“What do you think of the Christ?” Matthew 22: 41-46. By Matthew Everhard, originally delivered at Hudson Presbyterian Church October 27, 2002. Words 2117
Forensic science is now the perfect compliment to crime investigation. Recent advances in the art and science of forensic investigation has made many crimes, which would have been otherwise unsolvable, closed cases in a matter of weeks and months. Many times a trace amount of evidence, virtually undetectable to the human eye, have literally “fingerprinted” the convicted perpetrator as the only possible and legitimate suspect. At other times, an accused yet innocent person has been justified in the eyes of the law by the complete lack of forensic evidence tying them to the scene or situation of the crime in discussion.
Does it not amaze you that a fleck of paint from an automobile yields not only a physical description, but the make and model, perhaps even the year of a specific vehicle? A fiber of carpet, invisible to the naked eye, yet as readable as a novel to a high-powered microscope, tells investigators whether or not a perpetrator has in fact walked in a certain room or spent time in a certain building. A tooth provides a positive identification for a body. A femur bone from the leg tells us a persons, height, weight, sex and perhaps even race.
Even now as much of our country walks through their daily events with an inordinate amount of suspicion and fear as the Sniper serial killer lurks undetected in the Washington DC area, we applaud the work of investigators as they ascertain within hours that a spent bullet, misshaped and deformed from the high speed collision with a victim, has been propelled from the same unique barrel of a specific gun. And we take refuge that, as with hundreds of criminals in the past, this one too will be chased down by forensic science and a jail cell waits closer than he thinks.
In our text this morning, from Matthew 22, we find that another investigation is under way. This investigation is not a probe into a murder case however. The charges are far more serious. Though the official charge of blasphemy has not yet been declared, the facts are already being gathered, and a case is already being built against Jesus of Nazareth, a carpenter.
One group after another takes their shot at Him, prodding Him with questions, hoping for the slightest fault line in His answers. Verse 34, “Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.” Ladies and Gentleman of the Jury the essence of the mystery is summarized in verse 42: What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is He?
The Pharisee’s question also is deflected by an answer so superb in it’s reason, so fool-proof in it’s logic that only a divine could have responded as well. They should have known that questioning Him about the Law was His strong suit: He is after all, its author.
And now it is time for Jesus to ask them a question, the same question that I ask you to answer yourselves this morning: What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?
I bring first before you all, the eyewitnesses. Some testify that He is a vagrant, “Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” they babble (Matthew 11. 18,19). The slander of others is far worse, “He has a demon” they emphatically announce. Or even more despicable yet, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons that this fellow drives out demons!”
But not all of the eyewitnesses speak woefully of Him. Some are well intentioned, yet misguided. “Some say that (He is) John the Baptist, others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life” (Luke 9.18ff). They too are wrong. Granted He is a prophet, but never before has a prophet walked on water. He far exceeds them all in His majesty and preeminence.
And then we have the testimony of Peter, a simple fisherman who lived and walked with Christ during His earthly ministry, saw miracles unfold before his eyes; limbs restored to health as if being created again from Heaven. Sure this eyewitness has tarnished his own credibility—he denied his master three times. A perjurer when questioned about this Jesus. He even had an assault and battery suit filed against him when he struck Malchus the servant of the high priest with his sword, but the charges were dropped when Jesus healed the man as quickly as Peter sliced him (Luke 22.47ff). Peter’s legal deposition regarding the identity of Jesus of Nazareth reads as follows: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16.16).
But you, ladies and gentlemen: “What do you think of the Christ. Whose Son is He?” How would your testimony read if you were called to the stand instead of sitting in the jury box as you presently find yourselves.
After the eyewitnesses, we must secondly consider: the DNA evidence. This is in fact the sum and substance of the debate we have been eavesdropping upon in our text from Matthew 22. Although the first century Jews were not familiar with terms such as Deoxyribonucleic Acid, they were much more in turn to heritage, ancestry, and genealogy than we are today. Matthew the evangelist for instance is easily able to record 14 generations of Jesus’ family from Abraham to David, fourteen generations from David to the exile, and 14 from the exile to Jesus’ birth (Matthew 1.17). We may consider this less persuasive then today’s DNA technology, yet how many of us here today know even the first name of our grandfather’s grandfather?
Jesus Himself sparks the question of the Messiah’s DNA heritage, “What do you think of the Christ? Whose Son is He?” He pointedly asks the Pharisees. Knowing the politically correct answer, they immediately retort, “The Son of David”. And while technically correct as the Messiah is certainly a direct descendant of David the King, the Pharisees have not answered the question on the level at which Jesus posed it. They have fallen into the trap of the Master Debater. “How is it then, Jesus asks, that David himself, being inspired by the Holy Spirit when he wrote psalm 110 also calls the messiah “Adonai” which means Lord? The Pharisees are stunned. Jesus then quotes Psalm 110 from memory, in case the Pharisees were foggy on the wording. “Jehovah God said to my Adonai, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet!” If David is the patriarch of the messiah, why in the world would he call Him his Adonai? (his Lord?)
