THINK TOGETHER
Do you know what your name means? Do you know what Jesus’ name means (Savior)? Do you know what the word Christ means (Messiah)?
READ TOGETHER
In the book of Judges, it says that “everyone did what was right in their own eyes” (they were bad) because “there was no king in Israel.” Because the people didn’t have a king to follow, they didn’t follow God. But the truth is that Israel’s first king, King Saul, was not a very good king. In fact, he would have led the people away from God if it had not been for the priest, Samuel.
King Saul was so bad at being a king that God told Samuel to go find and anoint a new king from a whole new family. Do you know what anointing is? Anointing is when oil is poured over someone’s head to symbolize that God has chosen them and that God is with them. And so far in the nation of Israel only priests have been anointed. But now God is telling the priest, Samuel, to anoint the king too.
But who? Who will be the new king of Israel after bad Saul?
God led Samuel to the little town of Bethlehem. To the descendants of Ruth and Boaz. To the house of a man named Jesse who had many sons. And after looking at all of Jesse’s sons and not finding the new king, God pointed Samuel to Jesse’s youngest son, a shepherd boy who was outside watching the sheep. David. Listen to what the Bible says next in 1 Samuel 16:
1 Samuel 16:13. Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed [David] in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.
Now here’s what we need to remember – the Bible is the story of God and his hero that he will send to save us all from our sins. This hero is called the Messiah. “Messiah” is a Hebrew word that means “anointed one.” The Messiah is someone who has been chosen by God to rescue the people and bring peace and happiness to everyone. The Messiah will connect the people to God and bring forgiveness of sins like an anointed priest would. And the Messiah will rule his people in kindness and serve them like an anointed king would.
The Messiah is both a priest and a king.
But here’s the big problem: in the Old Testament no person was allowed to be BOTH a priest and a king. Now King David sure did try to do both. He was a king who tried to act like a priest sometimes. Sometimes he would wear the priest’s clothes. Sometimes he would offer sacrifices to God on an altar like a priest. He even built his own min-tabernacle in his backyard where so he could worship God there. But was David God’s Messiah? No. Why not? Because he was just as sinful as everyone else. David couldn’t save the people from their sins because David needed to be saved from his own sins.
And so do you. And so do I.
But if David is not our hero, who is?
Jesus is!
Jesus is both the priest that we need and he is the king that we need. He is the priest that forgives our sins and prays to God for us. And he is the king who leads us, protects us, and takes care of us. Jesus is God’s Messiah who loves us very much and helps us to love others.
And did you notice what happened to David when he was anointed? The Spirit of God “rushed upon him.” David had the Holy Spirit. Jesus had the Holy Spirit. And guess what? When we choose to trust Jesus as our Messiah, our hero, our priest-king, we get the same Holy Spirit to love us and lead us too! And that is good news!
Because of Jesus we have been rescued from sin and been given the Holy Spirit.
With Jesus we can be priest-kings like Jesus too. We can take care of others and point them to God.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Go around and have everyone share some good news (it can be anything that they think is good news). Then read Luke 2:10-11.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Ask: What is God’s good news to us?
The good news is that we have a Messiah. We have a savior.
Now celebrate the good news (I suggest ice cream).
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus,
You are my Messiah, my priest and my king. You are the hero that rescues me and leads me. Help me to listen to you and serve you every day.
Amen.
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