Am I born again: The redemption of Israel:

Hello To All:

"But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel..."

We began our last essay, with a quote from the disciples, that was spoken during their last moments with Jesus Christ, just prior to His assent to be with His Father.  The disciples, asked Jesus (Acts 1:6): "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"  The opening quote, for this essay, was spoken during a conversation on the road to Emmaus, that took place between Jesus and two disciples, prior to the discussion recorded in Acts.  The Emmaus account is recorded at Luke 24:13-35.

Hopefully, we are all making the connection between the two incidents.  In both cases, the disciples, being very Jewish, have a Jewish focus on the restoration and redemption of Israel.  This focus is rooted in the history of the people of Israel; and affirmed by God's repeated promise to His chosen people: the people of Israel.  Turn with me to Luke, chapter one, and the announcement, to Mary, of the impending birth of a son.

We find written, at verses 30-33, the following:

30.  "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God."
31.  "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus."
32.  "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:"
33.  "And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

In verse 26 and 27, of chapter one, it is recorded: "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary."  As part of the announcement, to Mary, the angel Gabriel, being sent by God, told Mary, that the throne of David would belong to Jesus; and that the kingdom of Jesus would include His reign over the house of Jacob forever.  Jacob, being the son of promise (see Genesis 25:23), the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, had his name changed to Israel (see Genesis 32:28). Thus, we should rightly understand, that at some point in history, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, will come and occupy the throne of David and rule over the kingdom of Israel, as His kingdom.  It is this future point, in history, that was the focus of the disciples, when they asked about the "restoration of Israel;" and the focus of those traveling the road to Emmaus, who were wondering if Jesus should have "redeemed Israel?"

At the end of our last essay, we were all challenged to give prayerful consideration, to the following text from Isaiah 9:6-7.  Let us do so, once again, as we consider what is written:

6.  "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
7.  "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 for ever.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

This wonderful prophetic promise, made over seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, reminds us of the importance of "the throne of David," in the eternal plan of God, as it was to be and will be carried out in and through the Son of God: Jesus of Nazareth: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: The mighty God - upon the throne of David."

This promise, regarding the "throne of David," was first made to King David, through the prophet Nathan (please see 2 Samuel, chapter 7), recorded at 2 Samuel 7:16: "And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever."  Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, will be the one through whom this promise will be fulfilled, at the time that Israel is "restored" and "redeemed."

King David died; and, in the years following his death, the nation of Israel turned it's back on God, the nation of Israel declined, the nation was destroyed and the people of Israel were scattered.  The Old Testament is filled with the accounts of these events.  But, they never lost sight of the promise and the future restoration and redemption of the kingdom of Israel.

Nicodemus had this same vision and hope, regarding the promise of the restoration and redemption of the kingdom of Israel.  This is why Jesus told him that: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

When next we meet, we shall seek to bring some closure to our understanding, regarding this conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus; and what it means to be: "born  again."

Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus