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WHERE IS HE THAT IS BORN KING OF THE JEWS? |
12-5-99 |
INTRO: The wise men from the east in search of the Christ child asked the leaders of Israel who should be in the know, "Where is he that is born king of the Jews?"
Robert McLauchlan, in a sermon delivered in the last century thought the question is still a good one. Allow me to quote at some length from his recorded papers.
"The question that was asked by the wise men, nearly nineteen hundred years ago needs to be asked today, and asked so pointedly that it will arouse a slumbering world, "Where is he that is born king of the Jews?" Where is He" and where is His kingdom? What have you done with Him, and it? We demand an answer, and wait for a reply, -- and we need not be surprised if the reply should be somewhat incoherent, seeing that the adherents of the various systems of manufactured religion are in a state of intoxication, "drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink," (Isa. 29:9).
What can we expect of them in such a maudlin condition? But we must give them a respectful hearing for they have great men among them; men distinguished for their learning. We must remember also that the lies by which they are bewitched were inherited; but this must not prevent us from urging the question, "Where is he that is born king of the Jews?" The shepherds came with haste to find him, and we are in haste to get an answer to our question. We are not inquiring out of vain curiosity, but with anxiety to find the person here designated, "King of the Jews". And introduction to some other person will not answer the purpose, It is the "King of the Jews we are in search of. He of whom Moses and all the prophets wrote, and of whom the angel Gabriel said, "He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord Go shall give unto Him the throne of his father Davie, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end (Lk. 2:32-33)
We think two questions asked in the bible belong together. Who is he and where is he?
I Where is the Christ of great Consequence?
"fall and rising of many in Israel"
"a sign (token, wonder) that shall be spoken against"
"sword shall pierce your own soul"
Just a nice guy He’s not
Everybody likes a nice guy. Everybody did not like Jesus
He himself warned against such a misconception
Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? [43] "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. [44] He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." (ground to power" KJV)
Just a nice guy puts his family first.
Matthew 12:47-50 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." [48] He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" [49] Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. [50] For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Just a nice guy protects his friends from difficulties
Matthew 10:16-18 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. [17] "Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. ...
Jesus message and mission were greater.
WHERE IS THE KING OF THE JEWS?
Where is the Messiah? Messiah means anointed one. Anointed to be King.
KING means RULE, POWER, AUTHORITY, DOMINION
"He shall be great (Mega, mighty, exceedingly great) . . . The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
Where is he that is to sit on David’s throne?
McLauchlan "Does this apply to the child born in Bethlehem of Judea nearly nineteen hundred years ago? If so, when did he sit on David’s throne, and reign over the house of Jacob? When did His reign begin? When was He inaugurated? Was it when He was dragged a prisoner before Pilate, when they clothed him with purple and platted a crown of thorns and put it on his head and began to salute him, "Hail King of the Jews"?
Are you prepared for the answer? Here it is from an organ of the Presbyterian Church, and a highly esteemed clergyman …. "Christ is now seated on David’s throne in heaven. He will never return to reign on earth. It is all folly to expect?"
Again they say, "The first disciples may have been fascinated by a shadowy promise of the overthrow of their heathen conquerors and the establishment of a Jewish kingdom, under a national sovereign, but we may reasonably suppose that the language was typical and capable only of a metaphorical fulfillment"
Was Good’s oath and promise to Abraham, and his seed shadowy? Was His oath and promise to David typical" Typical of what? Was the annunciation by the angel Gabriel to Marry shadowy? It was not a shadowy son that was born; His life of toil and sorrow, His anguish in Gethsemane, His cruel sufferings and ignominious death were not shadowy. Why then deny Him the promised throne and kingdom?
Where is the MIGHTY ONE?
1. Psalm 2:2-12 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. ... Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, [6] "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." ... Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
WHERE IS HE THAT IS COMING TO REIGN?
Where is this Son of David that is coming to execute Judgment and Justice in the earth? (this is what frightened the leaders of Judea and Herod)
1. Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King (who shall, NIV) shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Where is he that is coming to set things straight and restore the glory of creation?
1. Isaiah 11:2-9 ... but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. ... They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
Conclusion: "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?" If the kingdom of heaven is a mere figure of speech and the thing prefigured can exist in men’s hearts and if Christ is to be forever seated at His Father’s right hand and shall never return to claim the throne and kingdom promised, then all the grand Messianic prophecies relating to his second coming, his glory and his reign have forever failed and God is no longer a covenant keeping God. Did I err in pronouncing all this said? I feel that words cannot express the intensity of all pervading gloom such a condition would involve. I repeat that the festivities of our Christmas holiday are darkened by the conscious conviction that the spirit and power of the occasion are wanting.