INTRODUCTION:

            Since entering the temple on Wednesday of Passion Week Jesus had been on the defensive as delegation after delegation from the Sanhedrin had come and attacked Him trying to trip Him up in His words and discredit Him in the eyes of the people.  Jesus had evaded their traps because of His omniscience and in each instant left them humiliated and silent.  The last encounter was with a lone scribe who was awed by Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees question concerning the resurrection.  His question was not hostile like the delegations sent by the Sanhedrin but out of genuine interest He asked Jesus what was the foremost commandment?  Jesus answered the scribe’s question by quoting the Shema Israel from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4–5, NASB95)[1] Then Jesus quoted from Leviticus 19:18 the second foundational commandment, “… you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18b, NASB95)[2]  The scribe’s reaction to Jesus was to say that these two commands were the most important and more important than the entire sacrificial system.  Jesus was impressed with the scribe’s answer and told him that he was not far from the kingdom of God.  Last Sunday’s passage ended saying that no one would venture to ask Jesus anymore questions.  They had learned that they could never trap Jesus in His words because He was superior in wisdom and intelligence to all of them put together.

            Because no one would venture to ask Jesus anymore questions, Jesus went on the offensive and began to ask them questions.  Now His questions were not vindictive but were given as to once more show who He was and offer the religious leaders the opportunity to believe in Him.  Let’s pray and then look at the first of Jesus’ questions.

--PRAY--

 

SCRIPTURE:

            Turn in your Bibles again to Mark 12, verses 35-37.  Just three verses this morning as we see Jesus go onto the offensive.  Please, if you are able, stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.

     Mark 12:35-37,

            “And Jesus began to say, as He taught in the temple, ‘How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?  David himself said in the Holy Spirit, “The Lord said to my Lord,  Sit at My right hand, Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet.”  David himself calls Him “Lord”; so in what sense is He his son?’  And the large crowd enjoyed listening to Him.” (Mark 12:35–37, NASB95)[3]

QUESTIONING THE SCRIBE’S THEOLOGY (Mark 12:35)

            Having just finished His conversation with the scribe, Jesus addresses all the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees that were there.  They were there listening to the exchange taking place between Jesus and this lone scribe.  This new discussion with the religious leaders was most likely prompted by Jesus statement to the scribe at the end of last week’s passage.  Jesus said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”  This discussion was His final invitation to this man and the rest of the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees to believe in Him, to embrace Him as the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Savior.

            Jesus always remained a compassionate evangelist.  As the Son of God, He did not take pleasure in the death of the wicked but would much rather have them repent and turn to Him for salvation.  And this despite all the vindictiveness and hatred directed toward Him by the religious leaders, and the superficial, wishy-washy, indecisiveness of the crowds.

            It is also important to remember that not all the members of the Sanhedrin, the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, priests, and elders were equally evil, nor had they all permanently rejected Jesus Christ.  In fact, we know that at least two members of the Sanhedrin became followers of Jesus, even though they kept quiet about it.  Those two members were Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus; they showed that they were followers of Christ in their willingness to make sure He had a proper burial.  Joseph of Arimathea is explicitly called a disciple of Jesus in Matthew 27:57.  After Jesus’ resurrection, in Acts 6:7 we are told that “a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.”  Jesus’ question directed one final evangelistic appeal to those who might have been open to the gospel.  As I said in the introduction, Jesus’ question was not like the ones asked Him by the delegations sent from the Sanhedrin.  Theirs came from evil motives and were intended to trap and destroy.  Jesus’ question was an offer of salvation.

            In the parallel passage in Matthew 22:41 it says, “Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: ‘What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?’ They said to Him, ‘The son of David.’ ” (Matthew 22:41–42, NASB95)[4]  Then as Mark picks up the conversation, Jesus turned to the crowd gathered around Him in the temple court and asked, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?” (Mark 12:35, NASB95)[5] In other words, Jesus was saying, “How can they say that the Messiah is nothing more than a human descendant of David?”  Jesus was exposing the religious leaders erroneous view that the messiah would be nothing more than a powerful military and political leader, who would deliver Israel from her enemies and establish the promised kingdom.

