Never-Ending Kingdom - The Crosswalk Devotional - October 9
Never Ending Kingdom
By Emma Danzey
Luke 1:33 says, “And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
And He Will Reign
There has been so much talk over the passing of Queen Elizabeth II around the world. She reigned for 70 years and will go down in history as one of the top 4 longest ruling monarchs. She was known for her service and selflessness. She was a woman of faith in Jesus. Although her reign was great on this earth, the queen herself is now bowing before the King of Kings. Any human reign given by God is ultimately for His purposes. What is amazing about Luke 1:33 is that Jesus’ reign is unlike any other. Where earthly rulers make mistakes and sin, Jesus has a flawless rule. Where people in the world have selfish motives, Jesus is perfectly selfless and humble.
Luke 1:33 is a verse within a passage when Mary is told by the angel Gabriel about her miracle pregnancy of the Savior of the world. Mary was not anywhere near royalty herself. I kind of makes you think about David the shepherd boy who God chose. God’s kingdom is not like what we imagine in our worldly minds. The Lord was calling a teen virgin to carry the eternal Hero Jesus and in this verse in Luke 1:33 the angel tells Mary that her son will reign. In her mind, she may have thought the Messiah meant a reign on earth. However, God has a much larger plan.
Over the House of Jacob Forever
This verse is confirming to Mary that she indeed would give birth to the Messiah who the Jews, the people of God had been waiting on for many years. The time had come for the redemption plan of the Lord to unfold. Jesus was coming, He was getting ready to rule. But where the Jews were looking for a powerful earthly king, they missed that Jesus served a greater kingdom. He taught things like, “The first will be last and the last will be first” (Matthew 20:16) and “Let the little children come to me because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)
Jesus was the fulfillment of all of the promises found within the Old Testament. He was the One who lived the perfect life and became a sacrifice for all sins. Jesus fulfilled every prophecy, He was the One who was awaited, and many Jewish people missed it because of their own human thoughts about “who” the Messiah should be. However, He still came to die for the Jews and the Gentiles. He came first for the Jews, then for the Gentiles. He is King over all.
And of His Kingdom There Will Be No End
We see so many endings of kings and queens ruling on this earth, some are a relief and some are cause to mourn. However, Jesus’ kingdom has no end date. He was and is and is to come. He is the King of kings. Revelation tells us about the future events to take place. God describes in Revelation 19:16, “And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
We can rest in the fact today and every day that our perfect King who is faithful, humble, kind, the fair Judge, and the King who came to us, loves us and is never going to fail us. When he hung on the cross and people mocked Him and put a crown of thorns into his head, He did not back down from being a perfect sacrifice. When His own disciples turned their backs on him in fear, He still had great forgiveness and restoration for them, and when we ignore Him and forget His sacrifice for our sins each day, His grace meets us where we are and calls us back to Himself and into His kingdom purposes. If we really understood the magnitude of the glory of our King, we would be responding in bowing, in awe, in wonder of His greatness and His intimacy with us. He is worthy to receive all the power honor and glory forever.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
How can you remember Jesus as the King of kings today? How can you rest in His reign and join Him in His kingdom work?
Further Reading:
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