24th December 2025
Jesus the King
…the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:10-14 (NIV)
As we prepare to receive King Jesus, let’s centre our hearts and minds on the kingship of baby Jesus.
Jesus is a descendant of David – Jesus’s royal lineage traces back to King David through his earthly father, Joseph. This is documented in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The Old Testament promise was that the Messiah would come from the ‘house of David’ to establish a lasting kingdom. The earthly appearance and ministry of the Messiah were realised in Jesus, along with the announcement of the eternal kingdom.
The star of Bethlehem was a celestial sign that guided the magi – As described in the Gospel of Matthew, ‘wise men from the East’ saw this new star. They were skilled in astronomy and stargazing, so they followed this sign to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem, where they found the infant Jesus. Whether this was a planetary alignment, a comet, a supernova, or a literal new star, we know that it was a miraculous sign that supernaturally guided the Magi.
The wise men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh – These gifts had symbolic royal significance. Gold represented Jesus’s kingship, while frankincense pointed to his divinity (100% man and 100% God), and myrrh (used as a burial ointment) symbolised his willing sacrificial death.
Angelic proclamations to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds announced the birth from on high – There are other details and signs that direct us to the humility of our great God. The promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world, in an animal feeding trough is a sign of his humble beginnings and ultimate purpose. Jesus was not born in a palace, or even an inn for weary travellers, but a stable for cattle and sheep. Then the first to witness and worship the entry of Emmanuel, God with us, are the lowly shepherds, who are suspicious characters in their society.
In many ways, Jesus is an upside-down king. But doesn’t this reflect the mysterious, humble nature of our God?
Wishing you and yours a joyous Christmas season as we once again turn our attention to Jesus, the King of Glory.
This study is an amended transcript of the President’s Update and was first published in the 10 December 2025 edition of the GCI Update.
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Study by: Greg Williams About the author: |
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