So Much More

“So Jesus asked this question as He taught in the temple complex, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the Son of David? 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.’ David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how then can the Messiah be his Son? ” And the large crowd was listening to Him with delight.” (Mark 12:35-37 HCSB)

A few days ago, I stood on the rim of the Grand Canyon and watched my grandson’s eyes as he saw it for the first time (see photo above). The words he spoke tell the tale: “Wow, it is way bigger than I thought!” My wife and I took a vacation road trip with our youngest son, his wife, his oldest son (pictured alongside me), and our oldest granddaughter. We had been planning this for about six months and it included six national parks and almost 4,000 miles of highway in just 8 days. We had a great time, but I’m glad to be home.

Like my grandson, have you ever encountered something that is just way, way bigger and grander than you expected? When we began planning this trip, I knew what my grandson’s reaction would be to the seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. How could I possibly know? That was my reaction when I saw it for the first time about 15 years ago and I wasn’t even seven years old. When you step up to the edge and look off into the vastness of the canyon you are just caught off guard by how much bigger it is than you expected. I had seen many photographs of the canyon before I saw it in person, but I just had no idea. Seeing it in person changed my perspective, forever.

In this week’s focal passage, we get to encounter Jesus in a similar way to my grandson’s encounter with the Grand Canyon. After multiple confrontations with the senior Jewish religious authorities, Jesus turns the tables on them and begins to ask them questions as He teaches the crowd that has gathered in the Temple. Jesus has faced multiple questions from these men, now He asks them a question that goes to the very heart of the issue: “How can the scribes say that (or, in what way is) the Messiah is the Son of David?”

While there is little evidence that the term “son of David” was used much as a messianic title before this time, there is a ton of evidence that it became the dominant title used in first century Judaism for the anticipated Messiah. In fact, we see this in previous lessons surrounding the healing of blind Bartimaeus and the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday. Bartimaeus calls Jesus “son of David” and the crowd references it in their cries as Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the donkey colt.

It is important to note, Jesus does not rebuke Bartimaeus or the crowds when they refer to Him this way. So, it is not that the “son of David” isn’t a messianic reference but Jesus wants to elevate and expand their understanding far, far beyond their current level. That’s the heart of His question, “In what way do the scribes say that the Messiah is the Son of David?” In what ways do they view the Messiah as the Son of David? What is His role and purpose?

It is reasonable to assume that while His question seems directed towards the crowd, He intends for the scribes to hear it and to consider His challenge. He’s not asking this question in the privacy of teaching His own disciples but in the court of the Temple for all to hear, to consider and to respond to its implications. Just what do the scribes say or teach about the Messiah as the son of David? They teach the crowds that the promised “son of David” is the heir to the Davidic line of kingly succession. They also teach and expect the heir to David’s throne will restore the former rule and glory of Israel and victory over her political rivals, like Rome. In other words, the anticipated Messiah, son of David, will do the same thing that David did by bringing earthly, political glory and victory to Israel.

Jesus question implies that the scribes are shortsighted in their understanding of what this scriptural promise means. I’m not going to imply anything, I’m going to state it directly: WE ARE BEING SHORTSIGHTED WHEN WE EXPECT THE MESSIAH TO BE FOCUSED ON OUR EARTHLY GLORY AND POLITICAL VICTORY.

Next, Jesus focuses in on the power and authority of scripture for a proper understanding of this promise. “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 is quoting Psalm 110: “This is the declaration of the Lord to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” (Psalms 110:1 HCSB) There are two thing that happen here, Jesus affirms that David is the human author of these words and He informs us that David’s words, in particular, and all of Scripture, in general, comes from God through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration.

“All Scripture is inspired by God (God breathed) and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 HCSB)

We need to recognize the very thing that Jesus was wanting this crowd and these Jewish religious leaders to recognize, their understanding of the Messiah and the fulfillment of God’s promises must be informed by and subject to the authority of God’s “breathed” Word. This is HUGE. These words that we read and study aren’t just someone’s thoughts, feelings and opinions. These words are God’s words and the very breath of His being and the full expression of Himself. Notice how it is worded, “David himself says by the Holy Spirit.” David has this insight and writes these words but it is by and through the breath of God or the Holy Spirit’s power and presence upon him. The hopes, dreams, desires and ambitions of these men are driving their understanding of God’s word and His promises instead of God’s word and promises impacting and influencing their hopes, dreams, desires and ambitions.

