Jesus- the exile to his birth

12After the exile to Babylon:

Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,

Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

13Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,

Abihud the father of Eliakim,

Eliakim the father of Azor,

14Azor the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Akim,

Akim the father of Elihud,

15Elihud the father of Eleazar,

Eleazar the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob, (Matthew 1:12-15)

Thoughts: The exile meant the end of the Judaic kingdom.  But it did not mean the end of some form of rule in terms of a governor or a political ruler.  The Macabees fought a war for Jewish independence and won for a few years, ending effectively with the reign of Herod the Great who died about 4 B.C. about the time Jesus was born. Thus the last Jewish independent rulers died about the time of Jesus' birth.  But the broader point is the people of God had been taken into exile where their power was broken.  But now it is restored.  Jesus did not come across as a normal king with an army, palace and taxes.  But He is the most mighty King of all the earth.  He has subjects in every country in the world and more than a billion who call him "Lord."  We should too. 

Prayer: Lord, rule in me.  Let me acknowledge you as my great king.