was born to be king. Jesus’ death and resurrection satisfied all that needed to be done to provide salvation for all who would come to him (1 Cor. 15:1-8, 20-28). Through faith in Jesus, we become subjects of the King and are guaranteed a place with him in his kingdom forever.

This is what was announced at the birth of Jesus. The angel told Mary that God would give Jesus the throne of David and that Jesus would reign forever (Luke 1:32-33). Zechariah prophesied that through the coming of Jesus God had raised up a “horn of salvation” (one strong enough to provide salvation) in the house of David (Luke 1:69), connecting the theme of the ruler of Israel with the provision of salvation through the person of Jesus. After the birth of Jesus, the Magi came seeking “the one who has been born king of the Jews” so that they could worship him (Matt. 2:2). The prophets had foretold that there would be a child who would be king forever (Isaiah 9:6-7), and the Magi were very aware that they should find a child who had been born to be king.

Without the birth of Jesus, there would not be One who could go to the cross for us (to pay for sin in our place). Without the cross of Jesus, there would not be One who could conquer sin and death for us (to the victor goes the throne). Without the throne of Jesus, there would not be a future for us (with Jesus as king forever, those who receive him become his forever and live forever with him).

(conclusion next week)