He Shall Be Called: King of Kings
Scripture Focus:
Luke 1:30–33 (ESV)
"And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.
And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.'"
From the moment the angel announced Jesus' birth, the message was clear: this child would be a king. Not just a king—but the King. The King of kings. His kingdom would be eternal. His reign would never end.
Living in the Tension
We live in between. Jesus came once. He lived, died, rose again, and ascended to heaven. And He will come again.
Advent reminds us of this tension. It’s a season not just of memory, but of anticipation. We celebrate His first coming and look forward to His return.
It can be easy to place our hopes in temporary things—a weekend trip, a job change, a new season of life—but the deepest joy we long for will only be fulfilled when Jesus fully establishes His kingdom.
His Throne. His Reign. His Kingdom.
Isaiah 9 and Luke 1 both declare that Jesus will sit on the throne of David, and His kingdom will have no end. That means:
His throne is secure.
His reign is active.
His kingdom is increasing, even now.
Matthew 6:10 teaches us to pray:
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
This is the life we’re invited into—partnering with the King to see His rule expressed here and now.
Who Do You Say He Is?
In Matthew 16:15–19, Jesus asked His disciples a defining question:
“Who do you say that I am?”
Peter responded, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
And Jesus replied, “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The rock wasn’t Peter himself—it was the revelation he had. The Church is built on a clear and unshakable understanding of who Jesus is.
Your view of Jesus—your revelation of Him—is the most important thing about your life. Our ability to stand, grow, and thrive as the people of God depends on it.
He Entrusts His Kingdom to Those Who Know Him
Jesus promised to give Peter and the Church the keys of the kingdom (Matthew 16:19). He wants to entrust His people with influence, authority, and impact. But He entrusts that to those who know Him—and know what pleases Him.
Just as a parent wouldn’t hand the car keys to a child not ready to drive, God’s not withholding out of stinginess. He’s waiting for our maturity to match His trust.
If we are to partner with God, we must care about what pleases His heart.
The King Is Our Father
Matthew 6 begins with the words: “Our Father.” The King of the universe is also our perfect Father. That means His reign is not distant or cold—it’s deeply relational. He reigns with justice and mercy. He leads with love.
He also has a will. There are things that please His heart and things that don’t. As we seek to live under His reign, we must care about His will.
The kingdom of God comes where His will is done.
Jesus, the Son of God
“Son of God” doesn’t mean Jesus was created like we were. In the Bible, to be a “son of” something often means to carry the nature of it. When Jesus is called the Son of God, it means He fully carries the divine nature. He is fully God.
Colossians 2:9 (ESV) says:
“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.”
To believe Jesus is fully God is to guard against deception. It centers our faith on the unshakable truth that He is the Christ—the Anointed One—who changes everything.
Lift Up Your Heads
Psalm 24:7–10 (ESV) calls out:
“Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.”
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty. The Lord mighty in battle. This is the one we worship. This is the one we serve. The King of kings.
Reflection Questions
Who do I say Jesus is? What does my life show about what I truly believe?
What does it look like to seek not just God's kingdom, but also His will?
What is one area where I need to ask, “What would please the King here?”