Mary Craig Ministries - Christ the King

This child would be the Son of God, born of the Holy Spirit. Amazingly, Mary responded with "be it unto me according to your word." Then Gabriel appeared to Joseph, to whom Mary was espoused, to tell him not to fear to take unto him Mary his wife; "for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit." Joseph had it confirmed by Gabriel that this child was to be called Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins.

Jesus Christ was born king, King of kings and Lord of lords, with a sovereign right to rule, the final court of appeal, and as the One who holds the power of life and death. Jesus surpasses earthly rulers in His character, dominion, authority, power, and kingdom.

Jesus has a royal lineage, a royal heritage. He is of the dynasty of David and a son of Abraham. (Matthew 1.1-17) He met both the racial and royal requirements to be Messiah and King. He fulfills the promise to David in the Davidic covenant of 2 Samuel 7. Joseph carried the legal line through Solomon's son Rehoboam. Mary carried the royal line from David through Nathan. In a sheer stroke of brilliance, Christ being born of a virgin circumvented the curse of Jeconiah (Jeremiah 22.30) which declared that there could never be a child of Jeconiah on the throne of David. Jesus had the legal and the real right to be king and Messiah.

Jesus has a royal character. A king rules unilaterally and absolutely as a single sole authority. He is a supreme ruler with power to say what lives or dies. He can rule according to wisdom or whim, in justice or tyranny, according to mercy and grace or according to violence. Earthly kings come to power by lot, by usurpation, by dynasty, or by appointment/election. Earthly kings exercise arbitrary power; Jesus Christ received His authority and power from His Father, God. Jesus was anointed king and received His kingdom from His Father. (Daniel 7.13, 14; Matthew 11.27; John 3.35; 1 Cor. 15)

Jesus Christ is a righteous king. A righteous king rules according to God's wisdom, justice, standard, mercy, and grace. (Psalm 72; Proverbs 16.12-15) Jesus Christ came, the Incarnate Word, full of grace and truth. In Him is life. He is pre-eminent. (John 1)

Jesus' birth was unique. He was born of a virgin according to prophetic word. According to the law, Joseph should have ended the relationship with Mary when he found out she was pregnant; but God intervened in a dream with that message from Gabriel. (Mt. 1.20ff) Between the experience and potential belief, God intervened with the truth about the experience so that Joseph and Mary would have the right expectations and subsequent behavior. The birth of Jesus was a royal birth as Jesus is the unique Son of God, Child of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, however, wasn't born in a palace, but in some sort of stable with animals and a manger. It was a humble beginning for sure.

They came to worship this newborn king. Not only did the shepherds appear to see Jesus of whom the angels spoke, but also the Magi at some point came from the East. These wise men were "the king makers of the east." Magi appointed kings and judges and dominated Gentile culture in terms of authority.

This royal king had His own star. These Magi were on a search, a search that led them to Jerusalem and before Herod the king. They said, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him." This created quite a stir and Herod gathered together the chief priests and scribes to demand where Christ should be born. Learning it was Bethlehem, the Magi followed the star "till it came and stood over where the young child was." (Matthew 2.2, 9)

These Gentile Magi came to worship. They presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold symbolizes God and kingliness. Frankincense speaks of deity and the fragrance of worship. Myrrh speaks of humanity, of death and burial, and of grace. Warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way; but Herod had already caught the import and threat of the arrival of the Magi to worship the one born king. Herod ordered the slaughter of potential contenders for his crown. Beware the leaven of Herod (the Herodians), Jesus would later say.

Jesus lived a life of destiny framed by the prophetic word. God prophesied that this King would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem and at some point be called out of Egypt as Son. In spite of a massacre, He would live and be called a Nazarene. He came to fulfill all righteousness in a life of obedience to His Father. He came to die according to the eternal plan of God. He rose from the dead to sit at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, as Ruler over the kings of the earth with all authority given unto Him in heaven and on earth. Jesus the King fulfills prophecy, the royal decree of the Sovereign God.

Jesus rules now over a spiritual kingdom, over the hearts of those who believe in Him and who believe Him. Those who submit to His rule receive forgiveness for their sins by means of the Sacrifice of Himself on the Cross as payment of the debt note of sin. Those who submit to His Lordship put their destinies into His hands and will find that every knee will bow to Him.

Jesus is king in every sense in the "already and not yet" tension of the Word of God. As He died and rose again and ascended into heaven, He sits in majesty as the Lamb Slain, the Lion of Judah, King of Righteousness, Prince of Peace, King of Glory. And He is coming again. Be ready.

This December-January the call of MCM world missions will take us into Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Philippines, Viet Nam, and South Korea. We hope you will pray for MCM and for this strategic mission in the battle of kings and the clash of kingdoms. MCM world missions has taken the gospel of Jesus Christ into 68 nations on all seven continents. With this upcoming mission we add five new nations to that list. For this we praise God and trust for His provision and grace. If the Holy Spirit desires you to share in this mission for souls in Asia, please give to Mary Craig Ministries, Inc. and designate your gift "MCM world missions China."

We thank you for giving. We welcome your generous gifts as guided by the Holy Spirit. Mary Craig Ministries actively ministers to those seeking healing, deliverance, help, and hope in Jesus Christ. You are touching lives through your gifts to Mary Craig Ministries. God is blessing MCM tremendously, and we are happy for those of you who partake of this blessing.

Serving the Lord of Glory,

Mary Craig

P.S. Go to www.marycraig.org. Order books from our Catalog section using PayPal. Worship with us 4:30 p.m. Sundays. Grow and flourish in small group ministry at Craighouse®, located in the Pompano Plaza at 114 E. McNab Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33060. Log on to www.craighouse.org for a map and more events and Bible studies. Reach MCM at 954-491-7270. Send in your prayer requests.