BORN IS THE KING OF ISRAEL

People sing “Born is the King Of Israel” at this time of year.  Do they worship Him as the King of the Jews?  Do they read about His plan for the future of Israel?  Do they realize who will be in Israel’s remnant people?

This carol was written in about 1832.  The First Noel told about the star at Jesus’ birth, and about the three wise men who went looking for Jesus’ birthplace, Nazareth.  The Bible describes the times in (Math 2:1-6, Luke 2:8-35).  

Later, Jesus was to explain His mission to a woman whose daughter He healed.  He said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  

Paul writes in the letter to the Romans what a “True Israelite” is.  The theme begins in the first chapter of Romans describing how we are to be called of Jesus Christ, to bring about the obedience of faith among all the gentiles (Rom 1:5).   He continues to explain what a True Jew is through the letter and explains how the transition and growth takes place through to Rom 11:25, when he explains that all Israel,  who are true spiritual Jews will be saved.  Read the details of this wild olive branch being grafted into the cultivated olive tree of the nation of Israel (Rom 1-11).

Not all Israel continued in the Lord’s new covenant (Heb 8:8-9).  So Jesus promised to make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah (Heb 8-11).

The writer of Hebrews reminds God’s People that even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.  Paul explained in his letter to the Corinthians that we are the temple of the holy spirit who is in us (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19-20)  Our bodies are the holy temple of the living God (2 Cor 6:16)

People exclaimed 2000 years ago, “Born is the King of Israel,” when they celebrated Jesus’ birth in Israel.    

“Noel” can mean “Christmas, birthday, or good news.” The Cornish Carol of 1832 called the First Noel, was about the historical events and ways of life.  It told about the special star which led the three wise men to Jesus’ birth in Nazareth. God was announcing His Good News.

Especially prophetic is the testimony of an old man named Simeon who was in the temple when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the temple.   

         Simeon said, “My eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of Revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel” (Lk 2:30-32).

This revelation was to be expanded by Jesus into that which God gave Him to show to His bond servants the things which must shortly take place     (2 Thes 1:8-9, 2:1, Rev 1:1 ).  Presence = appearing in footnotes.

Jesus came to reveal the mystery of O.T. prophecies which were written about Himself appearing to His people. (1 Cor 2:6-14).

How to celebrate the feast of lights.  The writers of the NT teach us how to “know the Light” (Jn 16:7-12, 17:3,  Eph 5:7-14 ).  We are to be the Light ( Is 60:1-2, Lk 8:9-10, :15-21, 19:21-27 ).

As followers of Jesus, especially Disciples, we should have been trained up as children of light in the Lord (Eph 5:5-15).

          The symbols of light and darkness are not new in the New Testament. They are themes which are rooted in the Old Testament, and which are drawn upon and applied in the New. In our text, Paul likens our former nature and conduct as “darkness,” contrasting our nature and conduct as Christians by likening it to “light.”  Let us listen well, to grasp what it means to walk no longer as children of darkness, but to live as children of light, (“Walking in the Light” Bob Deffinbaugh ).      Also see Mk 4:23-24, take care what you listen to.

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