This is the issue that Jesus is addressing with the scribes and Jewish religious authorities and it is the same issue He wishes to address in our lives. Again, let me state this very directly: Our feelings must never inform and influence our understanding of God’s promises and our obedience to God’s Word. God’s Word must inform and influence our feelings, drive our understanding of and reliance upon God’s promises and empower our obedience to His Word. In today’s culture, our feelings, desires, hopes and dreams are king and we expect God and His will and word to bow to them. In the kingdom of God, He is king and our feelings, desires, hopes and dreams fall under His authority, power and will. Does God care about how we feel, what we desire and hope to achieve? Absolutely, but we are called to bring those to Him and lay them at His feet as we seek understanding and help in dealing with them and bringing them into obedience to His will and not the other way around.

Finally, notice that Israel’s most beloved king (David) recognizes the truth regarding the Messiah, His identity and His authoritative position long, long before Jesus came and David properly places himself in subjection to Him. Specifically, David says that “the LORD” or YHWH (the personal name of the one, true God) declared to “my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.’” David’s “Lord” in this phrase is clearly recognized by these Jewish religious authorities and the crowd as the promised Messiah. There’s no question about that. But Jesus wants them to have the same understanding of David’s Messiah or “Lord” as David had.

Ah, there’s the rub. They viewed the Messiah as David’s son and, therefore, heir of the Davidic throne but, ultimately, below and subservient to his father the king. They saw the fulfillment of God’s promise as completely revolving around this human relationship and its related hopes, dreams, desires and purpose. Thus, the Messiah was, in their minds, first and foremost about restoring David’s earthly throne, political authority and earthly glory. Their expectations for the Messiah were ALL about their hopes and dreams, not God’s.

How often do we make this same mistake? How often do we base our hopes and dreams for our lives and our expectations of God on a false understanding of His Word and His promises? How often do we expect God to do our will instead of us doing His? Trust me, this is not a trivial matter. But more on that in a minute.

So, Jesus asks “if David himself calls Him (the Messiah) ‘Lord’; then how can the Messiah be his son?” A king would never call his son “my Lord.” So, the logical conclusion is that the Messiah is NOT David’s son. If not David’s son, then whose? Whose Son is the Messiah? Well, He must be the Son of the only other person in this mix, the LORD (YHWH) God. Does Jesus say that directly? No, not directly but He clearly and strongly implies it. And if the Messiah is not David’s Son but God’s Son then His focus would not be on restoring David’s reign and throne but it WOULD be upon restoring the LORD’s reign and throne in the lives of men. Isn’t that the focus of Jesus’ life? Didn’t He come preaching and seeking the restoration of the kingdom of God? And if that’s the focus of Jesus’ life, shouldn’t it be the focus for His followers, the focus for our lives?

Now, I want to address the elephant in the room. I believe I’ve addressed many of the issues in these verses with one obvious exception, the subjection of Jesus’ enemies. God said that Jesus (David’s Lord or the Messiah) should sit at His right hand until He puts Jesus’ enemies under His feet. Who or what are the enemies that God is placing under Jesus’ feet? There are certainly some who are readily apparent, the Jewish religious leadership who are opposing Him. They expect the Messiah to oppose the Romans but the Messiah stands in opposition to them. Why? Because they misunderstand God’s Word and oppose His purpose and plan as lived out in the life of Jesus.

However, these men and their personal agendas are not the only enemies of God. Jesus says that the focus of the kingdom of God is our complete obedience to God and His rule and reign in our lives. What is preventing our obedience? SIN. That ugly word that causes so many to cringe. It is certainly not a word that would end up in the “advertising” plan or on the web site of many churches. If we drop words like “baptist” from our names because of their negative connotations, why would we include the word “sin” in our sermons or statement of faith? It’s so old fashioned. NOBODY talks about sin any more. But sin is the enemy of God and He intends to place it under Jesus’ feet.

In reality, anything that opposes the purpose, plan and will of God is His enemy. That includes the men in our story, our own sin, Satan and his demons and anyone or anything else that stands against God and in opposition to what He’s doing in and through Jesus. And just like the religious leaders of our story, there are many today who believe they are doing God’s will but are really standing in opposition to Him. Let me ask you a very simple but very difficult question, “Do you stand in opposition to God and what He’s doing in and through Jesus?” If so, you are an enemy of God and He WILL bring you into subjection and place you under Jesus’ feet.

Instead of standing in opposition to Him, stand with Him. Acknowledge Him as Lord and bow before Him in complete surrender and willing obedience. Love Him above everything else in life and “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (you need) will be provided for you.” (Matthew 6:33 HCSB)

I stand with Him… will you stand with me?