Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Many think that they can come
to a right understanding of the scriptures by a rigorous study
of them. The Pharisees were just such students. They diligently
studied, discussed, and debated the scriptures. And while they
possessed great knowledge of the letter of scripture, they
were totally ignorant of the nature and appearing of the kingdom
of God. The Lord Jesus told them, search the scriptures, for in
them you think you have eternal life, and they are they which
testify of me. He followed this admonition with
these words, and you will not come to me that you might have
life. All prophecy has its fulfillment in the only begotten Son of God.
Whatever else a man might learn from the Scriptures, if he is
without a revelation of Christ as the center, sum, and substance
of all that God would manifest to men, then he is ignorant of
the nature and power of the kingdom which Christ came into the world
to establish. Thus we can say that the kingdom
of God is hidden in plain view. The Pharisees, in rebuking Nicodemus,
said, Search and look, for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
They were right according to the letter of the Scriptures
as they understood them. Yet they could not see that the Scriptures
did indeed declare that the greatest of all prophets would be a Nazarene,
and therefore of the region of Galilee. In Isaiah 11.1 we read,
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and
a branch shall grow out of his roots. This verse gives us the
origin of the man Christ Jesus, and the subsequent verses declare
the nature of his kingdom over which he would rule forever.
Isaiah confirms this when he wrote, For unto us a child is
born, unto us a son is given, The government shall be upon
his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,
the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.
Upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it
and to establish it with judgment and with justice. from henceforth
even forever. So Christ is called the branch.
This word branch is translated from the Hebrew word netzer which
literally means a green shoot or limb and by illustration refers
to green trees, plants, and grass. It is concluded by many scholars
that the city of Nazareth got its name directly from the Hebrew
word netzer because of its verdant growth of foliage of all types.
Hence he shall be called a Nazarene or an inhabitant of Nazareth.
This is a historical fact which can be discovered by anyone who
is looking for Christ in the pages of scriptures, just as
surely as it is hidden from those who look for something else.
In this fashion, the Pharisees were blinded, as are all who
place confidence in their religion and its schemes of doctrine,
whatever they may be. They looked for prophetic fulfillment
according to their fleshly understanding. They could not see that the Nazarene
was indeed born in Bethlehem. They assumed the ruler would
live in Bethlehem and not Nazareth. The Jews in the main rejected
Christ because he did not rule as they assumed that a Messiah
would. They figured one would arise and deliver them from their
carnal oppression. Yet the King of Kings came to
deliver his people from a far greater oppression than any earthly
nation can bring upon them. To this end, he did establish
his kingdom in the earth and does presently deliver his own
from the dominion of sin with its curse and guilt. He is the
Nazarene who made himself of no reputation and took upon him
the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men.
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and
became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. While
he could have come in the pomp and splendor which is rightfully
his, instead he came ignominiously, so that he might hide himself
from the wise and prudent, and reveal himself and the nature
of his kingdom to babes. There are some who are yet looking
for him to set up a kingdom in the earth at some future time.
In relegating the establishment of his dominion to some future
era, they despise the kingly work which he has already demonstrated
in triumphing over all of his enemies and taking captivity
captive. They make the work of redemption
to be a secondary work rather than the substance of his reign.
He was born into the world as a king over a kingdom which would
never end. His kingdom is demonstrated in
this world, but it is not of this world, since his dominion
transcends flesh and blood, and extends over the world even as
light swallows up the darkness. This is the same error of the
Jews who looked for the establishment of an earthly king to subdue
their carnal enemies and restore them to their nation. They could
not see the fact that, as the Lord pointed out to them, the
kingdom of God was in their very midst. The kingdom of God cometh
not with observation. His kingdom cannot be seen apart
from His mercy giving men eyes to see it. Do you behold the
King upon His throne? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.