The Lord Jesus is often called the "Son of David." This title implies that He comes from the lineage of Israel's beloved King. Understanding this should help us see the Lord in a different light, as well as help us understand how we should live.
We see several people in the Bible named after their fathers. These names usually mean that the children carry some characteristic of their predecessor. In Jesus' case, we see that He has some similarities to David. These similarities will help us see how much God loves us.
Here are three helpful perspectives on why Jesus is called the Son of David.
1. David Was a Shepherd Boy — Jesus Is Our Great Shepherd
Before being King of Israel, David was just a plain shepherd boy who took care of his father's sheep, even defending them from bears and lions (1 Samuel 17:34). Jesus, on the other hand, is our Great Shepherd, who takes great care of us, and has defeated our enemies by His death and resurrection (see John 10:11; Colossians 2:13-15).
Knowing that Jesus is our Great Shepherd should assure us of our security in God. If David killed wild and ferocious animals for the sake of sheep, Christ defeated more than just animals for our salvation and redemption.
2. David Was the Man After God's Own Heart — Jesus Did Nothing But What the Father Wanted
God was so pleased with David because he was a man who wanted nothing but to do what God wanted Him to do. Because of this, he was able to lead Israel in godliness, and even though he had sinned, God allowed him to pave the way for His Temple to be built.
Jesus, on the other hand, did nothing but the Lord's will (see John 6:38-40). Through Him we have seen the love of God and His character. Christ Jesus is the only one who can lead us in total holiness and godliness unto God. And because He had no sin, He was able to pay the price for our forgiveness, purchase us with His blood, and turn our bodies into Temples of His Holy Spirit (see Hebrews 2; 1 Corinthians 6:19). Wow.
3. David Was Just a Man — Jesus Was 100% Human, Too
David was a man, a human just like any of us. Yet he was able to serve God in his generation (see Acts 13:36), pleasing God in what he did. God made him the ancestor of our dear Lord Jesus.
Christ Jesus was also a real human. Though He was God, He did not consider that a thing of rivalry with the Father (see Philippians 2:6-11). Rather, He took the form of a servant, did what God want Him to do for our salvation, and became the cornerstone of our faith. He did not do that to please God, for God was already pleased with Him before He started His ministry (see Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11). Rather, because of His faithful service to God in His earthly ministry, we could be accepted by God and we could please Him by faith.
