Jesus gave His disciples some truth in John 14 worth more than gold, frankincense, and myrrh. At the beginning of the chapter He identified Himself as the way, the truth, and the life. He revealed that He alone is the way to the Father. And later in that talk He said,

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV)

Peace. Isn't this what we want? We want it because we live "in this world of sin." The world is troubled and full of trouble; “man is born to trouble” (Job 5:7). The world makes up "peace," but it doesn't work, or it doesn't last. Superficial pastors, like false prophets of old, preach “peace, peace,” but there is no peace. People who should know better, do not know the way of peace and there is no justice in their paths. This isn't just a longing for a silent night, for stillness and quiet, but for knowing that things are right, or that they will be right.

This is the peace that Jesus has, that He gives. He is the fulfillment of the prophets’ hope, the child born whose name is the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

Of the increase of his government and of peace

When Jesus talks about peace, He knows. God committed Himself in His Word to send a ruler who would bring peace. Jesus is the rightful King, the seed of Abraham, the Son of David.

This advent we're powering the lights of our rejoicing by considering three covenants that the Lord made of old.

The Lord made men on earth to receive His blessings. God blessed Adam and Eve * tout de suite*. And even after Adam’s sin, and after the wickedness and flood, and after arrogance and Babel, the Lord chose Abram and covenanted to bless. Abram would be blessed, be a blessing, and be the channel of blessing to all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:1-3). The ultimate mediator of this blessing is the offspring of Abraham, Jesus (Galatians 3:16).

There are two other covenants that are also unconditional (that is, dependent on the Lord alone) that focus on and through Jesus. The New Covenant, which we'll consider next Lord's Day, and the Davidic Covenant. We rejoice every Christmas in the King’s first coming.

Let's start with the account of Jesus’ birth and then go back to see the covenant.

Matthew's gospel begins with the genealogy of Jesus and then tells the story of Jesus' birth. We observed last week that Jesus is in the line of Abraham. And there is even greater emphasis as the New Testament opens that Jesus is in the line of David.

the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David....

And then in verse 6, "Jesse the father of David the king. And David the father of Solomon." Then the summary: "all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations" (verse 17).

We know from Luke's account of the birth that Joseph and Mary went from Nazareth "to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David" (Luke 2:4). Jesus was a Davidson.

And He was a special son. Why do the three wise men come from the east? "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:2).

Further investigation showed that Bethlehem had been named as the place: “from you shall came a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel" (Matthew 2:6, quoting Micah 5:2). And Herod ordered the killing of all the boys two years-old and under because he did not want to give up being king.

In the collection of accounts of the life and message of Jesus that are the four Gospels, the first burden of the good news as written by Matthew is to establish that Jesus is the promised King.

“Matthew’s design is to present Jesus as the King of the Jews, the long-awaited Messiah. Through a carefully selected series of Old Testament quotations, Matthew documents Jesus Christ’s claim to be Messiah. His genealogy, baptism, messages, and miracles all point to the same inescapable conclusion: Christ is King.” (Wilkinson and Boa, Talk thru the Bible)

The Jews had been waiting for the king to come. This is what, or who, did NOT come after their return from Babylon. It was another 14 generations of anticipating the king's advent (Matthew 1:17). They expected a king because the Lord didn't just hint, the Lord covenanted.

The Davidic covenant can be found in 2 Samuel 7 (and 1 Chronicles 17). David had been made king, he wanted to build a permanent ”house" for the worship of the Lord rather than the tent, and the Lord sent Nathan with a different word.

Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” (2 Samuel 7:8–16 ESV)

Like Abram, the Lord will make David's name great (verse 9). As to Abram, the Lord will appoint a place and plant His people Israel so that they may dwell in that land (verse 10). So also David would have offspring, and one of his sons would take over the throne, and also build a house (verses 11-15). But even after that son, there would be a royal dynasty. "Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever" (16).

Consider the parts: a house, a throne, a kingdom, a descendant, and all are on earth and eternal. These are not types or shadows. They are not physical things representing spiritual things. They are also not conditional. Solomon would be disciplined, but the promise not canceled. This is what the angel Gabriel told Mary, betrothed “to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David” (Luke 1:27):

“[your son] will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. (Luke 1:32-33)

This is the Davidic Covenant: the promise of the Lord to David that his seed and throne and kingdom would endure forever.

Herod wasn't threatened because a kid was born who was going to die, he was threatened by a kid who was destined to rule. The magi asked, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2). And this is the charge hung over Jesus on the cross, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37).

Having died, and risen from the dead, King Jesus happens to have all authority in heaven and on earth given to Him (Matthew 28:18). For the time being He wants us here in the world to witness to Him until He returns. He's given us a message, and He's given us minas (Luke 19:11-27). Speak and steward and He will reward us when He returns.

It's easier to manage Jesus in the manger than it is to imagine Jesus on the throne. There is no reason to be surprised when holiday conversations get testy when Jesus comes up. Hard hearts are Herod hearts; we don't want anyone to kick us out of the throne of our own lives. We think we can bring about Peace, Peace, when there is no talk of politics. It is exactly the opposite: only when we submit to the true and everlasting King will we know peace.

Of course people quote Jesus when He said that His kingdom is not of this world. But just as disciples are not of the world but in it, so the King's kingdom is not of the world (John 18:36) but for it. In His second advent His kingdom will be established on earth.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (Matthew 25:31–32 ESV)

The King will return. And He will establish peace and justice on earth. He will reign in righteousness from His throne in Jerusalem, and the kings of the nations will bow before Him and bring Him tribute.

The good news is about the birth of a Savior, who is also the King of kings. The peace He brings is in our hearts, and, at the right time, also will be on earth as it is in heaven.

he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength

there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15 ESV)

It is ironic that so many who push most for a Christocentric interpretation spiritualize away Christ's earthly throne. But He was born IN THE FLESH, why would He not sit in David’s throne IN THE FLESH? At His Second Coming He will establish peace on earth without end.

Hark! the herald angels sing, "glory to the newborn King!"

Jesus, who is our peace, who established peace between men and God by His blood, taught that men are blessed when they make peace. Some of our witness as Christians is provoking because the darkness hates the light. But when possible, in this world of trouble, be a peace maker.

The LORD bless you and keep you;