Who is Jesus Christ? There is perhaps no question that is more important than this one. No question cuts to the heart of the matter, deals with a more basic issue of our life today and in the future than the question concerning Jesus. The answers given will vary; they may cover the gamut from a political revolutionary to a moral teacher. Some will say He is the great liberator of the oppressed, others may even vilify Him as the cause of much oppression. While some answers appear cautious enough to garner support by any audience, it is only when someone commits to the outrageous claim that Jesus is God do we begin to see the critical importance of this issue. Where we come down on the person of Christ is of the utmost importance. Who we say He is will determine much of how we live and die. In his famous book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis writes, "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg - or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us." This question which each of us must answer was asked of Jesus by the religious leaders of His day. Just a few days before His arrest, trial and crucifixion, Jesus was bombarded by different religious groups asking a variety of seemingly important questions, questions regarding morality of taxation, sexuality in the resurrection and priority in God’s legislation. But now it was Jesus’s turn to ask a question, but He inquired not about peripheral issues, but about the core issue of life. Jesus asks them a question that is built not on the Law, but based on a promise. The religious leaders were so full of the law that they forgot about the Messiah. They thought that their duties would save them without the merit and grace of the Messiah. The Pharisees repeatedly ask Jesus questions about duties. When Jesus gets the opportunity to ask His question He asks about the one reality more important than duties: the Christ. The issue much more is what do you do with Jesus than what do you do with the Law. Far from a minor issue or an esoteric debate, Jesus wanted them to confront the important question of life. “What do you think about the Christ?” There is nothing more important in life than the answer to that question. This question seems rather basic, like asking any school kid who is the Father of our country or who’s the quarterback for the Packers. Anyone could answer that one. But the question revealed something more important than the simple inquiry as to the Christ. Christ is the Greek form of the Hebrew Messiah. The term is not so much a name but a description, meaning the Anointed One. The Messiah was the hope of every Jew for He would provide rescue from oppression, hope for the future. The Messiah was anointed by God to do God’s work. What they thought was woefully inadequate. Unfortunately, we too think far too little about the Christ, too. So we must be asked the same question as well. “What do you think about the Christ?” 41. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42. "What do you think about the Christ ? 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. JESUS IS LORD OVER US. "The Son of David" was the Pharisees simple answer to a simple question. Hebrew Scriptures often spoke of the descendent of David who would sit on his throne. This promised son of David is made clear in 2 Samuel 7:12-14 when God told David his descendent would sit on the throne. This promised One would accomplish what all others have failed to do. In Psalm 89 the assurance is given that no matter how much God’s people turn their back on Him, He will not reject this descendent of David. God’s promise to this One will endure no matter what. The leaders thought that knowledge of those facts was sufficient to identify the Messiah. Knowledge of the Christ only meant knowing that he would rule. As the people conceived of a nationalistic human deliver who would come from David’s lineage as the Messiah, all they looked for was a political hero to emerge and deliver them from the threat of Rome. The Jews were looking for a human deliverer. But what the world needed was a divine Savior. The Jews wanted freedom from the yoke of Rome. But what the world really needed was deliverance from the bondage of sin. A human leader could perhaps give them political freedom, but it would take a divine sacrificial lamb to give them spiritual freedom. In saying what He said, Jesus was revealing the truth about His nature. The Pharisees’ problem is that they thought too little of the Messiah. Jesus was about to rearrange those expectations. What the leaders thought of the Christ were confined to the issue of descent, of lineage. But Jesus points them in a different direction when He asks another question, “How is it then that David calls him Lord?” The scribes are thrown into a theological tailspin. How could one who is David’s son also be Lord? Jesus takes the leaders to Psalm 110, a psalm whose ascription claims davidic authorship. As Jesus quotes this passage He assumes that what David says is under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In antiquity it was generally agreed that history was a downward spiral. The golden age is in the past, the future was going to be less bright than the present. In the family the father was considered the