29 AUGUST

THE SCEPTRE (THE SON)

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,

“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?

We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

(Matthew 2:1-2, NIV)

God’s promise to Abraham that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Fourteen generations from Abraham, the physical sceptre of the king of the Jews was given to David. Fourteen generations from David, Israel went into exile. Fourteen generations after the exile to Babylon, Jesus was born from the lineage of Judah – bringing into fulfilment the prophecy, “The sceptre will not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples” (Genesis 49:10).

This distant future event, as many other prophecies of the Scripture, points to the coming of the Messiah. All the prophecies were fulfilled in Him – He was born of a virgin; He was born in Bethlehem; He was called out of Egypt.

The Magi saw the star of Jesus and assumed he was born to be the physical king of the Jews. However, in His manner of life, death and resurrection, Jesus proved to be the King and Saviour of the world. He is alive and seated at the right hand of the Father, making intercessions for us.

Jesus holds the sceptre of righteousness as the sceptre of His kingdom because He has loved righteousness and hated wickedness (Hebrews 1:8). He likewise calls us to love righteousness and hate wickedness.

ACTION: Resolve to uphold righteousness in your daily life and to also lead others around you to walk in it.

PRAYER: Grant me, Lord, grace to love righteousness and hate wickedness.