The angel Gabriel said unto Mary concerning Christ, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:32–33).

It was a tremendous moment when the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth. The angel was sent to announce that the Messiah was to be born of the Virgin Mary. Concerning the Messiah, Gabriel stated six events would take place.  First, the baby, born of a virgin, would be called Jesus. Second, the child would grow to greatness. Third, He would be called the Son of the Highest or the Son of God. Fourth, the Lord God would give unto the child the throne of His father David. Fifth, the child would one day reign over the house of Jacob forever. Sixth, there would be no end of His kingdom.

As hearts are focused upon the baby born at Bethlehem, it is important to realize that every one of the prophetic utterances has been or is being fulfilled. Jesus was born of a virgin. He did grow to be great. He was called the Son of the Highest. He is still worshiped by millions today as the Son of the Living God. And there was a time when the Lord God gave to Him the throne of his father David. The Father could give the "throne of David" to Christ in a natural, legal sense because He was entitled to it as the two genealogies reveal (Matt. 1; Luke 3). 

This concept of giving the throne to someone is understandable when the case of Charles, Prince of Wales is considered. According to English custom and law, Charles is the next heir to the British throne.  No one else in all of the Empire or in the entire world is in a position to be the next king of England for that honor belongs to Charles alone.  It is his because he has been born of royal blood by Queen Elizabeth II.  The Prince of Wales is unique and according to established law, he will no doubt one day be crowned the King of England.  He was born to be king.

In like manner, Jesus was born to be the rightful ruler over the nation of Israel.  According to His natural genealogy, he was a direct descendant of David.  Had the Romans not ruled the world and had royal Jewish lineage been preserved, the natural honor due to Jesus would have been rendered.  Some people, like the Magi, understood this point.  They recognized the crown rights of Jesus as the legitimate heir to the throne of David, which is why they went to Herod, and asked, "Where is he that is born king of the Jews?" 

Herod had not been born a king. He held the title and office due to a political appointment by Rome.  That was why he was so jealous and so zealous to kill the Christ child. The baby was a threat to his security for Jesus was born to be king. And the day came when Jesus was crowned as king for our text says that the Father would give Him the throne of his father David.  The obvious question is, "Did this ever happen and if so, when?"

The simple answer is, "Yes!"  Jesus did receive the throne of David but the prophecy was fulfilled in a spiritual way.  It must never be forgotten that behind the literal, there is the spiritual understanding of human events.  The Lord Jesus received the spiritual throne of David at His ascension following His resurrection.  Peter made this plain on the Day of Pentecost as per Acts 2:32-36.

“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

It has been the faith of the Christian church for almost two thousand years that Jesus Christ was crucified, that He died according to the scriptures.  He was buried and rose again on the third day. He ascended into heaven and was seated on the right hand of God the Father from which place He now reigns in an exalted manner over the nations of the earth in general but over the “House of Jacob” in particular. The "House of Jacob" is the Old Testament name for the spiritual people of Israel.  The "House of Jacob" goes beyond the racial Jew to include the regenerate Jew.  The regenerate Jew is anyone who has the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

To this select group are added all Gentiles who, by faith, also embrace the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The New Testament expression of this union of spiritual Jew and spiritual Gentile is the church, the ecclesia, the called out ones.  It can be argued that from His exalted throne in heaven, in fulfillment of ancient prophecies, Jesus Christ does rule and He does reign over the "House of Jacob."

The present reign of Christ is in the hearts of all that love Him and seek to serve Him.  The primary Agent that Christ uses to administer His reign is the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that produces the new birth from above by which a man enters into the kingdom of heaven. In John 3:2 the Bible records the story of a man named Nicodemus. “The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” A man cannot regenerate himself, nor can his parents or family affect this for him (John 1:13; 3:6). 

John 1:13 speaks of souls “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 3:6 declares, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Only the Holy Spirit can communicate spiritual life.

The effects of the new birth are observable.  The entrance of the life of God into the soul through the Holy Spirit transforms and satisfies, and expresses itself in worship that is sincere and spiritual. John 4:23 says, that the hour cometh, and now is, “when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”

One reason why some individuals do not truly love the church or Christ is because they have not been born of the Spirit. They may have been born of men in the midst of a religious service but they have not been born of the Spirit of the Living God for then they would love what Christ loves. They would love the church and their brothers. They would seek out worship and become part of the local assembly. 1 John 3:14 explains. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

D. L.  Moody tells the story of a drunkard who accosted him one day and said, "Mr. Moody,  don't you know me? I am one of your converts."  To which Mr. Moody replied, “Sir, you must be one of my converts or if you were converted by Christ you would not be in that condition."  Billy Graham had a similar experience on an airplane one day.  As he tells the incident himself, a man who had too much to drink saw him on board during an airline flight and stumbled up to him saying in a loud voice, “Mr. Graham! I made a decision at one of your crusades recently." Mr. Graham said he wanted to hide.

It is possible for an individual to have a religious experience and yet not be born of the Spirit of God.  There are signs if a person is truly born of God for the life of the heavenly Father is communicated to all His children. Consider the signs of salvation.