great person and it was axiomatic that his children were less significant than he. Given that understanding, how could David speak to one descended from him as Lord, unless that son was more than just a man? Son of God is also a part of who Christ is. Psalm 110 sounds repetative: “The LORD says to my Lord.” But in your English Bible the first “Lord” may be capitalized signifying another word: Yahweh or Jehovah. Yahweh is the personal, covenantal name of God. It was the name used as God spoke of His relationship with His people. The second word there, “Lord”, with the lower case letters refers to Adonai in Hebrew. These two terms, along with the word for God, Elohim, were often interchangeable. Where as Yahweh spoke of the covenant, of God’s promise and tender care, Adonai pointed to the power of God over His creation. It was the term of respect and honor. This is a term of power and authority, it is a name which demands complete obedience. Over time, as the Jews came to revere the name of Yahweh as too personal and private to be read aloud, they would see the word Yahweh, but pronounce Adonai. In time scribes would do the same as vowels were eventually added to the consonant-only Hebrew text. By the Middle Ages readers of the Hebrew Bible began pronouncing precisely what was written, the mixture of consonants from Yahweh and vowels from Adonai, producing the pronunciation of Jehovah, a word that never existed for speakers of classic Hebrew. This explains why we have the same word, but two different names in our English text. But what Jesus points out here is very important. This one born in David’s line is called Adonai. The name of God’s power and authority is given to David’s son. The name reserved for God is given to one born as a man. This confounds the Jews, for the Messiah, who was David’s son, is called God. This same point is made through out Matthew’s Gospel. In the first chapter, Matthew makes this truth apparent when he says that the genealogy of Jesus Christ shows that He is the son of David and the son of Abraham. Yet a few verses later in 1:2,1 when the angel announces to Joseph that this one to be born is Immanuel, meaning, “God with us” and that He will do the work of God, namely, save His people from their sins, then we see the two natures of Christ shining through. In the same way, at His baptism it is the voice of the Father from heaven who announces that this Jesus is His son. Again in 17:5 the voice of the Father on the Mount of Transfiguration says that this Jesus is His Son. Jesus as the Son of God and the Son of Man has implications for us. What do you think of the Christ? You must recognize His position as Lord. In Psalm 110 the Father says to the Son, “sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” This makes it clear that Christ’s position is one of rule and authority. It is common for us to speak against those in authority, to diminish their right to rule, but when it comes to what we think of Christ, we must not forget that, as the Lord, He has authority over us. His Law is binding, His words are true. It is far too easy to dismiss His authority and replace it with an amorphous lover who requires nothing, not even worship. But there is something much more than this. David’s son would be in David’s mold as a mighty King. Yet this Psalm and the context of Matthew 22 tells us something more. Not only is Jesus the Lord over us, Jesus is the Savior for us. JESUS IS SAVIOR FOR US. This one who is King is also a Priest. The psalm to which Jesus pointed these Pharisees and asked the question: “What do you think of the Christ?” forced them and us to examine the important question of who Jesus is. The psalm not only speaks of this Son of David / Son of God as a King who is seated on a throne, but also as a priest. Psalm 110:4 speaks with certainty that this seated King is also a priest forever. This verse appears frequently in the Letter to the Hebrews as it forms the conclusion that Jesus is unlike the levitical priests. The priests that came from the line of Aaron were limited and could only partially point to Christ as the final priest. Psalm 110 tells us that the Messiah will not be in the line of Aaron, but in the order of Melchizedek. In Genesis 14 we are told of how Abram rescued Lot from marauding armies. Returning from battle, Abram met Melchizedek, a shadowy figure who is a type or picture of Christ. There are aspects of what he did which points to the work of Christ. Melchizedek was the king of Salem, the ancient name for Jerusalem. The name Salem was derived from Shalom, or peace. Genesis 14:18 tells us that he was the priest of God the Most High. Melchizedek’s name also translates “King of righteousness.” When Melchizedek meet Abram, he blessed Abram and spoke as a prophet. So in this one figure you have what David could never typify, what Aaron could never fulfill - one who held the three-fold office of prophet, priest and king. And finally, Melchizedek took bread and wine and offered it to Abram, to which Abram responded by giving a tithe to this figure of Christ. The author of Hebrews picks up on this relationship in Hebrews 7 and adds, “without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.” (7:3). For this reason Melchizedek was seen to be unlike Aaron