The Question about the Christ

A couple of fall seasons ago Shanna and I traveled to Colorado for a minister’s retreat in the Rocky Mountains. We left a few days early to take in Colorado’s beauty, to see the mountainous peaks and marvel at the patches of snow left over from the previous winter weather. It was gorgeous, and as we drove through the national park, traveling from Grand Lake to Estes Park, we passed over a stretch of highway that is the highest continual auto highway in the US. It was quite the site. Actually, a bit unnerving in all honesty. Wind blowing sternly. Temperatures outside quite cold. Traffic passing beside you. Nothing but a plummet of careening automobile death on the unprotected side of the road. But we made it!

There is a point on TrailRidge Rd., a point in the Rocky Mountains as a whole, where raindrops fall near next to one another, to an unobservant eye, it would seem maybe even on top of one another. But, there’s a slight difference, for all the drops that fall ever so slightly to the West start a journey that leads them ultimately to the Pacific ocean, and all the rain that falls ever so slightly to the East make a trek to the Southeast, ultimately making their way to the Gulf of Mexico. From San Diego, CA to Galveston, TX, just outside of Houston — that’s over 1,500 miles! Rain falling from the same cloud, ending in such drastically different places.

Such seems to be the difference between the lone scribe last week and the question Jesus asks concerning the scribes in Mark 12:35-37. One was not far from the kingdom of God. The others will be left silent until their final answer is given in the crucifixion of Christ. The scribes, drawn from the same well, falling initially so close to one another, ending in drastically different positions. Let’s read and then pray.

Now It’s Jesus’ Turn

Mark 12:35 CSB

While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David?

This passage serves as the counter to Mark 12:13-27. You’ll remember how, through a series of three confrontations, first with members of the Sanhedrin, then the Pharisees and Herodians, and finally the Sadducees, the leadership of Jewish society sought to set a trap of Jesus. Then, last week’s passage was a bit of a hinge point where this lone scribe comes sincerely seeking something from Jesus. The result is a reminder of Jesus’ ultimate purpose: the kingdom of God and the Messiah’s rule over it. We remember that there is no one beyond the reach of Christ, and even this lone scribe is “not far” from God’s kingdom if he will press on and take hold of Jesus.

Now, as the passage swings back, it’s Jesus’ turn to ask a question. Whereas the Jewish leaders sought to trap Jesus, He answered them well every time. Now, Jesus has a “riddle” of His own: “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David?” Jesus will use Scripture to press the scribes on the issue of the the Messiah’s identity. He’s inviting the scribes to consider truths about the Christ that had previously really only been discussed…openly at least…among the disciples.

Now, the Messiah being from the line of David is quite evident in Scripture. It had long been established in the OT (2 Sam. 7:11-13; 23:1-7; Isa. 11:1; 9:2-7; Jer. 23:5; 30:9; 33:15, 17; Ezek. 34:23-24; 37:24-25; Amos 9:11). So, there maybe seems to be a bit of absurdity in Jesus’ initial question. (What do you mean how can we say the Messiah is David’s son?!) So if Jesus isn’t trying to call into question the validity of the Messiah coming from the line of David, what’s He getting at? Ultimately, He’s trying to get these religious leaders to elevate their understanding of who…or better, what…the Messiah would be. In essence, “Don’t just look for a member of David’s line to come and set up an earthly kingdom. Your expectations should be much greater.”

Friends, Jesus question here — what He’s implying — is of utmost importance, for the central issue of life itself hinges on how we view the Messiah and how we respond to Jesus. So Jesus presses the issue and sheds light on what He’s getting at.

Consider Psalm 110

Mark 12:36 CSB

David himself says by the Holy Spirit: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’

Jesus uses the OT text that the NT most frequently quotes. Initially, this Psalm was used at the coronation of the king of Israel as he was installed as God’s symbolic right hand, intended to righteously rule of God’s people. Now, the understanding of Psalm 110 seems to have maybe shifted after 586 BC when the Babylonian exile happened. When the monarchy was lost during this time, then a deeper meaning seems to have surfaced, one associated with Messianic expectations. Jesus’ use of this passage is meant to call to attention the Messiah’s transcendent status, the idea that the Christ would be more than just what is normal human experience and expectation.