QUESTIONING THE SCRIBES FROM SCRIPTURE (Mark 12:36)

            When the scribes answered Jesus’ question concerning the identity of the Messiah and said that He would be the son of David, they were correct.  The Old Testament is clear on this fact.  In 2nd Samuel 7:12-14 God promised David, “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.  I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men,” (2 Samuel 7:12–14, NASB95)[6]  Also in Psalm 89, verses 3-4 and verses 35-37 God declared, “I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant, I will establish your seed forever And build up your throne to all generations….Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. His descendants shall endure forever And his throne as the sun before Me.  It shall be established forever like the moon, And the witness in the sky is faithful.  Selah.” (Psalm 89: 3–4, 35–37, NASB95)[7]  The answer that the scribes gave to Jesus was the same answer Jesus would have gotten from the common people, this was the popular view of the day.  Remember what Bartimeus yelled when he wanted Jesus to give him his sight.  He kept crying out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47b, NASB95)[8]  After Jesus healed a blind and mute man in Matthew 12:22, we read the response of the crowd in verse 23, “All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, ‘This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?’ ” (Matthew 12:23, NASB95)[9]  This was not only believed on in Israel, but even a Canaanite woman in the region of Tyre and Sidon when she heard Jesus was in that region came to Him, and Matthew 15:22 records for us, “And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.’ ” (Matthew 15:22, NASB95)[10]   Just days before the event in this morning’s passage, Jesus had ridden the donkey’s colt into the city to the cries of the people, who were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9, NASB95)[11]

            The genealogies of Jesus are irrefutable proof that He was a descendant of David.  Both His earthly father Joseph and His mother Mary were direct descendants of David, making Jesus also a descendant of David.  Joseph’s genealogy is in Matthew 1:1-17; Mary’s is in Luke 3:23-38.  Jesus’ Davidic descent claim could be easily verified or found to be false.  The genealogical records were carefully preserved in the temple and were no doubt examined by the Sanhedrin.  If the Lord Jesus had not been a descendant of David, His claim would have been proven false.  That none of His opponents ever challenged Jesus’ Davidic ancestry is all the proof that is needed that it was true, that Jesus was without a doubt a descendent of David.

            The scribes believed and taught that the messiah would be the son of David, this was true, but it was incomplete.  They believed and taught that the messiah would be merely a powerful human ruler who would triumph over Israel’s enemies and bring about Israel’s promised prominence.  Jesus will quote from Psalm 110 to show the inaccuracy of their messianic theology.  Psalm 110 is a messianic psalm, and it is quoted several times in the New Testament.  Peter used it in his sermon on Pentecost in Acts 2:34-35, the author of Hebrews did as well as we heard it read by Peter in our Scripture reading this morning in Hebrews 1:13.  Paul also alluded to it in 1st Corinthians 15:25 in his exposition of the resurrection.  Verse 1 of Psalm 110 proves that the messiah is more than a mere man, since David refers to Him as his Lord.

            Jesus begins by affirming the inspiration of Scripture saying, “David himself said in the Holy Spirit…” (Mark 12:36a, NASB95)[12]  In other words, Jesus believed and taught that the authors of Scripture wrote what was revealed to them by the Holy Spirit.  Peter later confirmed this same truth when he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in 2nd Peter 1:20-21, “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (2 Peter 1:20–21, NASB95)[13]  Jesus after affirming that David’s words were revealed to him by the Holy Spirit quotes Psalm 110:1, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet.’ ” (Mark 12:36, NASB95)[14]  In this verse David calls his Son, “My LORD,” elevating Him above himself.  God also elevated David’s LORD to His right hand, a reference to the divine position of power, this place symbolizes David’s LORD as being coequal with the Father in rank and authority, which affirms His deity.  Messiah’s rule will be absolute, as God will put al His enemies beneath His feet.  This speaks of His sovereignty over them and their subordination to Him.

            The Old Testament not only reveals the Messiah Jesus’ humanity as David’s Son but also His Deity as David’s Lord, exalted at the right hand of the Father.  Here is the incomprehensible, infinite truth that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully Man.

 

QUESTIONING THE SCRIBES TO BELIEVE (Mark 12:37)

            After Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1 He asks the religious leaders and the crowd, “David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?”  (Mark 12:37, NASB95)[15] Jesus was trying to make the point that the Messiah as revealed in the Old Testament had to be more than just a mere man, He had to be God as well just as David revealed under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  The New Testament clearly teaches both the humanity and the deity of Jesus the Messiah.  His humanity is revealed when Paul writes in Romans 1:3 that He “was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh.” (Romans 1:3b, NASB95)[16]  The author of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 2:14, “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same…” (Hebrews 2:14a, NASB95)[17]  Then in Hebrews 2:17 He writes, “Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17, NASB95)[18]  Jesus was just like you and me in that He endured the same limitations of being human.  We read of Him being hungry, becoming thirsty, and tired (Matthew 4:1-2; John 4:7; John 4:5-6).  He also like us experienced the full range of human emotions.  He experienced joy, grief, love, compassion, amazement, and anger (Luke 7:9; 10:21; Matthew 9:36; 26:37; John 11:5, 36; 15;9; Mark 3:5)

