The Present Reign of Christ

Isaiah 52:7-10               Psalm 98                  Hebrews 1:1-12              Luke 2:1-20

The Present Reign of Christ

An old friend recently told me that he believed the Christmas Carol, Joy to the World, was better suited to the Second Coming of Christ than the First. Of course, this is not at all what the hymn writer, Isaac Watts had in mind, but for the sake of this talk, let’s leave that obvious fact out of the equation. 

So, here’s the question: Is the carol better suited for the second coming of Christ rather than the first? Or is Jesus’ reign a present reality?

But before we answer the question, I’d like to use an illustration from history to provide us with a picture to help us get to the answer. On June 6, 1944, thousands of brave soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy in France. This event marked the beginning of the Allied invasion of Nazi occupied Europe. This day became known to the world as D-Day. But it was only the beginning of the end, not the end itself. The end of the Second Great War came 336 days later. On May 8, 1945, the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany was formally accepted by the Allies. It was declared “Victory in Europe Day” or VE-Day and it has been celebrated every year since then. 

Now, I believe we can compare this historical reality with the First and Second Comings of Jesus. Christmas Day marks the initial divine invasion of planet earth, a planet up until that time controlled by an evil fallen angel known as Satan together with his fallen angelic minions, otherwise known as demons. Satan was considered the ruler of this world ever since he tricked Adam and Eve into obeying him rather than God in the Garden of Eden. Thus, Christmas Day can be likened to storming the beaches of Normandy. The beginning of the end…but not quite the end itself. 

The Old Testament Prophets certainly saw the birth of the Messiah as the beginning of His universal reign. The best-known prophecy from the Old Testament that is quoted in the New Testament, showing us what the Holy Spirit inspired writers of Scripture believed, is surely Isaiah 9:6. “For a Child has been born for us, a Son has been given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named wonderful, counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of peace.” And here’s the most important bit of the prophecy: “His authority will grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish it and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

Did you get that? His authority will grow continually…the incarnation is like D-Day. He has invaded to establish His authority…but that authority will grow until the final day…like VE-Day…when our Lord will return once he has placed all his enemies under his feet, to echo what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:24-26…speaking of the period of time between the resurrection of Jesus and his second coming, the apostle said, “Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.”

This seems to be what the author to the Hebrews had in mind when he spoke under direction of the Holy Spirit, “in these last days (the last days beginning with the incarnation and moving forward to culmination of the present reign of Christ) God has appointed a son as heir over all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the mirror image of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When (and here’s the time reference) he had made purification for sins (through the sacrifice of himself on behalf of humanity on the cross) he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high, having become as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” Jesus is reigning now…presently…and his kingdom is growing as he continues to place all his enemies under his feet.

This agrees with the message of the angels to the shepherds on the night Jesus was born. The child born in the city of David was both saviour and lord, an allusion to the prophecy I mentioned earlier from Isaiah 9:6. Everyone at that time knew that inscriptions all over the Roman empire only ever referred to Caesar in these terms. Clearly the shepherds were to understand that the baby they were about to see was at least as great if not greater than the emperor! But don’t miss the angelic reference to global peace…this child whose birth we celebrate this day, would bring about reconciliation between God and us and between us and others as well. 

Think about it. From the very moment Jesus was born he was opposed and attacked by both demonic and human forces…from Herod all the way through to Pontius Pilate…and eventually they murdered him on the cross. But as with so many other divine interventions, it was the very malevolent things intended by the evil powers that achieved the victory of God. Again, as the Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Colossians, through the very instrument of execution, God “disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them triumphing over them in the cross.” 

And so, our spiritual D-Day has come and gone…all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Jesus and he reigns right now at the right hand of God the Father, ever placing all his enemies under his feet. Universal authority is his now as he has defeated our archenemy…and yet that authority continues to grow throughout all the world as his children continue to witness to his victory, by making disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all he has commanded…bearing the Gospel of Peace to every human being, even to the ends of the earth. 

Or to quote the 3rd verse of the Carol Joy to the World: “He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found.” 

And so, from our D-Day, we press on until VE-Day.

Let us pray.

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2021