and his sons who died after serving as priests. Melchizedek appears to be different than the rest - his work as priest appears to have no end. While not a theophany, an Old Testament appearance of God’s Son, he is an excellent figure or type of Christ. In this we have a wonderful picture of the work of Christ for us. As Melchizedek is the king of righteousness, so Christ is the Lord our righteousness. As Melchizedek rules in Jerusalem, so Jesus sits on David’s throne in Zion. Melchizedek is the King of Salem, the king of peace, so Christ is the prince of peace. As Melchizedek offered bread and wine to refresh Abram’s tired soldiers, so Jesus offers us bread and wine in the Communion meal to give us strength to serve Him. The work of this King and Priest is complete. There is one final aspect of this One we call Christ. As Jesus points the Pharisees to see that the one who sits on David’s throne, who is the Son of David, the Son of Man is also the Son of God as Yahweh calls him Adonai, as Jesus also makes it clear that this King is also a Priest not like those who serve in the temple, but like Melchizedek - the work of Christ is also seen as complete. When Jesus quotes from Psalm 110 and includes in the address from the Father to the Son to be seated at His right hand, we have there a tremendous promise given to us, a promise that the work of Christ on our behalf is complete. The place of privilege in the ancient world was at the right hand of the King, so Christ is given this special place, a place where the work to bring about the rule, the peace is concluded; nothing more is to be added. When we confess that Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father, we are announcing that His work as Prophet, Priest and King is complete and now He applies the benefits to our lives each and every day. As Prophet His revelation is complete, the canon is closed. As King, all powers and authorities are under His rule; nothing will ever dislodge God’s sovereign power from the universe. As Priest, the work for our salvation is final and there is nothing more to be added to it, either by Christ or by you and me. The completed work of Christ as our High Priest is described in Colossians. In chapter 2 Paul details the ramifications of Christ’s death for us. Since Christ has died we too have died. We are dead to the laws and regulations that promise a false hope of a better life. Christ’s death means our death to having to try to earn our position before God by our merit and allows us to trust the merit of another. As Christ is both the Priest and sacrifice, we are certain of our acceptance. Then in chapter 3, Paul moves from Christ’s death to His resurrection and ascension. Because Christ has risen we too are raised. While we await the future resurrection of our bodies, we have now the reality of the resurrection in our lives. The power of the gospel is as real for us today as it will be for all eternity. In light of that resurrection we are to “set our hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” What do we think of Christ? He is now seated at the Father’s side; His work is done. Our work now is but one thing - notice what we are commanded to do - look at Christ, the one who is at rest. So often you and I, while saying we believe that Christ’s work is complete, still work so hard thinking we can please God, thinking we can gain some better status before the one who paid for all our sins, who gave us His Son’s righteousness. While we mouth the words that Christ’s work is finished, we mistakenly think our work goes on and on. Imagine if Janet (who is a tremendous housewife and a meticulous cleaner) has just finished her task of scrubbing, dusting, vacuuming and straightening the house. As she concludes, she sits down in the chair to enjoy a favorite, a Hershey’s bar with almonds. I see her sitting there, the house sparkling. What would you think if I picked up a cloth and began to clean? Not only would it offend her, it would be useless. If you’ve ever seen my office, you know that I could never keep up with her in cleaning. In the same way, there is nothing you or I can add to what Christ has done. He has rested and calls you and I to rest as well. What do you think of Christ? How do you understand who He is? Christ is far more than a great leader or a superb teacher. He is Lord. Our lives must be in conformity to what He commands. His authority demands our obedience. Just as we saw last week with the summation of the Law which demands our obedience be done with perfect love, so here we see that Jesus Christ is the one who commands us. But in addition to being Lord, we are to see that Christ is also our Priest. His work on our behalf is absolute and perfect. But best of all it is complete. He has taken His seat at the right hand of the Father. He is at rest and so should we. That is terrific news when we find ourselves, because of the weight of the Law, trying so hard but constantly banging our heads against the wall, when we see our sin but feel totally inadequate to obey. It is then we realize how crucial it is to know Jesus Christ as our High Priest is seated, the work is done, we are accepted. It is then we can call out to God that His Son, the Lamb of God, would receive us as we come to Him. |
