When the angel says Jesus will receive “the throne of His father David,” it tells us something very concrete. The coming of God’s kingdom arrives in the shape of an ideal King ruling His people.

“Son of David” draws together Israel’s best experiences of leadership—its golden age—as well as its hopes, promises, and yes, even its disappointments. It narrows the story down to one royal line, one covenant, one expectation, and finally one King.

Because David wasn’t just any king—he was the king and God’s promise to David wasn’t only for David, it was for the whole nation. A forever King means a forever people. This extends this vision of kingdom beyond the ordinary existence of this world as we now know it.

So when Mary learns her child will sit on David’s throne, she hears more than a personal blessing. She hears more than a description of what her son will be. She hears that God’s long-awaited King is finally coming, and that God’s long-awaited restoration is beginning. God’s plan is grounded and embodied and involved in our lived daily experience.

We follow:

a wise and righteous King.

a King worthy of our loyalty and obedience.

a King whose reign brings peace, healing, and transformation.

a King who expects us to live by a distinct rule.

a King whose kingdom never ends.

A king is meaningless without a people. We—the Church—are King Jesus’ people. That gives extraordinary dignity to everything we do.

This Advent, we aren’t just looking back to a baby in a manger. We’re looking forward to a King on a throne— a King who reigns even now, and whose reign will one day be gloriously obvious to all.

When we pray “Your Kingdom come” we are asking for something specific and concrete. It is a vision that first appears with King David and the kingdom of Israel. Then the son of David, when on earth as he gathered his followers, put reality to this vision. Today we pray that Jesus’ vision of the kingdom will be formed in London through us. We know that the Kingdom will some day come in completeness.