First, when a person is born again there is a desire to follow Jesus wherever He goes. In Luke 9:57 the following is recorded. “And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.” The desire is to follow Christ because there is the recognition that He is the Lord and Master and the heart has been surrender to Him. It is characteristic of the natural heart to want to be in control. It is characteristic of the converted heart to want to follow Christ.

S. I. McMillen, in his book None of These Diseases, tells a story of a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, "Are you a leader?" Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, "No," and returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: "Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower."  One of the problems the church faces is that so many want to be a leader. But who wants to follow Christ in a spirit of humility?

Second, when a person is born again there is a desire to know the Bible. The Psalmist prayed, “Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (Ps 119:33-34). The Bible becomes precious to the converted heart. There is a natural hunger and desire to read, study and understand the Word of God.

A man in Kansas City was severely injured in an explosion. Evangelist Robert L. Sumner tells about him in his book The Wonders of the Word of God. The victim's face was badly disfigured, and he lost his eyesight as well as both hands. He was just a new Christian, and one of his greatest disappointments was that he could no longer read the Bible. Then he heard about a lady in England who read braille with her lips. Hoping to do the same, he sent for some books of the Bible in braille. Much to his dismay, however, he discovered that the nerve endings in his lips had been destroyed by the explosion. One day, as he brought one of the braille pages to his lips, his tongue happened to touch a few of the raised characters and he could feel them. Like a flash he thought, “I can read the Bible using my tongue.” At the time Robert Sumner wrote his book, the man had "read" through the entire Bible four times. Psalm 119:103 says, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

Third, when a person is born again there is a new sensitivity to pleasing the Holy Spirit. The heart no longer rejoices in iniquity. There are no more casual conversations about openly living in sin. Rather the heart grieves because the Spirit is grieved. One day a woman was found committing adultery. She was taken in the very act. Oh the shame of the moment. Religious hypocrites brought the woman to Christ. But what did Jesus do? He immediately forgave her. “I do not condemn thee,” said Jesus. “Now go, and sin no more” (John 5:14). The woman left but she did not return to her sin.

Fourth, when a person is born again there is a willingness to right anything in the life that is wrong. When Zacchaeus met the Master before his feet touched the ground from being in the sycamore tree he was ready to make restitution. “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:8-10). There are many other signs of salvation. Look for them in the heart. Look for the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in the life.

Not only does the Holy Spirit regenerate but He also teaches according to John 16:12-15. “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The Holy Spirit guides the believer into spiritual truth as revealed in Christ.  Examples of this are found in a number of passages.  It was at the marriage supper of Cana of Galilee that His disciples first spiritually perceived that Jesus was the Son of God for we read that after Jesus turned the water into wine, "His disciples believed on Him"  (John 2:11).

In John 12 we find that Christ spoke of His coming death, burial and resurrection.  But according to verse 16, “These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.”

Clearly the Holy Spirit is needed if the heart is to understand gospel truth and that is why Jesus promised He would send His Spirit to administer His spiritual kingdom. John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said  unto you.” By being Spirit taught Christ is always glorified.  Step by step the significance of Jesus' incarnation, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension and present reign is more fully understood.

One of the greatest questions that faces the world and the organized church today is this, "Do you understand the spiritual reign of Christ?" Christ's kingdom is in the hearts of His subjects and His subjects have been born of the Spirit of God.  Some kingdoms are founded by the elective power of the people. Some kingdoms are formed from hereditary succession. Some kingdoms are founded from bloody conquest. Some kingdoms are established after overthrowing the tyranny of another government by the sword. The kingdom of Christ is not by the sword but by the Spirit.  Jesus said, "My Father hath appointed unto me a kingdom. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hand." 

"Do you know anything about the spiritual kingdom of Christ?"  "How can you know?"  Consider the ends for which His kingdom has been established. Earthly kingdoms pursue worldly ends, however noble they may be.  Earthly kingdoms are established to execute public justice, preserve the peace, advance moral laws and establish an equal social order. However, all of these activities can be contrasted with the objectives of Christ in His kingdom reign for the Lord has come, to give light to those who are in darkness. Christ has come to rescue souls from the tyranny of sinful passions, to remove depression, and to give life and that more abundantly.

The greatest gift that you and I can receive from Jesus Christ is new life from His Spirit.  The Bible says that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord. My heart's desire is that many would receive by faith this grace gift. And then, out of a new heart of gratitude give Jesus a gift. What is the gift you are to give Jesus? Give him your sins.  I mean that literally and sincerely.  Spiritually, give Him your sins. "He shall save His people from their sins!" said the angels.  Christ was born to die. At His birth Mary took some swaddling cloth and wrapped the baby in it.  Thirty-three years later Mary, and other women, again took some swaddling cloth and wrapped Christ in it for in such cloth the dead were buried.  Jesus came to die. It may be an unusual thought but let us give Christ our sins as we embrace Him by faith.  And in exchange, He will give us His love and forgiveness.  Then we shall know the greatest meaning of this event.