A King Who Conquered Death

The Roman Empire was kind of a big deal. The city of Rome was at the center, obviously, where Caesars had servants to pat them on the back. If you were writing to that group, how would you start your gospel story? Paul began his letter to the Romans by referencing prophecies about the Messiah and about the Davidic covenant.

for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, (Romans 1:1–4 ESV)

Anyone paying any attention to the Old Testament would have grasped that “descended from David” meant king. That was aimed right at Caesarean claims to ultimate authority. Were the emperors powerful? Yeah. Were they fulfilling prophecies? In their own way (including Augustus’ tax which got Joseph back to Bethlehem), but not like the Anointed Son to whom the Father said, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth your possession” (Psalm 2:8).

So Jesus was royalty by birth. He was also vindicated in His claims to divinity by resurrection. He died as a King, and now He’s a King who conquered death.

We are the servants of the Suffering Servant. We are citizens of the kingdom of the King of kings, God’s beloved Son. We are those who have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. “Glory to God in the highest!”