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Luke and the Messiah
Luke and the Messiah
After careful study, Luke wrote what was the consensual belief of disciples in the early beginnings of Christianity (see Luke 1:1-4). In the very first chapter, he records the conversation between an angel of the Lord and Mary the mother of Jesus.
| 30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." Luke 1:30-33 |
· Mary, who was yet a virgin, would bear a son.
· He would be called ‘Jesus’ – Jehovah Saves.
· He would be great
· He would be called the Son of the Most High (Son of God).
· He would be placed upon the throne of David
· He would reign over the house of Jacob forever
· His kingdom will have no end.
Utterly astounding – OR a complete disaster for believers! Such is either true to the facts or a falsehood. Look again at what was surely believed by these first disciples.
Obviously it announces the activity of God in the life of this child, His very name indicates such activity of God… Through Him, God would act to save people. Such activity was seen time and again in the very works that Jesus did (cp. John 5:36; John 3:1-2; John 20:30-31).
Great? Yes, it is a ‘slippery word’, but after 2000 years we can see the impact that Jesus has had upon the world!
Called the Son of God. Not just A son of God, but THE Son of God. God’s unique and only Son in the sense and situation of the life of Jesus. This would be the consistent claim: of His disciples (Mark 1:1; John 1:34), the demons (Matt. 8:29), and God the Father (Matt. 3:16-17; 17:5). This is the claim that caused the Jewish leaders to have Him crucified (Mark 14:61-62). This claim was vindicated by the resurrection (Rom. 1:4). This is what ALL those who would be disciples are to believe (John 20:30-31).
He would be placed upon the throne of David. That ‘throne’ is not the physical chair, but the realm of rule and authority. That rule had ended with the Babylonian captivity. The people have been waiting for over 500 years for this son of David. Here is Jesus, the Son of David (Matt. 1:1; 9:27; 12:23; 20:30-31; etc.).
Such rule and authority would be over ‘the house of Judah’. “Behold, your king’ said Pilate to the Jewish leaders. “Jesus, king of the Jews” was place upon His cross. Yet, we will see that it not only included being a ruler over the Jews, but over heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18) and over all nations (Mark 16:15-16). He is not just a king, but King of Kings. He sits on the very throne of God! Such coronation came not at his birth, but with his resurrection and ascension (cp. Daniel 7:13-14; Psalm 2).
Such authority would not be temporary. Which means, He still IS King over all! We either acknowledge such by submitting and claiming Him as our king, or we live in rebellion only to face Him in judgment. Is He your king?
Hugh DeLong
