In the Old Testament, there are three key offices that all, ultimately, are fulfilled by Jesus Christ. One of those is the office of king. Let’s see how Jesus fulfills this essential role in the life of God’s people.

Christ’s fulfillment of the role of King is found in two different forms:

The first focuses on the nation of Israel. When God brought the people into the promised land, they had no human king because God was their king. But they rejected Him and demanded a human king like the other nations had (1 Sam. 8). So, God gave them what they wanted—a king after their own heart in Saul, before giving them a king after His own heart in David. David and his family became connected to all God’s promises to His people. God promised that one of David’s descendants would be a great king, who would be a son to God, and God would be His Father, and would rule a kingdom that will never end.

In both His human and divine nature, Jesus is the fulfillment of this promise. He was born into David’s family, As the Messiah, Jesus was called the Son of David. And during His trial and crucifixion, He was identified as the King of the Jews. 

The other sense of Christ’s fulfillment of this role is more cosmic in nature. God has always been King over His creation, whether in heaven or on earth. Yet some of His creatures in both realms have rebelled against Him, leaving destruction in their wake. To restore His broken world, God promised a King—the Messiah—who would deliver His people and restore all of creation. 

Jesus Christ is that promised King. He is the One who delivered His people, and He is the one who will restore all of creation when He returns.