Stomped By David’s Lord - Mark 12:35-40 Series

Jesus’ Last Days (Mark): Part 14

(, ) 4/10/2021

Mark 12:35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked, "How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet." ' 37 David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?"

The large crowd listened to him with delight.

38 As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."

Introduction

Jesus has been in a verbal war with the Jewish authorities ever since he ransacked the Temple. They’ve been coming at him in waves, and each time he demolishes their arguments. The last passage ended with the statement in 12:34, From then on no one dared ask him any more questions. That’s stated in a very decisive, final way, pointing to Jesus’ victory over the Sanhedrin. He has bested the field and debate is now closed. Now with them aside, Jesus takes his rightful place as the supreme spiritual authority in Israel and now he takes a teaching posture and asks a question. But his question isn’t a fighting question; it’s a teaching question.

Greater than David

Mark 12:35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked, "How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David?

“Christ” = Son of David

But don’t misunderstand that question. He’s not asking, “How is it that the scribes say the son of David and the Messiah are the same person? Of course both titles refer to the same person—“Messiah” (or the Christ—Messiah is the Hebrew word; Christ is the Greek translation) was the Jewish nickname for the son of David. No one doubted they were the same person, least of all Jesus. Mark has already made it clear that both titles refer to the same person because they both refer to Jesus. Everyone knew both titles referred to the same person.

The question is why do they make a point of it

His question isn’t about whether they are the same person; his question is why do the scribes talk about it? Why do they make a point of it? What is their purpose in using that particular title—son of David? When blind Bart called Jesus son of David, what do you suppose his reason was for calling Jesus by that title?

It was to honor him. It was a term of exaltation. David was the greatest king Israel ever had. In fact, if we go by how much space in the OT is devoted to describing his life and how many times his name is mentioned in both Old and New Testaments, we would have to say David was by far the greatest human figure in the whole Bible prior to Jesus’ time. Greater than Abraham, greater than Moses—David was the greatest of all.

When you read the second half of the OT, from David’s time on, each king is graded by the Bible writers based on how he stacked up against David. This king was so-so, because he was kind of like David. This king was horrible because he was nothing like David. This king was great because he was a lot like David. It’s how every king was measured.

So when you want to talk about how great the Messiah would be, you talk about his association with David. Just like today if you want to talk about how great a modern President is so you compare him to Abraham Lincoln or George Washington. Just by mentioning a modern President in the same breath with Abraham Lincoln, you’re really elevating him. So much so that no matter which modern President you’re talking about, if you compare him to Lincoln people will roll their eyes and say, “Oh come on. Give me a break.” That’s the kind of respect we have for President Lincoln. Multiply that by thousands and you’ve got David in the minds of the Jews of Jesus’ day. David was far greater in their minds than Lincoln is in ours. So to associate Jesus with David is the highest honor possible. That’s why they called the Christ the son of David.

The Conundrum: Who’s the Greatest?

But Jesus presents the question as a riddle. And the riddle is this: how do you square all that with Psalm 110? Jesus quotes the first line of Psalm 110, which is a conversation between Yahweh God and the son of David. How did David know about that conversation? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy SpiritIt’s not something David overheard or figured out—the Holy Spirit simply revealed to David that this conversation took place. And what Jesus wants to call their attention to is the way David refers to his future descendent.