First, Jesus affirms Holy Spirit authorship. Now, I don’t want to get lost on this point, but I believe it is instructive for us. Remember Paul’s instruction to Timothy: All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable… Before Paul, Jesus! Scripture isn’t some imaginative work of man’s creativity. It is literally God’s word to us! We would do well to not forget this point. With that said, let’s keep moving.

In the Hebrew, Psalm 110 is interesting. The first reference to Lord, you can even see this in Ps. 110 in most of your English translations, the first “LORD” is in all caps. It’s the Hebrew word YHWH, God’s covenant name. Then, the second “Lord” is not all caps. It’s translated from the word Adonai, and it sometimes refers to God and sometimes refers to a lord/king/ruler. Maybe in modern vernacular we might translate it, “YHWH God said to my King/ruler.” So, David says first that this One who comes after him is actually his Lord, his King, his Authority. The Psalm actually furthers this point, because David notes not only how he addresses the Messiah (as Lord), but also what YHWH says to Him.

“Sit at my right hand...” YHWH gives the Messiah the place of authority, the place of highest honor, the place reserved for the One who would act in the king’s place.

And David continues with what YHWH said: “until I put your enemies under your feet.” Ultimately, the Messiah is seated in the place of honor anticipating the end of all His enemies, ultimately the final destruction of sin and death.

Psalm 110, especially verse 1, shows a Messiah who will reign with God’s authority, a Messiah who will crush Israel’s enemies, yes. But with this passage, Jesus deepens the stakes…ups the ante. He moves the discussion about the Messiah from the realm of worldly expectations and challenges the religious leaders to consider weightier matters. It leads them to...

An Unconsidered Conundrum

Mark 12:37 CSB

David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How, then, can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

Everything about this person, this “Lord” of David’s, shows him to be greater than David himself. In Israelite society, this never happened. Sons would frequently call their fathers “lord,” but the opposite was never the case. For David to call his descendant “Lord,” it indicates that this is no mere physical descendant, but someone fundamentally greater.

The issue Jesus invites the scribes to consider is: what does it mean for the Messiah to be a descendant who is greater than his father? No some have taken upon themselves to suggest that Jesus is calling into question His Davidic ancestry, or maybe challenging the notion of the Messiah’s descent from David, that’s simply not the case. Simply reminding ourselves of Mark’s gospel should suffice an answer to that understanding, because Blind Bartimaeus, remember him?, the one who couldn’t “see” but actually spiritually “saw” better than all the religious leaders? He’s already called Jesus the “Son of David” without being silenced. And then at the Triumphal Entry, Hosanna!…Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” with no rebuttal from Jesus. His Davidic lineage has already been established and confirmed. Again, it’s a challenge meant to shed light on who the Messiah will really be.

The “conundrum” then is that the title “son” suggests some measure of inferiority and Psalm 110 presents this sort of upside down order in which the “son” is greater than the father. But what Jesus is doing, without explicitly stating it, is lifting the veil on His true identity, inviting the scribes to peak behind the curtain. Scripture is staring them in the face, pointing to a greater reality about the Messiah. So, how can the son be greater than the father? In this scenario, I think it points to the divine nature of the Son. Nearly all commentators have made mention of this being a divine pointer, and while the Scripture doesn’t here say it in flashing neon, “This shows Jesus’ divinity!”, the implication is certainly there. And if you’re wondering whether this got through to the religious leaders, let me remind you that He’s drug into trial on blasphemy charges! His point to the religious leaders now: remember what Mark said all the way back in chapter 1, verse 1 — Mark 1:1 — “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Jesus gives the scribes a problem that has so far gone seemingly unnoticed by the scholarship of the day: the Messiah is simultaneously David’s Son and also David’s Lord. Again, Jesus is trying to take the religious leaders to a place where they recognize the Messiah is more than an earthly descendent who comes to conquer worldly kingdoms. As Don Carson rightly points out, “The teacher who never attended the right schools (John 7:15-18) confounds the greatest theologians in the land.”

