Jesus Christ is declared king at his birth: he descends from the royal line of David. People rejected his kingly claims at his crucifixion but God exalted him to his rightful place of power and majesty. At the end of time Jesus Christ will rule the nations for ever.
Jesus Christ descends from the royal line of David
He was the Son of David
Matthew 1:1 The Messiah was expected to come from David's line. The genealogy given by Matthew follows the royal line of the kings descended from David. See also Matthew 9:27, Matthew 12:23, Matthew 15:22; Luke 1:32–33, Luke 2:4, Luke 3:31
This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
He was born in Bethlehem, the town of David
John 7:42 See also Matthew 2:3–6; Micah 5:2; Luke 2:15–16
Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
Jesus Christ is regarded as king
John 1:49 By Nathanael. See also Matthew 2:1–2 by the Magi; John 6:15 by the crowds; Acts 17:7 by Jason of Thessalonica
“Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
Jesus Christ refused worldly kingdoms
John 18:36 See also Matthew 4:8–10 parallel Luke 4:5–8; John 6:15
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”
Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem as a king
Matthew 21:1–9 parallel John 12:12–15 See also Zechariah 9:9
Jesus Christ's kingship is an issue at his trial
Pilate questions Jesus Christ
Luke 23:2–3 parallels Matthew 27:11, Mark 15:2, John 18:33 Pilate's first words to Jesus Christ are the same in all the Gospels.
And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.” So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
Jesus Christ claims to be a spiritual king
John 18:36–37 See also Matthew 27:11 parallels Mark 15:2, Luke 23:3
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.” “Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”
Pilate appeals to the crowd to accept Jesus Christ as their king
“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked.
The crowd reject Jesus Christ as king
Mark 15:12–13 See also John 19:12–15
So Pilate asked them again, “What then do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?” And they shouted back, “Crucify Him!”
Jesus Christ is mocked as king
Matthew 27:27–30 parallels Mark 15:16–20, John 19:2–3
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.
Jesus Christ is declared king at his crucifixion
John 19:19–22 parallels Matthew 27:37, Mark 15:26, Luke 23:38 Jesus Christ's claim to be king was the “crime” for which he was executed.
Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but only that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’ ” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
God has exalted Jesus Christ to his rightful place as king
Hebrews 1:3 See also Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 12:2; Revelation 5:6, Revelation 7:17, Revelation 22:1–3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
As king, Jesus Christ welcomes believers into his kingdom
Luke 23:42–43 See also 2 Timothy 4:18; Revelation 3:20–21
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Jesus Christ is king of all kings
He will rule over the nations
Revelation 1:5 See also Psalm 2:7–9; Daniel 7:13–14; Matthew 19:28, Matthew 25:31–32; Romans 15:12; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Philippians 2:9–10; Revelation 12:5, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:11–16
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,
He is king for ever
Revelation 11:15 See also Isaiah 9:7; Luke 1:33; Hebrews 1:8; Psalm 45:6
Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.