King of Israel
"Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi... thou art the King of Israel."
John 1:49 kjv
- Name of God the Son
- Jesus is directly referred to as the "King of Israel" four times
- Israel has a history of warrior kings. In a time of subjugation by the Romans, many hoped the prophesied Messiah would be a king who would lead them to independence.
- In one of the most straightforward proclamations of faith in scriptures, John tells the story of Nathanael, who acknowledged and accepted Jesus within seconds of meeting Him.
As a descendant of Kind David (some say through both sides of His earthly family), Jesus may well have had a legitimate claim to the throne of Israel. But despite His legitimacy, Jesus wasn't interested in crowns. When Nathanael asked how this stranger (Jesus) knew his name, Jesus explained that He saw Nathanael sitting alone under a fig tree. Immediately Nathanael declares Jesus the Son of God and King of Israel.
A bit of an overreaction, surely! But not if Jesus had been working in Nathanael's heart, as he sat pondering under that fig tree. We have no reason for Nathanael's solitude or explanation of what his thoughts might have been, but his instant recognition and understanding of Jesus suggest a prior encounter. Jesus didn't want to rule in Israel, He wanted to rule in Nathanael's heart. Just as He wants to be King of your heart today.
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