Feb 3

February 3, 2013

 

It was Tuesday of Passion Week, the final week before the cross, and the religious leaders mounted a furious attack against Jesus. They questioned his authority on numerous issues. They tried to pinch him in a dispute about money. He was interrogated about an ethical question on the resurrection. And, of course, a theological question was raised. Theologians always stir the water so they will appear deep. Three groups of theologians participated in this verbal free-for-all. 

 

In the end, Jesus shuts the discussion down with a brilliant question. Matthew 22:42 "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" "The son of David," they replied.

 

This is the heart of the issue. Who is the Messiah?  If the Messiah is a teacher, a politician, a moralist or even a prophet, then we can dismiss his ideas as the reflections of a man. But if the Messiah is God's son come in the flesh, then we better pay attention. To disobey the teachings of the Messiah could put us in deep weeds with God the Father.

 

Jesus gives us a hint of his ancestry. Matthew 22:44-45    'The Lord said to my Lord:  "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet." 'If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

 

It is true that the Messiah would be the Son of David, but He is also much more than this. Jesus wants to raise their eyes to see that the Messiah is also God the Son. So Jesus quotes from a messianic psalm (Ps 110:1) in which David referred to the Messiah as "my Lord." The actual Hebrew wording is "Jehovah said to my Adonai." This word "Adonai" is used only of God the Father. (see Genesis 18:27; Job 28:28). So if Jehovah uses a title used of Himself for someone else, that means the other is Himself. You might have to read that last statement twice. More precisely, Jehovah and Adonai are the same. They are both God. You can say God the Father is Adonai and you can say the Jesus the Son is Adonai. This is a unity in the Godhead that we call the Trinity. David perceives two individuals yet he perceives one title. This makes the Messiah much more than a mere son. This makes the Messiah, God himself. The complexity of Jesus' answer was so profound that his opponents were silenced. Can you imagine? A theologian silenced!! 

 

The lessons of "Tuesday" teach us an essential life principle. We might not know all the answers to the difficult questions of life but we do know who Jesus is.  So even if we don't have the faintest idea of why there is cancer, heart attacks, death, suffering, school shootings and children born with handicaps, in the end Jesus does, and we trust him.  

 

The problems of earth can create a lot of dissonance in us. But, in the end, we bow our knees before God and say, "Adonai, I don't know WHY but I know WHO you are. And I am going to cling onto you with everything I have."  A song says it this way, "We don't know what the future holds but we know who holds the future." That is our hope as we head towards Good Friday of Passion Week.