bigger & better Deliverer

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?”

Matthew 22:41-42a

Even Jesus’ own critics were silenced when they had to confront the reality that David himself prophesied that the Messiah, who would be born of the king’s lineage, would also be the Lord that David worshiped. Jesus has let the Pharisees struggle with a theological hot potato. They had no answer back to Him once he showed how David called the Messiah “Lord”. Jesus gave them a scripture clearly pointing to Incarnation — God becoming man. Ultimately it pointed to Jesus Himself, the One Who asked them this question. And the Pharisees were silenced by the implications of the teaching Jesus just set loose in their minds.

Yet David believed what the Pharisees could not. David knew that One coming after him would be mightier, and would not only be a deliverer for Israel, but would be The Deliverer for the world. God was doing a much bigger thing in sending a Messiah than anyone ever could imagine. The Lord was coming. And as Jesus revealed Himself to His enemies through that scripture, the Lord had indeed already come. David’s Lord was showing His authority. And soon enough, in His death and resurrection, Jesus would indeed be The Deliverer beyond what they ever could have hoped.

O Lord of David… Lord of me,

What a wonder Your Incarnation truly is! You came to set Your people free from sin’s dominion and death’s destruction. You came to widen the definition of God’s people, breaking down dividing walls between Jew and Gentile and offering deliverance for all the world. You surprise us in grace and mercy! You thrill us with Your love. You have us in awe of Your majesty, Jesus, Son of David, Son of God, Lord of all!

Amen