Jesus: King of the Jews

There had been a war for independence in Judea for over 300 years Before Christ (B.C.),  firstly with the Greeks and secondly with the Romans. The Macabbees (Seven Macabee brothers led the revolt) fought Hellenistic influences of the Selucide Empire and formed the Hasmonean Dynasty (Jewish) which lasted  from 164 BC for one-hundred years. During this time Judaism became prominent again in Judea and the people were very nationalistic and ethnocentric. If a person wasn't of the Jewish bloodline they were unclean! Jews reigned supreme.

In 63 B.C. the Romans expanded their empire into Judea, replacing the Hasmonean Dynasty. In 37 B.C. Judea became a tributary of Rome under Herod the Great. This was the Herodian Kingdom and upon Herod's death Judea was divided between his four sons, becoming the Tetrarchy of Judea in 4 B.C. Herod ruled all Judea at the time of Jesus' birth.  Victory was followed by restoration of Jewish power and finally defeat again at the hands of the Romans. The Jewish nation had been fighting for their land up until the time of Jesus and even afterward when the Jews completely destroyed Jerusalem and Herod's Temple in 70 A.D.

 Revolution was the mindset and anticipation of a great restoration of the Hasmonean Dynasty was the dream. All the Jews needed was a new king, a David, to arrive, defeat the invaders and restore the majesty of Israel!  Many thought that Jesus was the sought after "King of the Jews"!

From Judaism 101 The Messianic Idea in Judaism "Mashiach: The Messiah" The following is said about the Jewish Messiah, who is totally different than the Christian Messiah. Then it be best to use the term "Mashiach":

"Belief in the eventual coming of the mashiach is a basic and fundamental part of traditional Judaism. It is part of Rambam's 13 Principles of Faith, the minimum requirements of Jewish belief. In the Shemoneh Esrei prayer, recited three times daily, we pray for all of the elements of the coming of the mashiach: ingathering of the exiles; restoration of the religious courts of justice; an end of wickedness, sin and heresy; reward to the righteous; rebuilding of Jerusalem; restoration of the line of King David; and restoration of Temple service.:

It's  obvious that the Mashiach was to be the heir of King David and his charge will be to restore Israel to its majesty, empower the Jewish nation, propagate Judaism, rebuild Jerusalem, and restore the Temple as the abode of God. Their Mashiach was not to be the Son of God as Messiah, but a mighty warrior and king who would win the revolution and re-establish the Kingdom of David!

Let's see what the Messiah delivered!

Matthew 1:1 "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."
Matthew 1:20 "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."

Of course Jesus wasn't of the seed of Joseph, but was of the Holy Ghost. However, Joseph was the parent who raised Jesus.

Luke 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli... (back to) ... 31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David..."

Since Joseph's genealogy came through Solomon, son of David, and this genealogy came through Nathan, son of David, it would appear that Matthew 1 gives Joseph's line and Luke 3 gives Mary's. However, one thing is sure: Jesus was the son (line) of David. This is called "cognatic primogeniture". Jesus was descended from David on both is maternal and "paternal" sides as far as civil (Jewish) law was concerned!

The Jews were expecting a king of the line of David. Jesus is that king! A descendant of a king is called a "pretender to the throne";  a person who claims entitlement to an unavailable kingship in this case, referring to a descendant of a former monarch, whose throne is occupied by another, claimed by a rival, or has been abolished. In this case, at the time of the birth of Jesus,  Herod the Great was king. Herod the Great, "King of the Jews" wasn't even Jewish! He was a convert and of an impure race! The kingship wasn't available to Jesus! The throne wasn't empty. A crisis was at hand!

As with any pretender to the throne, they are a threat to those in power. Jesus, who was pronounced  "king" was a threat to Herod..

Matthew 2:1 "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him."

Yes, Herod felt threatened! He knew scripture well enough to know that trouble was brewing and as many kings afterward, when threatened, he sought to have the newborn king killed!

Matthew 2:13 "And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:"

Herod, as did the Jews, believed Jesus to be a threat. He knew the tenets of Judaism.  Herod wasn't of the line of David. Herod was the son of Antipater, an Idumean, who was king in place of Hyrcanus, who was of the Jewish Royal Family, but had died. Hence, King Herod the Great wasn't of the line of David, was not of the Jewish Royal line and was only a "poser" to the throne. The pretender, Jesus, born of Mary and the Joseph the carpenter, was the legitimate heir the throne!

There's one problem: Jesus came to be king, but not in the traditional sense! He came to rule, but not Judea. He came to rule in the hearts of man:

John 18:36 "Jesus answered (Pylat) , My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."

Jesus came not to war and defeat the forces of the invader. He came to win men's hearts and defeat Satan. He knew that within the heart there wages war in everyone. Man is at war with principalities and the deceptions of the deceiver. Jesus won that war! It was won when his blood was shed on the cross at Calvary! Now those who believe live in the pretender's kingdom; the true heir to the throne:

John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Jesus rules in his kingdom. Believer's live in the King's Kingdom, but where is that Kingdom? Let's see:

Luke 17:20 "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

Until we are resurrected our "hearts" are the "Kingdom of God"! In that "kingdom" is peace, order, righteousness and even the temple! All these things are what the Jews are still waiting for in the Mashiach:, but what we have in the Messiah! But where is the Temple? Is it missing in the Kingdom of God?

1 Corinthians 3:16 "Know ye (those born again) not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

Yes, there's the Temple. It's in the believer. Therein dwells the "Spirit of God", the Holy Spirit. He lives in the believer just as he lived in the Holy of Holies in the Tent and in the Temple! Jesus lives within the believer. That's his Kingdom! The Christian lives in that same Kingdom! "This world is not my home. I;m just passing through!", according to the words of the song.

Matthew 27:36 "And sitting down they watched him there (on the cross); 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews. 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left."

The King was finally deposed (so they thought). He was assassinated to save the throne for an illegitimate reason. Just as most kings are deposed, this King they tried to humiliate by placing him between two thieves. For this king it was a privilege to die in humility. This king came to be a servant. His service was the ultimate!

In times of war the prosperous paid the poor to fight their battles. The substitute solider often died vicariously for the person whose duty it was to fight, but never had to pay the price he deserved. In the American Civil War many escaped tribulation and death because another was paid to do it for them!

Likewise, Jesus paid the substituted for us. However, he became a servant. His sacrifice was a gift. We never paid him and will never be able to! That's grace. For that grace we do owe Jesus one thing: we are to love him! That's reverence for what he did in our place. If you're a Christian do you have reverence for the King? If you have never been born again, is it right that you neglect to love and honor your substitute? The one who died in your place? Think on these things.

Oh, that temple that the Jews wanted to restore. It was built by Herod and destroyed in 70 A.D. However, the true Temple lives today! It's there in the Kingdom of God and is in millions of places worldwide. God's promise to Abraham is complete! His seed will inherit the earth.