Lenten Reading #11 -- The Riddle of Jesus

In our recent readings, we've heard the Pharisees and Sadducees take turns at trying to trick Jesus. 

Now it's his turn to stump them. 

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” 

“The son of David,” they replied. 

43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, 44 “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’

 45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

The Pharisees didn't get it. The teachers of the Law didn't know. The Sadducees were "Sad...you see" that they couldn't provide an answer. 

How about you? 

How is it that King David calls one of his descendants "Lord?" How is it that David refers to one of his great, great, great, great (to the many times over degree) grandsons as "Master?" 

The answer is found in Christ. 

For Jesus was a Jew. He was of the line of David. If he went to ancestry.com, Jesus would be reminded that he was an earthly descendant of King David. 

But at the same time, Jesus was Lord. This is where the family tree gets strange. Jesus was not only David's son, but God's son. He was Divine. 

He was Lord. 

Praise God that both of these were true of Jesus. 

As David's grandson, true man, he was placed under God's law. 
As God's son, true God, he kept it perfectly. 

As David's grandson, true man, he died. 
As God's son, true God, he died for our sins. 

As David's grandson, true man, his body was placed in a tomb. 
As God's son, true God, he rose from the dead. 

As David's grandson, true man, he knows what it is like to be tempted. 
As God's son, true God, he always defeated temptation and is listening to  your prayers for help--right now. 

This was hard to believe for the teachers surrounding Jesus. Stunned, they couldn't ask any more question. 

My prayer is you too are stunned by the awesome truths of Jesus described in Scriptures a thousand some years before he was ever born. 

Why was David calling his grandson Lord? 

The same reason you call Jesus Lord. 

Because he is. 

PRAYER: Dearest Lord Jesus, you are my great master. You love me dearly and died for me. The best things a master could do. Now O Lord I devote myself and this day to you. Be with me and lift me up. Amen.