Jesus is the eternal Word; He was in the beginning and created all things (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16). He came to earth in the likeness of men (Phil. 2:7). He became flesh to dwell among men to declare the glory of God (Jn. 1:14). Those who saw Him and His miracles in this sense saw the Father (Jn. 14:8-11).

A virgin, named Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph gave birth to Him. She was told, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Lk. 1:35). He was named Jesus, meaning savior, for He came to earth to save His people from their sins (Mt. 1:21). Matthew by inspiration goes on to explain, “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’” (Mt. 1:22, 23). For a third of a century while He “dwelt among us” (Jn. 1:14), Jesus was God in the flesh. He fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Joseph followed the command from the angel of the Lord and took Mary as his wife, but he “did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS” (Mt. 1:25).

The birth of Jesus also fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6, “ For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Jesus came to earth to establish the kingdom. He preached of the kingdom’s imminent establishment (Mt. 4:17; Mk. 9:1). While all people are born of flesh, Jesus explained that to be part of the kingdom of God, one must be born again, a new birth of water and Spirit (Jn. 3:3-5). In water baptism, one is regenerated, born anew to become part of the kingdom (Titus 3:5; Col. 1:13, 14; 2:11-13). Jesus refused to be forced into man’s ideals regarding kingship (Jn. 6:15). This kingdom of His is spiritual, not earthly (Jn. 18:36, 37); it is within the hearts of those who follow Him (Lk. 17:20, 21).

Jesus came to earth to drink of the cup of God’s wrath for man’s sin (Mt. 26:39, 42; Lk. 22:42; Jn. 12:27) to taste death for everyone (Heb. 2:9). He came to experience temptation but never succumb so that He could be the only payment for sin (Heb. 2:14-18). He came and lived on earth to die on the cross (Phil. 2:8). Then He arose and sat down as king in heaven at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:23-33; Eph. 1:20-22; Phil. 2:9-11). Jesus is the eternal God who came in the flesh, “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” (Heb. 1:3).

Are you a part of His kingdom? Have you been born again and had your sins purged? Is Jesus the king of your life? Or has all of this had no effect in changing your life?