            The Deity of Jesus the Messiah is also made unmistakably clear in Scripture as well.  John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1, NASB95)[19]   John makes clear that the Word refers to Jesus the Messiah.  Jesus also took for Himself the sacred name of God (Yahweh) when He said to the religious leaders in John 8:58, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”” (John 8:58, NASB95)[20]  That the Jewish religious leaders understood clearly what He meant is evident from their reaction, they attempted to stone Him for blasphemy.  In John 10:30 Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30, NASB95)[21]  Jesus was claiming to be the same essence as God the Father.  Once again the Jews tried to stone Him for blasphemy because as they said in verse 33 He being a man tried to make Himself out to be God.  When Thomas addressed Jesus as God after the resurrection Jesus accepted that affirmation of His deity and praised his faith. (John 20:28-29)  Philippians 2:6 declares that Jesus “existed in the form of God.” In other words, that He is God by nature.  Colossians 2:9 adds, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,” (Colossians 2:9, NASB95)[22] Titus 2:13 calls Jesus, “our great God and Savior,” and 2nd Peter 1:1 calls Him “our God and Savior.  In Hebrews 1:8 God the Father said to Jesus, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8, NASB95)[23] as Peter read to us this morning.  Many of the names and titles of God used in the Old Testament are applied to Jesus in the New Testament. 

            The theology of the scribes that applied to the messiah was correct to say that He would be a descendant of David, but that was incomplete. They needed to understand and believe that He was also the Son of God and the Savior.  This is what Jesus was offering them when He sought to show them again who He was from the Scriptures.

            The conclusion of this passage is anticlimactic and tragic.  From seeing Jesus use His omniscience to confound and silence the religious leaders to showing them who He truly is from Psalm 110 proving His deity, we are confronted once again with the hatred and rejection of the religious leaders as well as the apathy of the large crowd that had gathered around Jesus, who merely enjoyed listening to Him.  They enjoyed watching Him humiliate the religious leaders, His words amused them, entertained them, but did not affect them.  Soon they would be crying for His execution.  Some hated Him.  Some were entertained by Him.  None, it seems, fell on their faces in the presence of almighty God incarnate to repent and confess Him as Lord and Savior.

 

CONCLUSION:

            Jesus gave the religious leaders and the crowd in the temple courts another opportunity to turn to Him and embrace Him as their Messiah, as the Son of God, as their Savior.  He did this by showing them from the Scriptures that the Messiah had to be both God and Man.  As we consider that Jesus the Messiah is God in human flesh, we might see His deity by asking this question:  If God became a man, what would we expect Him to be like?  The answer to this question is:

First, if God became a man, we would expect Him to be sinless, because God is absolutely holy (Isaiah 6:3).  This is completely true of Jesus.  Even His bitter enemies could make no reply to His challenge in John 8:46, “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?” (John 8:46, NASB95)[24]  Hebrews 7:26 declares concerning Jesus, “For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;” (Hebrews 7:26, NASB95)[25]

Second, if God became a man, we would expect His words to be the greatest words ever spoken, because God is omniscient, perfectly wise, and has infinite command of the truth and the ability to perfectly express it.  Jesus’ words demonstrated all of that.  The officers that were sent to arrest Him reported back to the religious leaders in John 7:46, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” (John 7:46, NASB95)[26]

Third, if God became a man, we would expect Him to display supernatural power, because God is all-powerful.  Jesus controlled nature, walked on water, healed the sick, raised the dead, dominated the kingdom of Satan and the demons, supernaturally avoided those who tried to kill Him and performed miracles too numerous to be counted.  As John stated in John 21:25, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25, NASB95)[27]

Fourth, if God became a man, we would expect Him to exert a profound influence over humanity.  Jesus did.  He changed the world like no one else in history.

Fifth, If God became a man, we would expect Him to manifest God’s love, grace, kindness, compassion, justice, judgment, and wrath.  Jesus did.[28]

Jesus Christ is as Hebrews 1:3 declares, “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” (Hebrews 1:3, NASB95)[29] Praise God our Savior made purification of sins, praise God that He is seated at the right hand of God making intercession for us right now.

 

[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[9]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[10]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[11]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[12]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[13]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[14]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[15]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[16]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[17]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[18]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[19]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[20]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[21]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[22]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[23]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[24]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[25]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[26]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[27]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[28]Adapted from: MacArthur, John, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Mark 9-16. Chicago, IL : Moody Publishers, 2015.

[29]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.