The implication is obvious. The Pharisees knew of the human DNA evidence for the messiah, but they were vastly ignorant, of His divine DNA. This Jesus that we are discussing has made some important claims to be God. He once said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10.30). He has also proclaimed “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14.9). And most directly He said, “Before Abraham was, I AM” purposely using the express name of God, that Jehovah signifies. And not only has He claimed to be divine, but He has substantiated those claims with miracle upon miracle, not the least of which was His own resurrection from the grave. Three days dead. Stone cold dead, and yet alive again. The book of Acts records that the number of witnesses to the resurrected Christ numbered in the thousands. Thousands.
Those witnesses could testify to His divine DNA, but I must ask you again, “What do you think of the Christ? Whose Son is He?”
Now having heard the eyewitness testimony and considered the DNA evidence, we will now complete our case by considering the Blood Evidence.
To do this we must move to Calvary, a hill outside of Jerusalem where convicted thieves, murders and other criminals pay for their crimes with their lives. To the Pharisees and the Romans, the trial is already over and the sentencing has begun. But for you Ladies and Gentleman, the blood evidence may turn the case around.
The jury is encouraged to consider motive. Why would this Christ allow Himself to be tortured in such a manner. If He is who He says He is, why doesn’t He call down twelve legions of angels to protect Himself? Why doesn’t He stop the process by His power? Prolong His ministry? Validate Himself publically?
Blood stains are collected and noted on the whip of the roman guards who have beaten Him severely. Blood is found interspersed in the bone and stone chips that have been sewn into the leather whip to increase the pain of the condemned. It is an historic fact that the Romans used to modify whips in this manner. Jesus’ blood is found mixed with any number of tried and condemned criminals in the past months, even the same day. His blood has flowed down like a crimson river onto the dusty Jerusalem soil and been swallowed up by the earth; it has dried and then been scattered by a hundred footsteps of spectators. Clots of dry blood and earth on the ground scream aloud that an atonement for sins has begun.
It is further noted that there are blood stains on a crown of thorns found near the scene of the execution that match to 100% certainty the blood of Jesus. The soldiers had fashioned it together, a mockery of Jesus’ Kingdom, an extra infliction of pain. Mark the spear lying on the ground near the cross. It’s tip and shaft are covered with the blood of the only perfect man in history. An engraving on the spear show that it belonged to a roman soldier. A review of the procedure of crucifixion shows that the spear was used to ensure that the condemned had indeed died. The crown and spear are duly notes and marked as exhibits “A” and “B”.
Finally we examine the blood evidence found on the cross itself and the nails that pierced His hands and probably His feet as well. Yes the blood is His. But while examining the cross we notice something quite peculiar. The cross itself-- it’s just your size. Yes, the vertical beam that held Jesus up, would have fit perfectly between your shoulder blades. The crossbeam holding His arms, would have been just your arm span! The nails too, could have easily been the ones that could have, no! should have pierced you and I! And instantly we realize, that it should have been you and I that died there. It should have been you and I-- who died for our own sins. And all of us together realize that the question of why He did not stop His own execution with His divine power is answered: In some strange and Holy way, He wanted to be there. He had to be there! He loved us too much to avoid it!
Now, What do you think of the Christ? Whose Son is He?
The question is not insignificant. The question is just as probing, just as powerful, just as important today, as it was 2000 years ago when Jesus posed it to the leading experts of the law, the so-called religious elite. What do you think of the Christ? Whose Son is He?
You must answer the question. And contrary to popular belief, not just any answer is acceptable. Not every worldview is equally valid in God’s eyes. To fail to render any verdict at all is the same as condemning Him with silence like Pontius Pilate. Pilate seemed to want to release Jesus. He even tried to get Him off the hook. But in the end he caved to political pressure. ‘The majority must always be right’ was Pilate’s final answer.
The eternity of every individual rests on his or her answer to the question. What do you think of the Christ? Whose Son is He?
Is it true that Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life as He said He is? That He is in fact very God of very God? The Savior, the Redeemer? Your Savior, Your Redeemer?
Or is He a fraud. A deceiver. A once popular religious guru, but nothing more.
Make your decision. Write it down. Sign it, seal it and hand it over to the Bailiff. For though you yourself weighed the facts today, it will be you and I who are Judged on the Day of His Coming. Behold, today is the day of salvation.
