Your House, Too?

Luke 1:32-33 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
 
“WHO is Jesus?” The question has been asked repeatedly since our Lord became Immanuel, God with us. In truth, though, God gives the one sure answer. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High…He will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever.”  Plain, pointed and powerful Jesus is God’s Son, eternal King of Israel.
    Jesus also is descended from a man. “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.” It is essential for our salvation that Jesus is fully man. He is descended from his father – his ancestor – David. Both Mary and Joseph descended from different branches of David’s legacy. Jesus, Son of God, son of David, is Ruler over Israel, Jacob’s house.
    Why is Israel called Jacob’s house? All Jews descend from Jacob, who is Abraham’s grandson. Jacob is the father of 12 sons from four women (Genesis 29-32). Eleven sons became the father of 11 tribes of Israel. The 12th tribe was descended from Manasseh and Ephraim, Joseph’s sons born to him in Egypt.
    “Israel” is the name God gave to Jacob in Genesis 32:28 Then the man (perhaps the pre-incarnate Christ) said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” The name Jacob means “deceiver”. Jacob had struggled against his sins of deceit for nearly 60 years. When God gave Jacob a new name, God changed Jacob’s life. “Israel” reminds the Jews that God renews people and nations from their struggles for his purpose.  In God’s grace Jacob overcame his past.  Israel must always know God’s grace is the source of their redemption from centuries of deceit against his sovereign rule.
    You can understand Gabriel’s short message summarizes the Old Testament. God’s persistent promises are fulfilled in Jesus. The Father’s assurance to care for his people and to save the nations is bearing fruit. Gabriel affirms God has ordained the events soon to occur. Israel, Jacob’s house, will meet Jesus.
    Perhaps the LORD God has great plans for your house, too. Maybe your family will be a witness to the world to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?”
 
Prayer: I pray my house is a house of worship, praise and witness of the Savior. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.