JESUS: THE CHRIST

By Charles N. Spence, Jr.

There is an event in which Jesus was divinely approved as king: His birth. When one considers the birth records of Jesus, He cannot keep from noticing some distinct features contained in them. The genealogy in Matthew’s gospel connects Jesus to the throne of David through the Kings of Judah. When Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah was challenged, it was never on the basis of the genealogical records. However, one may have noticed that, according to Jeremiah 22:30, there was a curse placed upon the royal lineage of David, beginning with Coniah. Yet, when one considers Luke’s account of the genealogy (Chapter 3), Jesus’ lineage is traced back to David through Jesus’ mother Mary. Instead of going through Solomon, as Matthew’s account does, Luke’s account goes through David’s younger son Nathan. Thus, the curse on Coniah’s seed is by-passed. Also, in Jesus birth many of the Old Testament Messianic prophesies are fulfilled: the virgin birth (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:22-23), Jesus was born in the city of David (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:8-20), The slaughter of innocent children (Jer. 13:15; Matt. 2:14-15).

The Birth of Jesus is a wonderful and remarkable testimony to Jesus being the Christ. In Him we all must learn to put our trust and to Him we all must confess our allegiance.