The Birth of a King 

By Brent Davis, Campus Ministry Coordinator 

1 We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star. 

Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light. 

2 Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign. [Refrain] (Hopkinsi) 

As we sing these words, let us ponder their meaning. What is the nature of Christ’s kingship? Even the term ‘Christ’ points to kingship: it means ‘anointed [king].’ In ancient Israel, kings were anointed when they were chosen to lead the people. The expectation of the ancient Israelites concerning kings was like this: 

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8) 

Jesus’s disciples had similar ideas: 

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1) 

Besides a military leader, the disciples had other expectations based on prophecies about the Messiah (anointed one=Christ): 

• Has an everlasting dominion over all peoples (Daniel 7) 

• Is the Son of God (Psalm 2: 7) 

• Is the Son of King David (2 Samuel 7: 13) 

• Brings justice (Isaiah 11: 1-5) 

• Brings peace (Isaiah 9: 6-7; Micah 4: 1-4) 

• Acts as a shepherd (Ezekiel 34: 23) 

This list, although not exhaustive, should help us to see that a great deal was expected from the Messiah. So, what did this baby do when he grew up? 

Well, to be an anointed king you have to be anointed, right? Jesus referred to this when he went to Nazareth:  

17The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: 

18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, 

for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. 

He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, 

that the blind will see, 

that the oppressed will be set free, 

19and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.f” 

20He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” [italics added] 

When exactly was he anointed? This appears to have happened at His baptism, which is the first thing Jesus does as an adult. 

21One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, 22and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.g” (Luke 3) 

So far so good, our king has been anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit. And we see that he is here to bring Good News, the Gospel that the oppressed will be set free. But how are they set free? Consider:  

10One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. 12When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” 13Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God! 

14But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.” 

15But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? 16This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?” (Luke 13) 

But what about the ruling all nations part? This is to be fulfilled in the future: As the disciples finally realized and declared: “21Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.” (Acts 3: 21) 

When that time comes:  

11Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. 12He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood,c and His name is The Word of God. 

14The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses. 15And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter.d He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: 

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. 

If you want a king who is righteous and will give you peace and justice, you need to repent of your rebellion, i.e., submission to things that promise freedom but actually oppress you, and receive true freedom and joy from the baby born a king on Bethlehem’s plain. The alternative is to be part of the nations struck down in Revelation. Make the right choice; vote for King Jesus!