This is a bit of mic drop moment for the Messiah. Mark notes that “the large crowd was listening to Him with delight.” The experts had been bested and Jesus, and the crowd just ate it up. Here’s the thing about what happens, and there’s a lot said in what’s absent here. In each situation, every test that the religious leaders had for Jesus, He more than satisfied their “trap/test.” By what authority did He cleanse the Temple? Jesus left that confrontation by calling into question whether or not the religious leaders were fit to even lead at all. The question about paying taxes? Jesus passed it with flying colors…He left the Pharisees and Herodians “utterly amazed at Him” while simultaneously providing one of the most impactful statements in all the gospels. The Sadducees and their absurd and sad rejection of the resurrection? He reminded them they were clueless concerning the power of God, questioning whether they had actually even read the portion of Scripture they claimed to be experts in. His final condemnation? “You are badly mistaken.” For the confrontations dripping with hypocrisy, they became a mute majority as He silenced their opposition.

Now? It’s Jesus’ turn. The pattern so far has been give and take, question and answer, riddle and solution. Now, there’s only Jesus’ question…and it’s LEFT UNANSWERED! There was no response. At least not yet. The religious leaders’ final answer will come on Calvary’s Cross as yet again they prove their ignorance to God’s Word and Will. The Suffering Servant that really began unveiling His identity as such (starting in Mk. 8:31-32, again in Mk. 9:30-32, and finally His bold and detailed prediction in Mk. 10:32-34, and then explicitly stated His purpose in Mk. 10:45), poses a question that ultimately silences His critics, a final declaration of His superiority both as a teacher and as the Messiah.

Consider in actuality what Christ has done for the religious leaders. It can be likened to person knowing the bridge stretching over a canyon has crumbled. So, he places signs all along the road, giving ample warnings of what lies ahead. He places roadblocks and hindrances all along the way. But the motorist — he keeps plowing forward. When all the signs and warning, when all the chances at detour and U-turn have been ignored and ultimately the car plunges off the broken bridge, who lies at fault? The motorist who ignored the warnings.

This interaction, and the one to come next week, serve as a final warning: TURN BACK FROM THE ROAD YOU’RE ON. THE END IS DEATH!!! The religious leaders reject the reprimand. What will be our response?

Call To Action

Kingdom life means obeying the King.

If you’re going to live in submission to the King, you must live by the rules of His kingdom. Last week we spent the entire time studying the two key aspects that govern everything else we do as kingdom members, and it centers on love — love for God and love for others. I won’t re-hash it all, but real quick, just a couple of reminders:

Love God supremely. Prefer Him in over all things. Let Him be the main point to your life. Make it a priority to honor Him in all things.

Love others genuinely. Real, honest, sacrificial love. Love that is patient and kind, slow to anger, honest, and gracious.

When it comes to decisions in life, these two commands must govern everything else. How should I parent my kids? In a way that honors God and expresses His love for them. How should I interact with folks I work with? In a way that shows you are God’s child and graciously shows them truth. Should I buy a new car or fix my old one? What will honor God with what He has given you, guarding against the temptation to use life’s resources on self rather than serving others?

Kingdom life means worshiping the Greater King.

All of this obedience to the King has a greater purpose: to worship Jesus. This is the Greater Son of David, the Son of God, and because that’s the case, He is WORTHY of our worship.

His name should constantly be on our lips.

It might be bragging about the things that He has done for us to others. By doing this, we deflect attention to Him and put Him on display.

It might be a testimony about a hard situation He brought us through. While the world has struggled to make ends meet because of COVID-19 lock downs, God has continually provided for His people and His church. Not only have we not done without, but we’ve been able to bring in quite the collection of pantry items for the food bank.

Or, maybe it’s simply a word of praise that remembers how good God is, helping us to constantly come into His presence with a thankful heart.

His works should constantly be our business.

He has equipped us for works He has for us to do, things that we get to partner with God in doing.

When we do these things, and people see our good deeds — they give glory to God!

And again, our obedience IS an act of worship to God — our reasonable service to Him.