The King Is Near of Kin to Us.
Jesus is our King who has identified Himself with us, sharing our humanity and our struggles, and He draws near to us with a quick sympathy.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes the profound kinship between Jesus and humanity, illustrating that He is both our King and our kinsman. He highlights how Jesus has overcome our enemies and taken on our flesh, making Him intimately connected to our struggles. Through His prayers, infirmities, and temptations, Jesus demonstrates His solidarity with us, inviting us to approach God as our Father. Meyer reassures believers that Christ understands our challenges and sorrows, offering comfort and support as our brother in the fight against sin. This kinship not only affirms our identity but also strengthens our relationship with the divine.
Text
The King is near of kin to us. 2 Sam. xix. 42.
THERE are two derivations for the word king: one from the word can ‑‑ the king is the man that can do things; the other from the word kin ‑‑ the king is closely related to us, of our kith and kin. In either case, there is a beautiful meaning, as touching our Lord and Saviour. He is King, because He has overcome our enemies, and can overcome. He is King, because He has taken on Himself our flesh and blood, and has for ever made us one with Himself. The King is our kinsman. Our kinsman is King.
It is very comforting to know how really our Lord has identified Himself with us. The Gospels are full of the wonderful story. His kinship was manifested in ‑‑
His Prayers. ‑‑ He bade us speak to God as our Father; in that marvellous possessive pronoun, not only Iinking us all to one another, but including Himself in our petitions, save when we ask for forgiveness.
His Infirmities. ‑‑ "We have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities." His hunger and thirst; his weariness and exhaustion; his suffering unto death ‑‑ all accentuate the closeness of the tie between us.
His Temptation. ‑‑ "In all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." The avenues through which the tempter could approach Him were those by which He assails us also. No temptation took Him, but such as is common to man. So to every lonely soldier of his He draws near, saying, "Be of good cheer; I have passed through it all. I am your brother in the fight; I feel for you with a quick sympathy; the glories of my throne do not alter my true‑hearted love."
Sermon Outline
- I. The King's Identity
- A. The King is our kinsman
- B. The King has overcome our enemies
- II. The King's Kinship
- A. Manifested in His Prayers
- B. Manifested in His Infirmities
- C. Manifested in His Temptation
Key Quotes
“The King is our kinsman. Our kinsman is King.” — F.B. Meyer
“We have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” — F.B. Meyer
“In all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- We can approach God as our Father, just as Jesus taught us to do.
- We are not alone in our struggles, Jesus has passed through them all and draws near to us with a quick sympathy.
- Jesus' love for us is true-hearted and unchanged, even in the face of His glory.